Chen Wen-hui

While serving as a campaign aide to Shih Hsing-jung, a candidate contesting the Hsinchu City mayoralty in 1985, Chen Wen-hui was accused of planning a large demonstration against election fraud that occurred in Hsinchu on 16 November 1985.^[2][3] Court proceedings against Chen and nine others began the next month, during which they claimed that they had been subject to torture.^[3] From prison, Chen launched his own campaign for a seat on the Miaoli County Council in January 1986.^[2] Though he was never present at any campaign functions,^[2][4] Chen finished first when votes were counted on 1 February.^[2] Two days later, Chen was sentenced to two years imprisonment.^[3] Despite a number of petitions on his behalf, Chen was unable to attend the 1 March 1986 inauguration of councilors, as the court refused to release him on bail.^[2] The Taiwan High Court heard an appeal of Chen's case on 7 April 1986, and upheld the earlier ruling.^[2] He contested a Legislative Yuan seat from Miaoli County as a member of the Democratic Progressive Party in 1995,^[5] and won.^[1] Chen lost reelection while affiliated with the Taiwan Independence Party in 1998.^[6] He also served as deputy education minister within the Taiwan Provincial Government and led the department of education within Taipei City Government.^[1]

Chen Wen-hui's wife, the potter Chen Yu-hsiu, established a kiln in Yuanli, Miaoli, in March 1984.^[7][8] During his imprisonment, Chen Wen-hui read about the flora of Taiwan.^[8] After his release, Chen created a botanical garden around his wife's pottery operations.^[8] The compound stretched six hectares and became known as Huataoyao [zh].^[9] The largest kiln in Huataoyao was damaged during the 1999 Jiji earthquake.^[9] Huataoyao also had a restaurant.^[10]

Chen had a liver tumour in his 60s,^[11] and died of liver cancer on 14 December 2023, at the age of 80.^[12]