Fu Garden (or Fu Ssu-nien Memorial Garden) sits quietly near the entrance of National Taiwan University. It commemorates Fu Ssu-nien, a prominent intellectual leader of China’s May Fourth Movement and NTU’s president during the turbulent time of the Chinese Civil War.
Though his tenure lasted only a year or so between 1949 to until his passing in 1950, Fu played a crucial role in stabilizing the university’s administration. He is known as a champion of liberal values and a defender of academic freedom, and the NTU’s motto—“Integrity, Diligence, Fidelity, Compassion”—was drawn from one of his speeches.
After his death from a stroke, Fu was buried in this garden, and his mausoleum was designed in the of a Greek-inspired Parthenon temple, with an obelisk and water fountain at the front. This architectural choice is unique in Taiwan and reflects Fu’s admiration for democracy and Western philosophy. The garden has undergone multiple renovations over the decades but remains a quiet retreat, inviting visitors to reflect on history and education.
Fu’s influence extends beyond the garden. At the heart of the NTU campus stands the Fu Bell. The campus has a legend that the bell rings 21 times between classes, serving as a tribute to his famous quote: “There are only 21 hours in a day; the remaining three are for deep reflection.”
The Garden is also more about the former university president. Long before Fu was buried there, the area served as an arboretum during the Japanese colonial period, when NTU was known as Taihoku Imperial University. The diverse plant species scattered throughout the garden, including large banyan trees with giant buttress roots, still echo their botanical heritage.
