<p>In this Mother’s Day edition, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Chen Shu-chu (陳樹菊), a humble vegetable seller from Taitung who quietly donated millions of NT dollars to schools, charities, and orphaned children – while continuing to live a modest life behind a market stall. </p><p><br></p><p>Born in 1950 into poverty, Chen Shu-chu was forced to leave school at just thirteen after her mother died in childbirth. For half a century she worked at the stall and saved her earnings, giving them to the needy. Chen’s lifetime of extraordinary generosity eventually brought her international fame. </p><p><br></p><p>In 2010 she appeared in <em>Time</em> magazine’s list of the world’s most influential people. This is an uplifting story of how a seemingly ordinary market vendor became one of Taiwan’s most admired figures.</p>

The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files

John Ross and Eryk Michael Smith

Chen Shu-chu: Taiwan’s Vegetable Vendor Philanthropist – Snack 04

MAY 10, 202610 MIN
The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files

Chen Shu-chu: Taiwan’s Vegetable Vendor Philanthropist – Snack 04

MAY 10, 202610 MIN

Description

<p>In this Mother’s Day edition, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Chen Shu-chu (陳樹菊), a humble vegetable seller from Taitung who quietly donated millions of NT dollars to schools, charities, and orphaned children – while continuing to live a modest life behind a market stall. </p><p><br></p><p>Born in 1950 into poverty, Chen Shu-chu was forced to leave school at just thirteen after her mother died in childbirth. For half a century she worked at the stall and saved her earnings, giving them to the needy. Chen’s lifetime of extraordinary generosity eventually brought her international fame. </p><p><br></p><p>In 2010 she appeared in <em>Time</em> magazine’s list of the world’s most influential people. This is an uplifting story of how a seemingly ordinary market vendor became one of Taiwan’s most admired figures.</p>