Scouts of China

The Scouts of China or the General Association of the Scouts of China in full, is the national Scouting association of the Republic of China and represents the Scouting organization in Taiwan. It is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. In 2011, the Scouts of China has 49,457 members.[1]

Scouts of China
中華民國童軍
Headquarters	Hall of the Scouts of China
Location	Zhongshan District, Taipei
Country	Republic of China
Founded	February 25, 1912 (Mainland) 1950 (Taiwan)
Founder	Yen Chia-lin (嚴家麟)
Membership	49,457 (2011)
Chief Scout	Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文)
Chairman	Lin Yu-chang
Affiliation	World Organization of the Scout Movement
Website scouting.edu.tw

Scouts of China
Traditional Chinese	中華民國童軍
Simplified Chinese	中华民国童军
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōnghuámínguó Tóngjūn
The General Association of the Scouts of China
Traditional Chinese	中華民國童軍總會
Simplified Chinese	中华民国童军总会
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōnghuá mínguó tóng jūn zǒng huì

History

The historic membership badge of the General Association of the Scouts of China incorporated the Blue Sky with a White Sun.

Mainland China (1912–1949)

Following the birth of the Republic of China, the first Scout troop was organized by Reverend Yen Chia-lin in Wuchang on February 25, 1912 and the Scouting movement spread rapidly all over the country.[2]

The General Association of the Scouts of China was formally established in Nanking, the former capital of the Republic of China in 1934, and became a member of the International Scout Bureau in 1937.[3][4] Many Scouts actively participated in the Second Sino-Japanese War from 1937 to 1945.

There were 570,000 registered members in 1941.[2]

Japanese military authorities did not consistently encourage the Scouting movement in occupied territories. Where local conditions were favorable, authorities would permit local Scouting or introduce Japanese-style Scouting, or Shōnendan, and sometimes even made this compulsory. On the other hand, where conditions were not favorable, and anti-Japanese sentiments were likely to be nurtured through Scouting, the authorities would prohibit it entirely. Taiwan was a colony of the Empire of Japan from 1895 until 1945, and Taiwan Boy Scouts/Shōnendan and other forms of pro-Japanese youth education had been introduced. Conversely, a number of Taiwanese boys were formed into a Shōnendan-style boy corps called Taiwan Shaoniantuan from 1939 through the 1940s to assist in Chinese resistance in the Second Sino-Japanese War.[5]

Scouts of China in Taiwan (1945-)

Hall of the Scouts of China in Zhongshan District, Taipei is the headquarters of the Scouts of China

In 1949, the ROC government withdrew to Taiwan, where it remains today. However, Scouting has continued in Taiwan under the name of the Scouts of China.[2] The organization was reorganized in 1950 after the ROC government was relocated to Taipei, and resumed membership in the International Scout Bureau as Scouts of China.[2][4][6]

Program

National Flower Class badge

There are 5 programs or sections in the Scouts of China.[7] They are Beaver Scout (稚齡童軍), Cub Scout (幼童軍), Scout (童軍), Senior Scout (行義童軍) and Rover Scout (羅浮童軍).

Beaver Scout is served for the children aged 6 to 8 including 3 ranks: Star (星星), Moon (月亮) and Sun (太陽).

Cub Scout is served for the children aged 8 to 12 including 4 ranks: Anor now, Scouts of China are promoting the development of Sea Scouts.[8]

Scout ideals

Scout Promise

Beaver Scouts Traditional Chinese[9] 我愛自己，我愛大家。 Translation I love myself and I love everyone.

Cub Scouts Traditional Chinese[9] 我願盡力；愛國家，守規律。 Translation I will do my best to love my country and keep the Cub Scout Law.

Scouts above Traditional Chinese[10] 憑我的榮譽，我願盡力遵守童軍規律，終身奉行下列三事： 第一：敬天樂群，做一個堂堂正正的好國民； 第二：隨時隨地扶助他人，服務社會； 第三：力求自己智識、品德、體格之健全。 Translation[11][lower-alpha 1] On my honor, I promise that I will do my best to obey and practice the Scout Law and Promise daily. To do my duty to God and be a righteous citizen of my country. To help other people at all times and serve the public. To be an intellectual individual who endeavors to be honorable and vigorous.

Scout Law

Beaver Scouts Traditional Chinese[9] 愛乾淨，有禮貌。 Translation Love cleaning and be polite.

Cub Scouts Traditional Chinese[9] 服從長上，幫助他人，不說謊話，不怕困難。 Translation Obey elders, help other people, never tell lies, and don't be afraid of difficulty.

Scouts above Traditional Chinese[10] 誠實：為人之道，首在誠實；無論做事、說話、居心，均須真實不欺。 忠孝：對國家須盡忠，對父母應盡孝。 助人：盡己之力，扶助他人，每日至少行一善事，不受酬，不居功。 仁愛：待朋友須親愛，待眾人須和善；對生命要尊重，對社會要關心，對大自然要維護。 禮節：對人須有禮貌；凡應對進退，圴應合乎規矩。 公平：明事理、辨是非，待人公正，處事和平。 負責：信守承諾，克盡職責，遵守團體紀律，服從國家法令。 快樂：心常愉快，時露笑容；無論遇何困難，圴應處之泰然。 勤儉：好學力行，刻苦耐勞，不浪費時間，不妄用金錢。 勇敢：義所當為，毅然為之；不為利誘，不為威屈，成敗在所不計。 整潔：身體、服裝、住所、用具須整齊清潔；言語須謹慎，心地須光明。 公德：愛惜公物，重視環保，勿因個人便利，妨害公眾。 Translation[13] Honest Loyal and Respectful Helpful Love and Kind Courteous Just Responsible Cheerful Prudent Courageous Clean Socially Responsible

Scout Motto

Traditional Chinese[10] 準備； 日行一善； 人生以服務為目的。

Translation[14] Be Prepared A Good Turn Daily Service for Life

Song of the Scouts of China.

Traditional Chinese[15] 中華童軍，童軍，童軍； 我們，我們，我們是中華民族的新生命， 年紀雖小志氣真，獻此身、獻此心、獻此力，為人群； 忠孝、仁愛、信義、和平，充實我們行動的精神， 大家團結向前進，前進，前進； 青天高，白日明。

Translation Scouts, Scouts, Scouts of China We, we, we are the new life of the Chinese nation. Although we are young, our determination is real. We contribute our bodies and efforts to serve mankind. Loyalty and Filial Devotion, Loving Kindness, Honesty and Justice, and Peace empower our spirit in action. We unite and go forward, forward, forward. Blue sky is high. White sun is bright.[lower-alpha 2]

See also

• Scouting in Mainland China
• The Scout Association of Hong Kong
• The Scout Association of Macau
• Girl Scouts of Taiwan
• Sun Li-jen
• Yang Huimin
• World Buddhist Scout Brotherhood

Footnotes

1. The original translation for the first paragraph on the official website is "I am willing to become a member of the Scouts of China and therefore I will obey and practice the Scout Law......" according to the pre-2009 version "我願意加入中國童子軍，遵守童子軍規律......." In 2009, the Scout Promise of the Scouts of China was modified, but the translation of the official website is still not corrected.[12]
2. The "Blue Sky and White Sun" referred to in the song is the national emblem of the Republic of China and can be found on the national flag.

References

1. "Triennal review: Census as at 1 December 2010" (PDF). World Organization of the Scout Movement. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
2. "SCOUTING IN CHINA-SCOUTS OF CHINA". N2ZGU. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
3. WOSM (1990). Scouting ´Round the World. Geneva: Public Relations and Communications Department, World Scout Bureau. p. 150. ISBN 2-88052-001-0.
4. Michel, Rudi; Reinhard Schmoeckel; Hans Gerhard Rumpf (1963). Der Kornett Heft 5 Pfadfinderbewegung (in German). Minden: Bund Deutscher Pfadfinder Landesmark Westfalen. p. 51.
5. http://www.scout.org.hk/article_attach/14529/p14.pdf War and Occupation, 1941-1945 by Paul Kua, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Management), Scout Association of Hong Kong, 2010
6. WOSM (1990). Scouting ´Round the World. Geneva: Public Relations and Communications Department, World Scout Bureau. p. 27. ISBN 2-88052-001-0.
7. "中國童子軍進程合格標準". Scouts of China (in Chinese).
8. 蘇芳賜 (2015-08-21). "海童軍體驗聯團活動圓滿閉幕" (in Chinese). Akau News.
9. "童軍運動是青少年活動的基石─稚齡童軍與幼童軍". Scouts of China (in Chinese). 2010-08-06.
10. "中華民國童軍諾言規律銘言". Scouts of China (in Chinese). 2009-10-14.
11. "Promise". Scouts of China. 2009-04-30.
12. Chao, Shou-po (2009-11-05). "我們是中華民國童軍──談我國童軍名稱及相關問題～童軍筆記之十八" (in Chinese). Scouts of China.
13. "Law". Scouts of China. 2009-04-30.
14. "Motto". Scouts of China. 2009-04-30.
15. "中国童子军歌" [Chinese Boy Scouts Song] (PDF) (in Chinese). Scouts of China. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2003. Retrieved 12 July 2017 – via Wayback machine.

Further reading

• Facts on World Scouting, Boy Scouts International Bureau, Ottawa, Canada, 1961

External links

• The official website of the General Association of the Scouts of China
• http://www.pinetreeweb.com/left5-4.htm