趙明河事件
• 大韓帝國的日治時期
1907年，日本逼迫大韓帝國君主高宗退位，由純宗繼位，並解散朝鮮軍隊實施統監政治，日本政府指派伊藤博文擔任第一任統監。一直以來，日本國內一直有日和韓合併的聲音，但伊藤博文認為有礙國際觀感等因素而極力反對。

1909年10月26日，伊藤博文出使哈爾濱，與俄國大臣科科夫佐夫商談日俄在中國東北、朝鮮半島勢力的劃分，遭到朝鮮愛國人士安重根近距離槍殺身亡，因此主張合併的勢力逐漸又成為主流，隔年日本便將朝鮮併入版圖，在朝鮮設置總督府為朝鮮最高行政單位，大韓帝國正式滅亡，開啟長達35年的「日治時期」（1910~1945）。

由於一連串併吞的動作，激起朝鮮人對日本的不滿，1919年，高宗暴斃，朝鮮人民多認為是日本毒害致死，激起了人民「反日」的情緒，加上美國總統威爾遜提出了民族自決的觀念，在國際情勢相輔相成下，國葬變成爭取獨立的「三一運動」；而所謂「不敬事件」的主事者趙明河就是在這樣的氛圍下成長。

• 少年的趙明河
趙明河，1905年5月11日生於朝鮮黃海道松禾郡下里簡長泉313番地，是農民趙容禹之次男。1920年畢業於松禾普通學校，接著在經營中藥舖的親戚趙鏞基家寄宿，並學習中藥處方與調劑，在這個時期，他努力學習外語，日語尤其流利。1925年與同鄉女子吳金全結婚，婚後育有一子。

1926年趙明河考上黃海道信川郡役所地方書記，工作堪稱穩定。但就在這一年的4月26日，大韓帝國末代皇帝純宗駕崩，朝鮮人民從各地湧入首爾昌德宮弔唁，悲痛的情緒引發出憤慨的怒火，因此爆發了「六•十萬歲運動」。加上先前已有多起反抗運動，朝鮮整體的民族意識高張，崇拜同鄉安重根的趙明河，也燃起反抗的意識。但故鄉在日本政府的嚴密控制下難以伸張其志，於是辭去公職，隻身前往大阪，等待起事反抗的機會。

抵達大阪的趙明河，化名為「明河豐雄」，自稱是仙臺市池野町明河銀四郎之長男，白天在大阪電力公司當職員，後來轉到安達針織工廠擔任門市員，夜間在大阪商工學校及大阪市立商工專修學校進修。在日本停留的時間，始終等不到起事的機會。

• 在臺時期的趙明河
1927年11月，趙明河前來臺灣。根據1933年由韓國獨立運動者趙素昂出版的《遺芳集》中記載，趙明河來臺的原因是想前往位於上海的「大韓民國臨時政府」，同時也在找尋行刺臺灣總督上山滿之進的機會；但在法院的判決書來看，是敘述趙明河認為臺灣物資豐富，會有更多的發展機會。從這邊我們就能看出統治者與被統治者的不同解讀面向。

趙明河從神戶港搭船抵達基隆港，在臺北找不到工作，便轉往臺中，經由臺中市役所職業介紹所的介紹，到了位於榮町，在日本人池田正秀經營的「富貴園」茶舖（今臺中市繼光街52號）擔任雇員，負責送茶或是到茶園內工作，月薪十元。

一直以來，趙明河相當不滿朝鮮人的薪資不到日本人的一半，加上老闆口頭允諾要為他加薪，卻從未實行，甚至苛扣薪水，推託是以郵便儲金的方式幫他存起來，但卻從未出示過郵便通帳（存簿），趙明河因此心生不滿。原本想在5月12日離開臺中前往臺南，卻在出發前依舊要不到該領到的薪水，不滿之情為之高漲。

• 刺殺行動展開
趙明河從報紙上得知5月13日，大將久邇宮邦彥親王（後來昭和天皇的岳父）將以帝國陸軍檢閱使的身分來臺中校閱軍隊，14日上午將會搭乘10點的火車前往臺北。因此在榮町一丁目購買了一把刀鞘青黑色的短刀，並將短刀貼上偽裝用的白紙。

上午9點50分，久邇宮邦彥親王與隨從分乘八臺車從臺中知事官邸（今臺中市交通局）出發，沿路都有學生與民眾揮舞旗幟，途經大正町的臺中州立圖書館時（今民權路、自由路交叉口），車隊因要左轉而放慢速度，這時，手持短刀的趙明河從人群中竄出，跳上座車欲刺殺久邇宮邦彥親王，卻因為手被車子的敞篷擋住，致使其失手，就在一旁的侍衛上前制止時，趙明河將手中短刀射出，刺中司機中尾正重左背。刺殺失手後，趙明河趁亂往今繼光街彰銀宿舍的方向逃去，被在現場的臺中女子公學校（今篤行國小）訓導內田賢吉、錦町派出所巡查鄭有弟、蔡福三追上逮捕，押送至臺中警察署。被捕以後的趙明河對著群眾微笑大喊：你們不要怕，我只是為了大韓報仇，大韓民國萬歲！

趙明河在刺殺行動失敗以後，吞下鹽酸嗎啡自盡，嘔吐病昏迷三天後被救回。在臺中警察署羈押一個月後，6月14日正午由追分驛，搭海岸線列車送入臺北刑務所。也在這一天，臺灣總督上山滿之進宣布辭職，由川村竹治接任，其他相關人等罰薪。但後總督總務長官後藤文夫、警務局長本山文平、臺中州知事佐藤續等人，也相繼引咎辭職。此一「趙明河事件」，日本史上稱為「臺中不敬事件」。

• 死刑宣判
7月18日，高等法院由金子裁判長宣告判決，以刑法第75條「對皇族加危害者處死刑」，以及第54條「一個行為觸數個罪名或犯罪手段或結果之行為而他罪名時以其最重刑處斷」，宣告其死刑。趙明河聽判時，一開始掩面而泣，但後來昂然挺立接受判決，從容面對。

10月10日上午10點12分，趙明河在臺北刑場執行絞刑，執行前留下遺言：「死亡的此瞬間早就心理準備好了，只是不能看到祖國獨立，實在是遺恨而已，我到另一世界也要從事韓國獨立運動，大韓獨立萬歲！」態度從容的合掌站上行刑臺，10點27分宣告斷氣，其遺體後來埋葬於臺北六張犁刑務所墓地。

而遭到刺殺的久邇宮邦彥親王，在遭到刺殺後的翌年也不幸過世。這件所謂「臺中不敬事件」，就此畫下句點。而韓國也在首爾大公園，以及臺北的韓僑小學內，都設立了趙明河的銅像紀念。

特別值得一提的是，苛扣薪水的富貴園老闆後來遭到多次的調查，雖將店名改為「華生園」，但後來就算登報、刊載廣告或舉辦活動，皆無法延續本來的生意，事發後一個月歇業，老闆池田正秀只能默默返回日本不知所蹤。

• 臺中州圖書館
趙明河刺殺親王的地點為今日的自由路與民權路口，在案發以後數月，一旁開始起建臺中州圖書館，也就是現在的合作金庫。

1911年（明治44年）由山移定政、山田恭之進、梶原保人、小畑駒三等人上書總督府推動設立。1920年（大正9年），臺中州知事加福豊次認為有設置圖書館的必要，將自己的一千多本藏書捐給臺中州圖書館，彰化銀行頭取坂本素魯哉捐款3000元購入新書，1921年（大正10年）圖書館在臺中公共團舊址開幕，後來陸續借用臺中俱樂部、大正町一丁目的大屯郡役所舊址等地。1928年（昭和3年），臺中州廳出資三萬元，民間捐款三萬五千元，起建紅磚構造，外貼十三溝面磚，地上三層，總建坪414坪，藏書兩萬兩千冊的臺中州圖書館，10月動工起造新館，翌年10月完工啟用。(2,000字完整版)

The Cho Myeong-Ha Incident

● The Korean Empire under Japanese Rule

In 1907, Japan forced Gojong, emperor of the Korean Empire, to step down from his throne and be succeeded by Sunjong. Korea’s own military forces were dissolved and superseded by the governance of the Japanese Resident-General of Korea, with Ito Hirobumi appointed by the Japanese government as the first Resident-General. There had always been voices calling for the annexation of Korea within Japan, but Ito Hirobumi was extremely opposed to this approach, feeling that it would negatively affect Japan’s image upon the global stage.

On October 26th, 1909, Ito Hirobumi went to Harbin as an ambassador to discuss the division of northeast China and the Korean peninsula with Vladimir Kokovtsov, Prime Minister of Russia. During this diplomatic mission, he was almost fatally wounded at close range by Korean nationalist An Jung-geun. Because of this incident, advocacy in favor of Korea’s annexation once again slowly became mainstream. Korea became a part of Japanese territory the following year, and the Office of the Governor-General was established as the highest administrative power in Korea. The Korean Empire was thus officially brought to an end, marking the beginning of "Japanese rule" that would last for 35 years (1910-1945).

These moves to incorporate Korea into Japan sparked the Koreans’ contempt for the Japanese. When Gojong suddenly passed in 1919, most Koreans believed that the Japanese had poisoned him to death, further provoking “anti-Japan” sentiments among the general populace. United States President Woodrow Wilson further fueled this sentiment by promoting the principles of self-determination which, in conjunction with the global state of affairs, turned the state funeral into the “March 1st Movement” through which the Korean people sought independence. It was growing up in such an environment that made Cho Myeong-Ha the future instigator of the Lèse Majesté Incident.

● A Young Cho Myeong-Ha
Cho Myeong-Ha was born in Songhwa County, Hwanghae Province, Korea on May 11th, 1905 as the second son of farmer Cho Long-Yu. After graduating from Songhwa Middle School, he lived with Cho Yong-Gi, a relative who ran a Chinese herbal medicine shop and from whom he learned the art and practices of Chinese medicine. During this period, he worked hard at learning foreign languages and was especially fluent in Japanese. In 1925, he married O Kim-Jeon, a woman from his hometown whom he later had a child with.

Thereafter, in 1926, Cho Myeong-Ha became qualified in an exam to work for the local government of Sinchon County, Hwanghaedo Province as a secretary, a job that is considered to be fairly steady. However, on April 26th of that same year, Sunjong, last emperor of the Korean Empire, passed away. Koreans filed into the Changdeokgung palace in Seoul from all over the country to mourn, and from their grieving, the flames of outrage were born, eventually leading to the outburst of the “June 10th Movement.” This addition to preceding uprisings bolstered the nationalism of the Korean people, and sparks of rebellion also began to stir within Cho Myeong-Ha who greatly admired his hero from home, An Jung-Geun. However, the strict surveillance of the Japanese government made it difficult for him to promote his ideals in his hometown, so he resigned from his government job and traveled alone to Osaka to bide his time for a chance to instigate an uprising.

Upon arrival in Osaka, he went under the name “Akikawa Toyo” and claimed to have come from Sentai, Ikebukuro as the eldest son of Akikawa Ginshiro. By day, he worked at the Osaka Power Company before taking a job as a salesperson for the Anda Knitting Factory; by night, he pursued his studies at Osaka Vocational School and the Osaka Special Training College of Commerce. Ultimately, he was unable to find his chance during his time in Japan.

● Cho Myeong-Ha in Taiwan
In November of 1927, Cho Myeong-Ha came to Taiwan. According to independence leader Cho So-Ang’s biography, titled Yubang chip, Cho Myeong-Ha’s motive for coming to Taiwan was to travel further on to the “Governor-General of Korea” in Shanghai while looking for the opportunity to assassinate Kamiyama Mitsunoshin, the Governor-General of Taiwan. However, according to the verdict of the court, Cho Myeong-Ha believed that Taiwan’s abundant resources would provide him with many opportunities for development. The disparity between the two records exhibits the difference between the interpretations of the governing authority and those who are governed.

Cho Myeong-Ha arrived in Keelung by boat all the way from the Port of Kobe. Unable to find a job in Taipei, he moved on to Taichung and, through a referral from Taichung City Hall Employment Agency, acquired a job at “Fu-Gui-Yuan,” a tea shop in Rongting (presently 52 Jiguang Street, Taichung) owned by Ikeda Masahide. He was in charge of delivering tea as well as working in the fields, and earned ten dollars a month.

Cho Myeong-Ha had always been dissatisfied with how Koreans were unable to make even half of what the average Japanese person earned. On top of that, his boss would always verbally promise to give him a raise without actually doing so, even docking his pay at times while claiming to be helping him save money at the post office, despite having never shown him any sort of deposit statement. All of this made Cho Myeong-Ha extremely bitter and disgruntled. He had originally planned to leave Taichung for Tainan on May 12th, but after not receiving the salary he was entitled to, his great dissatisfaction quickly boiled over.

● Assassination
Cho Myeong-Ha found out from the newspapers that on May 13th Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi (later the father-in-law of Emperor Showa) would be paying Taichung's military forces a visit as inspector of the Imperial Army, and that he would be taking the 10 o’clock morning train bound for Taipei on the morning of the 14th. He therefore bought a dagger with a dark green hilt, disguising the blade by wrapping it in white paper.

At 9:50 a.m., Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi and his escorts split into eight cars and set off for the official residence of the governor of Taichung (presently the Transportation Bureau of Taichung City Government) while students and civilians waved flags in celebration of the royal visit. Along the way, the motorcade passed by Taichung Prefecture Library, located in Taisho Machi (now the intersection of Minquan Road and Ziyou Road); just as the vehicles slowed down to make a left turn, Cho Myeong-Ha burst out of the crowd, dagger in hand. He jumped onto one of the cars and attempted to kill Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi, but missed his mark because his hand was blocked by the car’s canopy. When one of the bodyguards attempted to subdue him, he lashed out with his knife, and while he only managed to cut the prince on the arm, he successfully stabbed the driver, Nakao Masashi, on the left side of his back. After his failed assassination attempt, Cho Myeong-Ha escaped among the commotion to the present-day Chang Hwa Bank dormitories on Jiguang Street where he was subsequently apprehended by Ushida Kenkichi--the Director of Student Affairs of Taichung Girls' Public School (now Duxing Elementary School) as well as Cheng Yu-ti and Tsai Fu-san--police inspectors from the Kamicho Police Station--who then escorted him to the Taichung Police Department. Following his arrest, Cho Myeong-Ha grinned at his onlookers and shouted, “Don’t be afraid, I am only taking revenge for the Korean Empire; long live Korea!”

After his assassination attempt was foiled, he tried to kill himself by ingesting morphine hydrochloride. He vomited profusely before losing consciousness, but woke up from his coma three days later. He was held at the Taichung Police Department for one month before being transferred to Chuifen Railway Station in the afternoon of June 14th and being sent to Taipei Prison via the coastal railway line. On the very same day, Governor-General of Taiwan Kamiyama Mitsunoshin announced his resignation. He was replaced by Kawamura Takeji, while other associated personnel were penalized. Not long after, government officials such as General-Secretary Goto Shinpei, Commissioner of Police Motoyama Bunpei, and Taichung governor Sato Tsuzuku began resigning one by one. Japanese history documents these events as the “Lèse Majesté Incident of Taichung.”

● Sentenced to Death
On July 18th, Chief Judge Kaneko of the High Court pronounced the court verdict stating that, in accordance with Article 75 of the Criminal Code which stipulates that “offenders of the royal family will be sentenced to death” as well as Article 54 which stipulates that “those guilty of multiple criminal acts shall be punished according to the worst offense,” Cho Myeong-Ha had been sentenced to the death penalty. When Cho Myeong-Ha heard his verdict, he burst into tears and buried his face in his hands, but later regained his composure and was able to calmly accept his fate.

On October 10th at 10:12 a.m., Cho Myeong-Ha was hanged at Taipei Prison. His last words just prior to his execution were, “I have long been ready for this moment of death. My only regret is that I will no longer live to see my country regain its independence. In the other world, I shall continue to seek independence for Korea. Long live Korea!” Placid and self-possessed, he stepped up to the platform, and was pronounced dead at 10:27 a.m. He was later buried at Liuzhangli Prison Cemetary.

As for Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi, he unfortunately passed away in the following year after the attempt on his life. And with that concluded the great tragedy now known as the “Lèse Majesté Incident of Taichung.” Today, you can find bronze busts of Cho Myeong-Ha in Seoul Grand Park and Taipei Korean School.

Interestingly enough, Ikeda Masahide, Cho Myeong-Ha's pay-docking boss from the “Fu-Gui-Yuan”, later underwent many official inspections. Even though he changed his shop’s name to “Garden of Flowers,” he ultimately got what he deserved: he was unable to profit from any kind of newspaper promotions or in-store events and had no choice but to close his shop one month after the incident and quietly retreated back to Japan into obscurity.

● Taichung Prefecture Library
The location of Cho Myeong-Ha’s assassination attempt on Prince Kuni Kuniyoshi was at the present-day intersection of Ziyou Road and Minquan Road. Months before the incident, Taichung Prefecture Library had just begun construction at the location of what is now Taiwan Cooperative Bank.

The bank had been established by Yamato Sekko, Yamada Yusuyuki, Kajiwara Yasuto, and Obata Komazo upon petitioning the Governor-General in Meiji 44 (1911). In Daisho 9 (1920), Taichung governor Kafuku Toyoji recognized the importance of establishing a library and donated more than a thousand books to its collections while Chang Hwa Bank procurator Sakamoto Soroya donated three thousand dollars for the purchase of new volumes. The library opened at the old location of the National Library of Public Information the next year, and was later expanded to Taichung Club and the county halls located in 1 Chome, Taisho. In Showa 3 (1928), Taichung City Government donated 30 thousand dollars while the general public donated 35 thousand to build a new library from red bricks decorated with grooved wall tiles; the structure stood three stories tall, totaled approximately 1,368 square meters in floor area, and housed an archive of 22 thousand books. The new building began construction in October and was finished a year later.