The Satanic Number 666: Kaohsiung Mayor Recall, Kaohsiung Speaker's Fall, and the Passing of a Master Photographer

On Saturday, June 6, Year 109 of the Republic of China, this day was destined to leave a mark in history — not only was it the day the first mayor in the century since the founding of the Republic of China to be recalled, “Han Kuo-yu,” but also the day Kaohsiung City Council Speaker “Hsu Kun-yuan” took his own life by falling from a building, and at the same time, the day the renowned photographer “Ko Si-chi,” known as the number one figure in modern Taiwanese photography, passed away at the age of 90.

So many coincidences made this day seem exceptionally eerie. Rumors sprang up everywhere in online communities.

For those who were passionate about the successful recall of the Kaohsiung mayor, they ate meat and drank heavily tonight. Regarding the Speaker’s suspected suicide by falling, some were sad and some were mean and unkind (such as Taipei councilor Liang Wen-chieh and Taoyuan councilor Wang Hao-yu). As for me, I was moved by the passing of a master photographer.

Among the photographers whom I can respect in the century-long history from the introduction of photography during the Qing dynasty to the founding of the Republic of China, besides Lang Jingshan, Ko Si-chi is also one of them. But in reality, under a society where utilitarianism is the mainstream value, the importance attached to artists and photographers has always been rather weak. So-called value is simply judged by whether there is cashable profit.

If Saturday, June 6, were a fantasy documentary of a Hollywood film, it would probably treat the people across Taiwan’s online communities who kept loudly chanting 666 as an evil ritual summoning Satan. Tonight, the eerie gate of the moon is wide open — it is precisely the road to hell that has been opened.

The night illuminated by the moonlight is like a demon-revealing mirror. The myriad postures of all beings are carved upon the earth, and what kind of monsters will be nourished beneath the shadows?