SU,WEN KUI

Interview name Interview with Teacher SU,WEN KUI
Interview date February 17 (Thu)
Interview time 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m
Interview location Tamkang High School History Room
Interviewer SU, WEN KUI
Interviewee CHIU, JIA LE、HO, YAO CHENG
Recorder HSU, LANG, EN、CHENG , JEN-AN
Purpose of the interview Want to know more detailed historical records about Mackay, as well as related documents.

Introduction

　　First, introduce the interview character: Su Wen Kui, the teacher who graduated from the art class of Tamkang Middle School, returned to Tamkang Middle School in 2000 to teach the subject of school history, established the History Room of Tamkang Middle School, and served as the curator, and also served as a member of the Tamsui Literature and History Studio.

Mackay in the eyes of Teacher Su Wen Kui

　　In the eyes of teacher Su Wen Kui, Mackay is a medical scientist, educator, but also an explorer. Since Mackay arrived in Taiwan, he traveled to the Southern region more than 50 times and to Yilan more than 30 times. He always walks on foot, ranging from 3 to 5 days, and recorded the living conditions of many Han people and indigenous people during the trips, which contributes to the current historical research archaeology.

The buildings which teacher Su Wen Kui believes can represent Mackay

　　The first is the Tamsui Church because it is the first church founded by Mackay, which is of great significance to Mackay. The second is the Hobe MacKay Hospital, it is the first base in Taiwan where he first gave medical treatments to local people and it is also the birthplace of advanced medical methods. The third is the Oxford College where the new methods of Western education was introduced. And the last is the Mackay Cemetery, which is a reminder of Mackay dedicating his life to Taiwan. After his death, he was buried on the treasure island of Taiwan to represent his life.

What do you think the misunderstandings the public may have for Mackay?

　　Everyone regards Mackay as a god-like being, but Teacher Su Wen Kui feels that Mackay is also an ordinary person like us, and he also has weakness of human nature.  When Mackay went to Houlong to meet a priest, the priest was frightened, because Mackay's language, accent, and skin color were just like a native Taiwanese, which implicates that he had fully integrated into the Han society and culture.

Impressed by Mackay's contribution

　　Mackay was a missionary of the Presbyterian Church sent from Toronto. The establishment of schools and hospitals in Taiwan is still being used today, such as the Taiwan Theological College and Seminary founded by Mackay, the Tamsui Girls’ School has become the Tamkang Middle School, the Oxford College has become the Aletheia University, and the Hobe Mackay Hospital has become the Mackay Memorial Hospital, which is of great help to today's society.

The source of funding the Hobe Mackay Hospital

　　There were two sources of fundraising. The first is a Canadian Presbyterian Church fundraising activities. And the second was a captain named Mackay in Detroit, USA, whose wife donated 2500 US dollars to Mackay, and the "Kai" of the Hobe Mackay Medical Center is named after the captain.

Mackay introduced quinine water

　　In cooperation with a British pharmaceutical company, quinine water and other drugs were sold to Mackay at a low price, so that Mackay can save the Taiwanese. After Mackay's death, the Presbyterian Church issued a certificate of thanks appreciation to the pharmaceutical company.

What is the reason behind churches gradually disappearing today?

　　Most of them were rented. When the lease expires, the building will immediately be demolished. When Mackay built the churches, he did not expect that the church would be used for so long, he only used clay bricks and a few beams and columns to build up, and with time passing, the churches were mostly rusted and broken. Another reason was that several churches were destroyed during the Sino-French War. However, Liu Ming Chuan later gave about 10,000 yuan of compensation to Mackay to build 7 new churches.

Mackay and the aboriginals

　　Mackay's missionary works spread to the Houlong Xingang Society, and he once lived in the Pingpu tribe during Christmas time.  And there was a time when the natives of Xindian passed through Tamsui and went to visit Mackay, he hosted them to live near the Oxford College for three days.

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