On March 25, the Office of the President officially re-named its building the "Presidential Building," replacing the previous name "Chieh Shou Hall" that epitomizes an authoritarian time in Taiwan's history.
A marble plaque where the old name of the building was carved will be carefully taken care of at the Academia Historica as historical relic.
The name, "Chieh Shou," was used to celebrate late President Chiang Kai-shek's 60-year-old birthday. Therefore, according to the Department of Public Affairs, "To replace the name 'Chieh Shou Hall' with 'Presidential Building' attests to the fact that Taiwan has successfully transformed from an authoritarian to a democratic country, and has embodied Taiwan's democracy and its people's popular sovereignty."
At the time when the Republic of China was still in power in mainland China, the presidential building at that time was bombed in an air raid and half destroyed during the World War II. The repairing work started in 1946 and was completed in the following year, and the building was immediately named "Chieh Shou Hall." Soon after the nationalist government came to Taiwan in 1949, a resolution was made by the Executive Yuan that the "Chieh Shou Hall" was destined for the working place of the president and the vice president.
"The name 'Chieh Shou Hall' is a product of a special time in Taiwan's history," the department said and pointed out that to rename it the "Presidential Building" perfectly complies with the function of the building and bears constitutional significance.