Former Education Minister Chen Li-fu urged Chinese doctors with Western medical training to help revitalize traditional herb medicine instead of downgrading it with an "unscientific" label.
Chen is now board chairman of the private College of Chinese Medicine.
"Chinese medicine is still an unexplored treasure mine," Chen declared. "I believe the answers to many puzzling problems in modern medical science may be found in Chinese medical books."
Chinese medicine has a long history. Hua Tuo, who lived some 17 centuries ago, performed brain surgery and other complicated operations.
Chinese doctors who arbitrarily describe the traditional healing art as "unscientific" are themselves ignorant, Chen said.
Acupuncture and moxibustion reached their zenith during the Han and Tang dynasties, Chen continued. These fell into the domain of quackery only in Ch'ing times.
Chen said Western chemical drugs often produce undesirable side effects. Herbs are less toxic.
Chen suggested the compilation of information about Chinese medicine in plain language. This material could be used in textbooks and translated into foreign languages.
CAL offers all-jet service to Hualien
China Airlines is offering all-jet service from Taipei to Hualien. The French-built Caravelle is used for the brief flight.
The YS-11 turboprop has been phased out on the Hualien route.
Hualien is the eastern entrance to the East-West Highway and has become a top tourist attraction.
The Caravelle carries 90 persons compared with 60 for the Japan-built YS-11.
Overhaul of college exam system proposed
The Ministry of Education held the first of a series of meetings to study recommendations for changes in the joint college entrance examination.
Dr. Hsu Hsien-hsiu, president of National Tsinghua University, suggested reforms after last year's exam period. He backed several smaller examinations to give high school graduates a better chance to get into the college of their own choice.
The committee in charge of the 1972 joint examination recommended these measures:
— Separate examinations by public and private institutions.
— Eight divisions (liberal arts, law, commerce, natural sciences, engineering, agriculture, medical science and education) instead of the present four.
— Use of computers in handling test papers.
— Screening of high school graduating classes to reduce the number of college aspirants.
Protection assured Japanese tourists
The government assures the safety of all visitors.
Wellington Tsao, director of the Tourism Bureau, denied rumors Japanese tourists had been harassed.
The government welcomes visitors from all countries of the free world, regardless of whether they have diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, he said.
Prosperity and social stability have made Taiwan one of the world's safest places for travelers.
During the first nine months of 1972, some 446,800 tourists came to Taiwan, representing a gain of 14.5 per cent over the like period of last year.
Taoyuan airport project still planned
Communications Minister Henry Kao said the government has not given up plans to build the Taoyuan international airport.
Kao told the Communications Committee of the Legislative Yuan the designing of the terminal building is under way.
Kao said his ministry will give full support to the Taiwan Provincial Government in planning a north bend railroad between Suao and Hualien. Such a line would contribute to the development of eastern Taiwan, he said.
Speaking on railway electrification plans, Kao said changes in international exchange rates had necessitated re-estimating of the cost.
4-H Movement suffers decline in Taiwan
The 4-H movement in Taiwan has declined because of rapid industrialization and the migration from rural areas.
Dr. T. H. Shen, chairman of the Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction, said the farm population increased only 2 per cent from 1961 to 1968, while urban population grew by 5 per cent.
Dr. Shen said farm youths who move to the cities tend to be those with the most education.
The JCRR chairman said success of a new NT$2 billion program to revive agriculture will depend greatly on the active participation of educated young farmers.
Dr. Shen spoke at the opening session of the 10th Asian Rural Youth Leaders Seminar in Taipei.
Economic Affairs Minister Y.S. Sun told the young people of the importance of out-of-school training. Some 1,290,000 have benefitted.
Representatives from 10 countries attended the 10 day seminar: Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Thailand, the United States and China.
Fishermen try luck at artificial ponds
Fishing is a way to escape the tensions of cities.
However, most rivers and lakes of Taiwan are polluted. There are fewer and fewer fish. So entrepreneurs are establishing artificial ponds for fun and profit.
There are two ponds near Shuanghsi Park in suburban Taipei. Fishing at the bigger pond costs NT$70 for three hours and NT$100 for five hours.
Fishing at the smaller pond costs only NT$10 per hour. But any fish caught cost an additional NT$1.50 per catty.
12 projects are gifts to President Chiang
The Taiwan Provincial Government presented 12 projects to President Chiang Kai-shek as birthday gifts.
All projects were aimed at improving the people's livelihood. They included:
— Construction of feeder roads in aborigine areas: A total of 129 kilometers (78 miles) of such roads are being built at cost of NT$90 million (US$2.25 million).
— Better training for teachers: Some 3,100 elementary school teachers have been given advanced training. Normal universities graduate 1,800 students a year.
— Construction of water supply systems in 11 towns and villages where "black foot disease," a form of arsenical cancer, is endemic. Some 167,000 people will benefit from the US$1.2 million project.
— Construction of an irrigation system for the Nengkao reservoir area in central Taiwan to increase rice production by 4,797 metric tons a year.
— Diversified farming: Ten villages and towns have been selected to carry out hog raising.
— Farm mechanization: 252 teams in 122 villages and towns will help farmers till the land and transport crops.
— Integrated rice farming on 8,408 hectares of paddy. The per hectare yield was 5,320 kilograms, an increase of 1,017 kilograms over the control group.
— Urban renewal in 1,764 districts.
— Construction of a northern yard at a saving of US$250,000 in fuel and wages annually.
— Construction of the Southern Cross-Island Highway: The 180-kilometer (109-mile) highway was opened to traffic on President Chiang's birthday.
— Establishment of a second container service center in Kaohsiung: The project is expected to be completed before the end of next June.
— Family planning: Half of the housewives of childbearing age are practicing family planning.
109-mile cross-island highway completed
A 109-mile single-lane cross-island highway costing NT$498,000,000 has been completed in southern Taiwan. Starting at Yuching in Tainan, the road crosses Kaohsiung county, skirts 12,097-foot high Kuan Shan and joins the Hualien-Taitung highway.
Difficult terrain brought the cost up to NT$4,560,000 per mile. A 2,000-foot tunnel at elevation of 8,910 feet is the longest on the island. There are 60 bridges and 10 tunnels.
Maximum speed is 15 miles an hour. Maximum weight on bridges is 4,400 pounds. Construction started in July of 1968.
The highway is expected to become a scenic attraction and to open up mineral and forestry resources.
The China Youth Corps will build four small hostels along the route.
This is the third cross-island high way in Taiwan.
The East-West Cross-Island Highway is 208 miles long. The Northern Cross-Island Highway has a length of 42 miles.
8,559 overseas Chinese come for holidays
Overseas Chinese totaling 8,559 came to Taiwan for the October holidays. More than 5,600 took part in celebration of the Double Tenth National Day October 10. Close to 3,000 attended celebrations honoring President Chiang Kai-shek's birthday October 31.
The visitors came from West Germany, France, Britain, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, Mauritius, Tahiti, Australia, Malagasy, Solomon Islands, Zaire, Guam, South Africa, Surinam, Bahamas, Marshall Islands, Turkey, Portugal, United States, Canada, Panama, El Salvador, Brazil, Peru, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Hongkong, Macao, Japan, South Korea, South Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Khmer Republic, Burma, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Philippines, Brunei and Indonesia.
Buddhist art discussed at seminar
Monks and artists got together for a Buddhist Art Seminar at the National Museum of History. They discussed temple construction, sculpture and paintings.
Wang Yu-chin, director of the museum, presided.
Those attending suggested:
— Separation of gods from other deities according to Buddhist regulations."
— Design of temples in the solemn style of the Tang and Sung dynasties. The natural environment should be taken into consideration.
— Collection of Buddhist data for reference.
— Research on Buddhist scriptures to offset superstition.
The Museum of History will hold a Buddhist relics exhibition next spring.
Cultural Center opened in New York
The Chinese Cultural Center sponsored by the Chinese Information Service was opened in New York November 6.
Some 1,000 persons attended the ceremony, including Minister of Education Y.S. Tsiang, and Chien Foo, director-general of the Government Information Office of the ROC.
An exhibition of 21 abstract paintings by Chuang Che, a 39-year-old Peiping-born Chinese artist, was opened at the center.
The center has a conference and reception room, library and offices of the Government Information Office.
Chungshan Foundation presents 26 awards
The Chungshan Cultural Foundation announced 26 winners of 1972 awards for academic and literary works and inventions.
The academic winners were Chen Pan, 68, of Kwangtung, member of the Academia Sinica; Prof. Lo Hsiang-lin of the University of Hongkong, 66, of Kwangtung; Sheng Ching-lai, 53, of Chekiang, president of the College of Engineering, National Chiaotung University; Hsia Yu-jen, 54 of Szechwan, director of experimentation for the Taiwan Sugar Corporation; Huang Cheng-chuan, 41, of Taiwan, professor of the National Taiwan University; Hsu Ming-tung, 46, of Taiwan, a technician of the Central Weather Bureau; Yang Yu-teh, 47, of Kiangsu, managing editor of the Kuo Yu Daily: Shih Chih, 45, of Yunnan, instructor of the Armed Forces University; and Lin Erh, 38, of Taiwan, a musician and engineer.
Literary winners were Wu Wan-ku, 58, of Hunan, senior adviser to President Chiang Kai-shek; Su Hsueh-lin, 70, of Anhwei, professor of the National Cheng Kung University; Ko Fa-chan, 32, of Taiwan, a high school teacher; Lee Chung-huang, 84, of Yunnan, senior adviser to President Chiang; Wu Chiang-ping, 46, of Anhwei, an exchange professor of the New York State University; Wang Sheng-shan, Wu Chung-chi, Chiang Lung-chao and Chiang Tzu-an, who wrote a TV drama; Chen Yi-fan, 44, of Fukien, a sculptor; Li Kuo-chu, 40, of Hunan, an Air Force instructor; and Chung Shou-jen, 41, of Chekiang, a painter.
Invention award winners were Fu Fu-ching, 36, of Taiwan; Tou Pao-hua, 45, of Kiangsu; Yang Tsai-kuang, 40, of Antung; Ku Lung-fei, 55, of Shanghai; and Liao Ah-liang, 62, of Taiwan.
Winners received citations, plaques and NT$50,000 in cash at the Taipei City Auditorium with Wang Yun-wu, chairman of the Chungshan Cultural Foundation, presiding. The Foundation was set up seven years ago in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen Founding Father of the Republic.
The Directorate General of Posts opened a philatelic exhibition October 24 at the National Museum of History in Taipei. The show was intended to promote friendship and knowledge among stamp collectors throughout the world.
More than 10,000 rare Chinese and foreign stamps from 47 countries were on display. Some 110 philatelic societies and individual stamp collectors participated.
Director General of Posts S.P. Wang expressed appreciation to domestic and international philatelic societies and philatelists.
Responses came from Canada, France, Great Britain, Holland, India, Indonesia, Israel and West Germany. The Republic of China has diplomatic relations with none of these. Wang said this showed a spirit of "all men are brothers."
Junior Chamber holds Congress in Taipei
The Junior Chamber International held its 27th World Congress at Taipei in November.
More than 2,000 delegates from 60 countries took part in the eight-day meeting.
Vice President C.K. Yen told the biggest international meeting ever held in Taiwan that youth of the world had been put to a grueling test.
"The harder the times, the more grueling and rigid the test," he said.
"Youth can take up this challenge and pass this grueling test. They will be able to stand on their own feet in their time."
Yen said youth, will "plan for the future, create a new world and usher in a brighter tomorrow."
Royce Pepin, JCI president, and C.H. Kao, president of the host chapter, also spoke at the opening session, which took place at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
Mining of manpower urged by premier
Premier Chiang Ching-kuo called for the "mining of manpower" to enrich the nation's personnel resources.
He was presenting awards to "10 Outstanding Youths" chosen by the China chapter of the Junior Chamber International.
Winners were:
Dr. Wang Shih-sheng, 40, a radio expert and civil engineer in addition to his specialization in the field of dynamics.
Tu Li, a veteran agricultural worker at 30. He is the originator of a new variety of sorghum called Taichung No.3.
Ho Ming-chu, 39, one of the leading agricultural technologists in Taiwan, for his contribution to mushroom exports.
Lin Hsiu-hsiung, 33, a quality control expert.
Lin Ching-fu, 39, of the Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bureau, who solved a contamination problem in brewing rice wine.
Hu Yao-heng, 38, first Oriental on the drama faculty of the University of Michigan.
Chen Ju-chin, 32, U.S.-trained geologist, who has studied sediments of the South China Sea.
Chen Chi-sheng, 37, a jurist specializing in labor law.
Chang Ching-wen, 38, deputy superintendent of the Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei.
Ou Hung-lie, 32, section chief of the department of Latin American affairs of the Foreign Ministry, for his contributions to cultural interflow between the Republic of China and Peru.