After losing the war to Japan Empire in 1894, the Qing Empire ceded Taiwan and Penghu to Japan, completely ignoring the opposition from Taiwanese people. The Japanese army landed in Aodi, Keelung in May 1895. This offensive act led to the “anti-Japanese war in 1895," the longest, the largest and the deadliest war in Taiwan history.

           This year marks the 120^th year anniversary of anti-Japanese war in 1895. Many relevant events and/or exhibitions have been held all over Taiwan, to commemorate the unprecedented heroic battles, for which Hakka people are known for sacrifice the most in terms of human and material resources. To express our deepest gratitude toward Hakka ancestors for their defense of homelands, the Hakka Cultural Development Center of Hakka Affairs Council has been holding at the Lidui Park the Special Exhibition to commemorate the 120^th year anniversary of anti-Japanese war in 1895 and on the afternoon of October 3^rd, Liu Ching-chung, Minister of Hakka Affairs Council, presided over the opening of the exhibition.

           Minister Liu said that to commemorate the 120th year anniversary of the anti-Japanese war in 1895, the Hakka Affairs Council and Hakka Cultural Development Center in conjunction Liudui’s local government agencies and organizations have been hosting a series of events, including this Special Exhibition, the Hero Doll Cultural Festival, the 1895 Hoshozhuan Troupe, the Changzhi Hoshozhuan Cultural Festival and the Autumn Worshipping Festival at the Liudui Loyalty Temple. Among them, the Special Exhibition for “Righteous Spirit - Anti-Japanese War in 1895” describes most clearly not only how and why the Hakka militias fought so bravely in the anti-Japanese war in 1895 but also the Yimin beliefs running deep in the Hakka spirit and tradition.

           In this Special Exhibition, Liudui Park uses a lot of illustrations and situational arrangements to reproduce the scenes of war, making viewers more aware of the touching stories of courageous Hakka militias. Moreover, such knowledge as the cause of the in-bore premature explosions, the military strength comparisons between Japanese invaders and the Hakka militias, the Hakka Yimin Festival and other culture heritage is also stated. It is only hoped to guide people to interpret the "anti-Japanese war in 1895” from different perspectives.

           Meanwhile, two field trips to the battlefields and the historical ruins of the "anti-Japanese war in 1895”will be arranged. Professional cultural workers will be hired to guide people to explore the footprints of Liudui Hakka militias in the anti-Japanese war. It is hoped that the righteous spirit of Hakka ancestors to safeguard homelands, the most precious intangible Hakka cultural assets, can be handed down from generation to generation.