Memorial ceremony of Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu (施照子), Honorary superintendent of Aiai Nursing home, would be held on 24th December 9a.m at Jing Yang Hall (景仰廳) of Taipei City Mortuary Services Office Second Funeral Parlor. Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu was born in 1910 and died from heart failure on December 9 at the age of 93 years old.

The memorial ceremony of Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu, superintendent of Aiai Nursing Home, would be officiating by National Policy Advisor Pastor Kao Jun Ming (郭俊明). President Mr. Chen Shui Pien (陳水扁) would be at the ceremony to express the highest respect to the Japanese woman who dedicated all her life to the most underprivileged groups of Taiwan.

Mention about the superintendent Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu and Aiai Nursing Home which she ran over half of a century, it would be call as “legend of love”. The founder of Aiai Nursing Home was Mr. Shih Ch’ien who came from a business family of Dan Shui (淡水). He was born in 1899. He graduated from Taipei industrial School with excellent grade and got a job in Taiwan Governor General Industry and commerce section. It’s not easy at the early period of Taiwan under Japanese ruled. When he was sent to investigate the life of poor people of Monga(艋舺), he discovered that there were many beggars. Some of them even lived on begging for several generations. He is decided to help them to improve their lives. He started from teaching them reading and the skills for daily life. In 1923, Mr. Shih Ch’ien quitted the enviable job and sold out his property to found Aiai Ryou (愛愛寮) and set up huts at today’s Da Li Street (大理街).

It is said that Mr. Shih Ch’ien was often pushing a cart finding the people who was abandon by the sociality, like beggars, opium addicts, neurotic and the people who had Leprosy, etc. and brought them to Aiai Ryou. Aiai Ryou was like a big family. Mr. Shih Ch’ien, his wife and his kids live with residents, too. It was also like a school that helping beggars to rebuild their lives. What Mr. Shih Ch’ien had done caused a sensation and had been praise by Taiwan Governor General several time. Aiai Ryou even received the Royal Bounty from the Japanese Emperor.

Mrs. Shimizu Teruko (清水照子) who was born in a wealthy Japanese family was introduced to Mr. Shih Ch’ien by her neighbor Mrs. Shih Hsiu Feng (施秀鳳), cousin of Mr. Shih Ch’ien. She was touched by what Mr. Shih Ch’ien had done. In 1934, the woman who graduated from girls’ senior high school married Mr. Shih Ch’ien and came to Taiwan. She became “Mother of Beggars”.

After wedding, Mrs. Shimizu Teruko came to Taiwan. She has had a dramatic impact both physically and mentally. She had to face the queer life style of beggars’ huts, but she tried hard to adapt it and concern on the people who was abandon by the sociality. Although they had ulcer, she still helped them to wash their body and fed them. Soon Taiwan entered “Wartime system”. The short of supplies made charity like Aiai Ryou even more difficult to maintain. Mr. Shih Ch’ien had to raise money or assisted government and served as the head of Defender Group. As a result, Mrs. Teruko took the responsibility of taking care of the entire Aiai Ryou.

In 1944, short before the end of the war, Mr. Shih Ch’ien died in a sudden. After the end of the war, hundreds of things were waited to be done. It’s hard for Mrs. Teruko to maintain Aiai Ryou. She considered went back to Japan. However, she didn’t have the heart to let hundreds of residents of Aiai Ryou became beggars again. Finally, she decided to become naturalized as a Taiwanese citizen and continuing the vocation of Mr. Shih Ch’ien.

The achievement of Mrs. Chao Tzu has been reported every once in a while. Both Japanese and Taiwanese suggested praising her, but she refuse all of them with thanks. Modern Charity is particular about public relations and marketing, therefore being award will be helpful to strive for supporting especially for the institution that doesn’t have much financial resources like Aiai Nursing Home. But Japanese woman are always humble and the Christians believe in “Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth”, Mrs. Chao Tzu insisted on refusing the praise. Her attitude is the same as Mr. Shih Ch’ien when he decided to found Aiai Ryou. They are like the clean stream in the dirty river.

(2004-03-25/United Daily News/B6/Taipei)

The classic representative charity of Taipei, Taipei private Aiai Nursing Home hold the expansion engineering groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, and will transform into a large senior nursing institute of Taipi.

Aiai Nursing Home originated from Aiai Ryou, locates at Da Li Street, and was founded by Mr. Shih Ch’ien who was called “Schweitzer of Taiwan” in 1923. It began from taking in beggars. In 1944, Mr. Shih Ch’ien died from fatigue. After that his Japanese wife Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu (Mrs. Shimizu Teruko) continued to run Aiai Ryou and she also took in the people who were homeless, disables, neurotics and orphans except for beggars.

After Japanese government left Taiwan, Aiai Ryou renamed as Aiai Nursing Home and set up Child Care Center, Vocational Skill Learning Center, Disable Training Center and Women Vocational Training Center. In 1953, Aiai Nursing Home renamed as Taipei Private Aiai Almshouse. In 1963, for the policy of Department of Social Welfare, Aiai Almshouse took in disables incurable seniors, and changed Child Care Center into Senior Nursing Center. The history of Aiai Nursing Home is much longer than “Kuang Tz’u Fraternity Foundation”. It can say that Aiai is the first senior nursing institute set up in Taipei. In 1976, Aiai Almshouse rename as Taipei Aiai Nursing Home to date.

In 2001, Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu was died. Her son Mr. Shih Wu Jing (施武靖) was designated as her successor. His greatest wish is to improve the facilities of Aiai Nursing Home.

Part of Aiai Nursing Home was two-floor building constructed in 1965 and was severely damaged because of Nali Typhoon in 2002. As a result Aiai Nursing home reconstructed at the same location. It is expected to accept 76 senior who need nursing, 27 seniors who have dementia and 28 retire seniors.

 

Aiai Nursing Home, originator of Taipei senior nursing center

(Reporter Chen Chih Hua)

Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu, Mother of Beggars, died on 9th this month at the age 93. Her memorial ceremony was hold at Taipei City Mortuary Service Office Second Funeral Parlor yesterday. She succeeded to the superintendent at the death of her husband Mr. Shih Ch’ien when she is 34 years old. Although her Chinese was not very well, she was always smiling and being friendly. She insisted to treat the residents with love.

In 1923, Aiai Ryou was founded and began to take in beggars, homeless, sickness, neurotics and orphans. After Japanese Government left Taiwan, Aiai Ryou renamed as Taipei Aiai Nursing Home and set up Children Care Center, Vocational Skill learning Center, Disable Training Center and Women Vocational Training Ceneter. In 1953, Aiai Nursing Home renamed as Taipei Private Aiai Almshouse. For the policy of Department of Social Welfare, change Child Care Center into Seniors Care Center. Aiai Nursing home was founded earlier then Kuang Tz’u Freternity Foundation and it’s the first senior nursing institute in Taipei. Rename as Taipei Aiai Nursing Home in 1976.

The impression of Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu on the seniors lived in Aiai no matter they had stayed here for 7-8 years or above 20years was gentle and nice. She often looked around and concerned on the seniors. She came to Taiwan for decades. She communicated in Japanese most of the time, but sometimes she greeted to the seniors with limited Chinese.

The second daughter of Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu, Mrs. Shih Mei Dai (施美代) said that her mother considered going back to Japan after father’s death, but she didn’t have heart to let hundreds residents became beggars again. She decided to stay and continue father’s vocation. From past till now, both Japan and Taiwan reported her stories and praised her once in a while. Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu always keeps a low profile. She insisted on refusing to be praise and attend award ceremony. The only one exception was the Senior Career Women Achievement Award Ceremony hold by Rotary International, District 3520. Mr. Shih Chao Tzu attended the ceremony after been invited several times and was awarded by Vice President Lu Hsiu Lien (呂秀蓮).

Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu has five daughters and one son. The only son Mr. Shih Wu Jing succeeded the work of superintendent from his mother. He was a civil servant and was now 60 years old. He retired in 1984, because Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu is weak at that time. The oldest sister asked Mr. Shih Wu Jing to be prepared to take over mother’s work, therefore Mr. Shih Wu Jing went to city senior retirement center of self-expense for practical training. There were lots of senior nursing center in Taipei. Mr. Shih Wu Jing said he would make Aiai Nursing Home going concern because his mother wish to last father’s vocation.

Mr. Shih Wu Jing said the propose of Aiai Nursing Home were nonprofit. Except the seniors at public expense, Aiai started to take in seniors at self-expense. There was a building reconstructed 30 years ago in Aiai. In order to keep up with the trend, face the competition and improve the quality, Mr. Shih Wu Jing said his priority as superintendent is to reconstruct the facilities and make seniors lived more comfortable.

(2011-12-25/Unify Daily Report/20th edition/Taipei Life)

She traveled to foreign country because of love. A Taiwanese wife came from Japan. Take care of beggars, fed them, did the laundry and made Aiai glowing. She devoted more than 60 years and never regrets. Wooden house became buildings. Aiai was a warm place for seniors to spend their later years.

(Reporter Dai An Wei/ exclusive interview)

There was a “Mother of Beggars” in Taiwan. A Taiwanese wife came from Japan. She traveled to foreign country because of love. She devoted all her life to Taiwan.

A rag picker who set up school, Mr. Wang Kuan Ying, was died. The last place he lived is Aiai Nursing Home at Wan Hua district of Taipei. The superintendent of Aiai, Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu, was now 88 years old, couldn’t speak Chinese. Although she communicated with the seniors with Japanese and a little Taiwanese, everybody loved her. She loved the seniors with heart and won their respect.

The original name of Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu was Mrs. Shimizu Teruko. She was born in a wealthy family in the 13th year of Showa Period (1910). She graduated from second girls’ senior high school. In 1934, she married Mr. Shih Ch’ien, the philanthropist of Taiwan, against her parents well and began her life as Taiwanese wife.

Speaking of Aiai Nursing Home and her late husband Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu had tears in her eyes. She recollected her old memories with the help of interpreter. Mr. Shih Ch’ien was 11 years old than her. He was born in a distinguished family of Dan Shui in 1899. He graduated from Taihoku prefecture industrial school (today’s National Taipei Institute of Technology) and entered Office of the Governor General of Japan. One year when he was sent to investigate the poor people in Monga area, he realized that there were many beggars in Taiwan and some of them even lived on begging for three generations. He persuaded his father to sell out their family property for constructing wooden house and setting up Aiai Ryou at Hsia Liao of Midori Chou (today’s Da Li Street) in 1923.

Aiai Nursing home, originated from Aiai Ryou, taking in beggars, people who had leprosy, neurotic and opium addicts. In order to arouse the community to solve the problem of society, Mr. Shih Ch’ien wrote the books “the life in the society of beggars”, “The theory of reducing beggars”, etc. His book aroused repercussion and won the title “Father of Beggars”. In 1929, Japanese government attached great importance to him and invited him to the accession ceremony of the Japanese Emperor as distinguish guest and got bounty to expand Aiai Ryou.

Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu said she met Mr. Shih Ch’ien by the introduction of her family. The wife of Mr. Shih Ch’ien was died. He had to raise two daughters and take care of the resident of Aiai, therefore he need assistance urgently. She was the daughter of an illustrious family. After she became the hostess of Aiai Ryou, she became “Mother of Beggars” of Monga.

Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu just came to Taiwan and was unfamiliar with the place. She lived with the beggars. She gave sick beggars the injections, fed them, helped them to do the laundry and washed their body. In 1939, the Pacific War broke out. In the tense situation and the short of resources, she sold her platinum ring and kimono to exchange food. When Mr. Shih Ch’ien went out to raise money, she had to take the responsibility of managing all the beggars of Aiai.

In 1944, one year before Japanese Government left Taiwan, Mr. Shih Ch’ien who had hypertension died from fatigue. Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu carried out her husband’s behest and took over Aiai Ryou. After the Restoration of Taiwan, people lived in poverty and many things are waited to be done. But the government didn’t want to take over Aiai Ryou. She felt sad and considered to go back to Japan when she thought of hundreds of residents might become beggars again. But she still stayed and worked for Aiai because the residents beseeched her.

She taught the residents to plant vegetables, raise pigs and make handicrafts such as bamboo basket and feather duster for supporting their own life. At that time, USA helped Taiwan with financial aid, and Aiai Ryou had got rid of the crisis bit by bit. After the Restoration of Taiwan, Aiai Ryou had renamed several times. In 1949, for the regulation Aiai Ryou renamed as Taipei Aiai Almshouse. In 1953, government unified the name of almshouse, Aiai Almshouse renamed as Taipei Private Aiai Almshouse. And in 1976, Aiai Almshouse renamed as Taipei Aiai Nursing Home.

The residents of Aiai Nursing home had changed because of time, too. At first the residents of Aiai was beggars then gradually change into the seniors who didn’t have descendants, women and kids. Now the residents of Aiai are the disable seniors and seniors from low income family. Some of the seniors are forwarded by government and some are at their own expense. The amount of residents of Aiai was more than 100 in total. At the peak period, there were more than 200 residents in Aiai Nursing Home. Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu looked around the green and elegant environment of Aiai Nursing home, the place she spent almost 60 year, and said agitatedly that Aiai was just a wooden house and now it is 3 to 5 floor buildings. She was full of joy and she felt she didn’t let Mr. Shih Ch’ien down.

Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu had been to Taiwan for 64 years. She went back to Japan to visit her parents only at the first 10 years, and she devoted rest of time to Taiwan. Although she has many children and grandchildren (she and Mr. Shih Ch’ien has two daughters, one son and over 10 grandchildren and great-grandchildren), she still remain at her post and work at Aiai Nursing home at 8am to 4pm every day until now. Her loves never end.

(1998-12-17/Evening United Daily News/ 12 editions/ Taipei Metropolis)

Japanese Woman Mrs. Shimizu Teruko and her Taiwanese Husband Mr. Shih Ch’ien run Aiai Nursing Home in Taiwan. After Mr. Shih Ch’ien was dead, she succeeds the responsibility of taking care of Aiai Nursing home…

(Reporter:Dong Chih Shen)

Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu, Mother of Beggars, died on 9th this month at the age 93. Her memorial ceremony was hold at Taipei City Mortuary Service Office Second Funeral Parlor yesterday. She succeeded to the superintendent at the death of her husband Mr. Shih Ch’ien when she is 34 years old. Although her Chinese was not very well, she was always smiling and being friendly. She insisted to treat the residents with love.

In 1923, Aiai Ryou was founded and began to take in beggars, homeless, sickness, neurotics and orphans. After Japanese Government left Taiwan, Aiai Ryou renamed as Taipei Aiai Nursing Home and set up Children Care Center, Vocational Skill learning Center, Disable Training Center and Women Vocational Training Ceneter. In 1953, Aiai Nursing Home renamed as Taipei Private Aiai Almshouse. For the policy of Department of Social Welfare, change Child Care Center into Seniors Care Center. Aiai Nursing home was founded earlier then Kuang Tz’u Freternity Foundation and it’s the first senior nursing institute in Taipei. Rename as Taipei Aiai Nursing Home in 1976.

The impression of Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu on the seniors lived in Aiai no matter they had stayed here for 7-8 years or above 20years was gentle and nice. She often looked around and concerned on the seniors. She came to Taiwan for decades. She communicated in Japanese most of the time, but sometimes she greeted to the seniors with limited Chinese.

The second daughter of Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu, Mrs. Shih Mei Dai (施美代) said that her mother considered going back to Japan after father’s death, but she didn’t have heart to let hundreds residents became beggars again. She decided to stay and continue father’s vocation. From past till now, both Japan and Taiwan reported her stories and praised her once in a while. Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu always keeps a low profile. She insisted on refusing to be praise and attend award ceremony. The only one exception was the Senior Career Women Achievement Award Ceremony hold by Rotary International, District 3520. Mr. Shih Chao Tzu attended the ceremony after been invited several times and was awarded by Vice President Lu Hsiu Lien (呂秀蓮).

Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu has five daughters and one son. The only son Mr. Shih Wu Jing succeeded the work of superintendent from his mother. He was a civil servant and was now 60 years old. He retired in 1984, because Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu is weak at that time. The oldest sister asked Mr. Shih Wu Jing to be prepared to take over mother’s work, therefore Mr. Shih Wu Jing went to city senior retirement center of self-expense for practical training. There were lots of senior nursing center in Taipei. Mr. Shih Wu Jing said he would make Aiai Nursing Home going concern because his mother wish to last father’s vocation.

Mr. Shih Wu Jing said the propose of Aiai Nursing Home were nonprofit. Except the seniors at public expense, Aiai started to take in seniors at self-expense. There was a building reconstructed 30 years ago in Aiai. In order to keep up with the trend, face the competition and improve the quality, Mr. Shih Wu Jing said his priority as superintendent is to reconstruct the facilities and make seniors lived more comfortable.

(2011-12-25/Unify Daily Report/20th edition/Taipei Life)

 

 

Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu carried out her husband’s behest. She took care of poor seniors, operated Aiai Nursing Home and devoted her love.

(Lee Jui)

The story of Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu was a love story. She married a husband who truly knew about love and worked in a place full of love for many years.

Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu was now 69 years old. She is from Kyoto of Japan. Her original name was Mrs. Shimizu Teruko. She lived in Taiwan for 44 years. In 1945, after the Restoration of Taiwan, she naturalized as Taiwanese citizen and rename as Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu. She was the superintendent of Aiai Nursing Home and lived with more than 200 residents.

This was a love story without romantic. The late husband of Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu was Mr. Shih Ch'ien. He was born in 1898 and died in April, 1944. He was died from fatigue.

In Taipei, when Japanese government ruled Taiwan, Mr. Shih Ch'ien was a famous man and also a strange man. His father operated a construction factory. His family was wealthy. He was diligent and eager to learn since he was little. He graduated from Dan Shui elementary school and entered Taihoku prefecture industrial school (today's National Taipei Institute of Technology) with excellent score to learn civil engineering. His father hoped he could come home and assist their factory, but Mr. Shih Ch'ien graduated with the rank amount the best. He was recruited by the Industry and Commerce Section of the Office of Governor General and worked as technician.

During his period of service as technician, Mr. Shih Ch'ien had investigated the citizen of Taipei. He is responsible for Monga area (today's Lung Shan and Shuang Yuan). He realized that there are lots of beggar amounts the citizen. Some of them even lived on begging for three generations. He was deeply impressed. Once he attended a religious festival at Monga. He saw lots of beggar. Their faces were dirty. They were clothed in ragged and were chased and bitten by the fierce Japanese police. His feeling of injustice and sympathy was increasing. Before Japanese government ruled Taiwan, Qing government had set up three shelters of beggars (usually was called Ch'i Shih Ryou). One at Apliu Street of Twatutia(today's Nan Ching West Road), one at Lung Shan Si Strreet of Monga and one next to Hsueh Hai Acadamy (both at today’s Kuang Chou Street). But after Japanese government ruled Taiwan, the system is abolished. The beggars were without management. They were homeless and short of food. They were chased by the Japanese police when they were begging and lived without shelter. In order to know more about their lives, one day, Mr. Shih Ch’ien went to Monga after work. He followed a group of beggars secretly and discovered that they gathered around Midori Chou (Today's Da Li Street). At that time most of the Midori Chou was the fields of sugar cane of sugar factory. Others were graveyard and bamboo forests. There were not much residents. The ch'i shih ryou left behind by Qing government was old and shabby. After he saw this, Mr. Shih Ch'ien decided to improve their life. Every day after work he gathered the beggars and taught them to read. He told them to live with dignity. He raised woods from Shih Ho timber factory of his relative Mr. Shih K'un Shan. And he taught the beggars to build a shabby new home by themselves. Mr. Shih Ch'ien called this “home” as Aiai Ryou.

Soon after he set up Aiai Ryou, Mr. Shih Ch’ien quitted the job of technician even his family was against it. He sold the building of his family and expanded Aiai Ryou gradually. He lived and ate with the beggars and cured them. It was said Mr. Shih Ch’ien had infected scabies and louse, but he didn’t feel ashamed. He often raised money from the stores. When he saw beggars on the street, he brought them back to Aiai Ryou. He was like a kind and capable parent. He not only took care of their meals but also their physical and psychological health. He taught them to read, to plant vegetables, to raise pigs and to make handicrafts. Under his counseling, the beggars started to understand what was “to live on one's own”. Some of them learned very well. Mr. Shih Ch'ien recommend them for a position and asked them to leave Aiai Ryou. They became a person who can live on their own in the society.

The numbers of beggars of Aiai Ryou was increasing, but the fund was limited. Aiai Ryou had faced the crisis of dissolution. Aiai Ryou always turns the corner of better and be out of danger because of the effort of Mr. Shih Ch'ein. At that time, the merchants can do business reassuringly and there were no beggars gathered around. Mr. Shih Ch'ien was instrumental in this. For the vocation he believe in, he wrote three books “What is Beggars”, “The Theory of Reducing Beggars” and “The Life in the Society of Beggars” in order to help the citizens to know the life of beggars and how to improve their life.

After the ex-wife of Mr. Shih Ch'ien died from sickness, Mr. Shih Ch'ien married 25-year-old Mrs. Shimizu Teruko in 1935. It was said the cousin of Mr. Shih Ch'ien, Mrs. Hsiu Feng couples were the neighbor of Mrs. Shimizu Teruko. Mrs. Teruko often heard the stories of Mr. Shih Ch'ien from Mrs. Hsiu Feng. She was very admiring him.

They used to change photos and write to each other for a year before they got marry. After Mrs. Chao Tzu came to Taiwan at a young age, she had to not only take care of the two daughters of Mr. Shih Ch'ien but also give the sick beggars injections, teach them to read and make handicraft. She and Mr. Shih Ch'ien had three daughters and one son. They were all engaged in education and social work. The oldest and second daughters of Mr. Shih Ch'ien were now helping their mother from foreign country managing Aiai Nursing Home.

Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu had many children and grandchildren. She had tenderness and patience of Japanese woman. She remembered when she first came to Aiai Ryou from Japan, the environment was desolate just like walking into a wild land. Sometimes when the food is short, they only had sweet potato with salt for meal. Although she often infected dermatosis from the residents as Mr. Shih Ch'ien, more than 200 hundreds residents in Aiai Ryou were like a big family. The life was hard but they never felt hard because there was love in the heart. That “love” is what Dr. Sun Yat Sen called “fraternity”. After the Restoration of Taiwan, people's life improved gradually. The word “beggars” became history. Now the residents of Aiai are not beggars. Most of them are the seniors who don't have descendent and disable people. From the shabby huts of Aiai Ryou to the substantial building of Aiai Almshouse was a difficult road. Although Mr. Shih Ch'ien was died, his wife Mr. Shih Chao Tzu still lived strongly in the story of love.

(1978-03-10/ United Daily News/ 9th editions/ entertainment)

In 1944, Mr. Shih Ch'ien, broke down from overwork, died from cerebral hemorrhage. 34 year-old Mrs. Shimizu Teruko couldn’t abandon the residents of Aiai Ryou that her husband operate on his own. She decided to carry out her husband’s behest. She took the responsibility of the operation of Aiai Ryou. Although there was still some shortage, she never gave up. Because the Japanese women are always humble and the Christians believe in “Let not thy left hand knows what thy right hand doeth”, she insisted not to accept any reward.

Spoke of Today's Taipei Aiai Nursing Home, people would think of Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu, “Mother of beggars”. Mrs. Shimizu Teruko, the honor superintendent who took care of the poor and sick about over half of a century, was a legend of love. If our life was a story wrote by our own, Mrs. Chao Tzu was a woman and wife that was witness by days and accompanied her husband Mr. Shih Ch'ien took in beggars and taught them the skill of daily life in ancient Taiwan where the society was lack of the concept of social relief. She was Japanese. She was moved by the action of Mr. Shih Ch'ien, so she gave her life to this Taiwanese man and his vocation.

Mrs. Shimizu Teruko was born in a wealthy family in 1910. After graduated from Second girl's senior high school of Kyoto Japan, she met Mr. Shih Ch'ien an overseas students from Taiwan by the introduction of her friend. Mr. Shih Ch'ien was born in a family operating construction factory in 1899. He graduated from Taihoku prefecture Industrial school with excellent score and worked in Industry and Commerce Section of the Office of Governor General. Once when he was send to investigate the poor people Monga area (today's Lung Shan and Shuang Yuan), he realized that there are lots of beggars. Some of them even lived on begging for generations. He is not only enthusiastic but also idealist and humanitarian. He decided to improve their lives by education. He started to gather these beggars and taught them to read and the skill of daily life. In 1923, Mr. Shih Ch'ien quitted the enviable job and sold out the house of his family. He took in the people abandon by sociality such as the beggars, opium addicts, neurotic and people who had leprosy to Aiai Ryou. Mr. Shih Ch'ien and his family life with them in Aiai Ryou like a big family. Aiai Ryou was also like a school. He concerned on them but also very strict, because he wanted to change their habit eagerly and helped to them live on their own in order to become useful for the sociality. For reducing beggars, he often took in beggars compulsively. His voice was loud and never cared about the result when he took the beggars to Aiai Ryou compulsively. Because he was always rushed, people called him “God of Thunder”. At that time, the beggars liked to live freely. They didn't want to be restraint. That's why they were afraid of Aiai Ryou. It was said the beggars often stopped the row of funeral to ask for money. But if Mr. Shih Ch'ien put the flag of Aiai Ryou on the way of the row of funeral, the beggars won't come near. Because they were afraid of being catch by the God of Thunder and take to Aiai Ryou. The reputation of Aiai Ryou and what Mr. Shih Ch'ien had done had caused a sensation. He researched the cause of beggars and wrote the books “The Life of the Sociality of Beggars” and “The Theory of Reducing Beggars” base on the real case. The Governor General had praised him many times. Even the Japanese Emperor rewarded him 3000 Yen in order to praise him in 1929. But these supports couldn't make Aiai Ryou be without fear. In early time, the financial support was mostly from the property of Shih Family and some subscription. The residents planted vegetables, raised pigs and made handicraft also had some income. But these could only maintain the daily life of the residents. Sometimes the government and public interest group would provide financial support. Until now, Aiai Nursing home never had a foundation or regular industrial income. To preserve this ideal career of humanitarianism was very difficult from the beginning.

“Love” is to become Mother of beggars

Mr. Shih Ch'ien and Mrs. Shimizu Teruko met because the Japanese writer Mr. Kikuchi Hiroshi came to Taiwan. He realized that there were no beggars on the street of Taipei and was impressed by the idear of Mr. Shih Ch'ien of educated them. He published these on the media of Japan. She was moved by Mr. Shih Ch'ien because of his nobleness expressed by words of books and actions and his humanitarianism idea of arouse more power from sociality to help the unprivileged people. After introduced by friend, they began to communicate with letter. In 1934, 24-year-old Mrs. Teruko came to Taiwan against her family's will. She decided to give her lifetime to Mr. Shih Ch'ien. She left Mrs. Shimizu Teruko the wealthy girl graduated from senior high school in Kyoto and used Chinese name Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu. She became Mother of Beggars who lived with them.

After the ex-wife of Mr. Shih Ch'ien was died, he married again. Mrs. Teruko came to Taiwan. The unfamiliar place impacted on her both physically and psychologically. She faced the family of Mr. Shih Ch'ien and the queer life of Aiai Ryou with a complicate mood of coming to Taiwan alone. After wedding, she tried hard to adapt the situation. She took care of the beggars and even the two daughters of Mr. Shih Ch’ien never regret. When Mr. Shih Ch'ien went out to raise money for Aiai Ryou or was busy on the life of beggars, she was responsibility for managing more than 100 beggars. She recognized more about to love, to give, and to empathy from her husband and the residents day by day. She concerned about these people who were abandon by sociality. She didn't afraid of their ulcer, she helped them to clean their body and fed them. She became the best assistant of her husband and won the respect and appreciation from Shih Family and the beggars. The era and social environment was connected to the history. To everybody The Greater East Asia Coprosperity Sphere and Pacific War were inevitable. Taiwan soon entered “War system”. The short of resources made the charity Aiai Ryou supported alone even more difficult.

In 1944, Mr. Shih Ch'ien broke down from over work. He died from cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 45. 34 year old Mrs. Shih Chao Tzu took the responsibility of taking care of entire Aiai Ryou. After the restoration of Taiwan at the end of the war, National government was dealing with the civil war anxiously. There were hundreds of things waiting to be done. Government couldn’t consider about Aiai Ryou. Mrs. Teruko had thought of going back to Japan with other Japanese. However, because of the marvelous destiny and responsibility, she didn’t had heart to see hundreds residents became beggars again. Finally, she decided to naturalize new government and continue to live with Aiai Ryou in order to finish her maternal vocation. She continued to teach the residents to make tools, plant vegetables or other skills (such as learn how to make tofu in tofu factory). She helped them to had a skill to live on at least.