Demos Chiang
Encyclopedia
Demos Yu-bou Chiang is a Taiwanese businessman. He founded DEM Inc. (橙果設計), a popular design studio in Taiwan in July 2003 and has served as its chairman since then. He is also known for being the great-grandson of the late Republic of China
(ROC) President Chiang Kai-shek
and the grandson of late President Chiang Ching-kuo
.
Born to Chiang Ching-kuo's third son Chiang Hsiao-yung
, Demos Chiang was raised in Taipei
until his grandfather's death in 1988. After his grandfather's death, Chiang's parents sent him to live in Canada
and later the United States
, though he still retained his ROC nationality. Chiang received a bachelors degree in Information Management from New York University
in late 1990s. After graduating, Chiang worked in the entertainment and fashion industries in Taiwan, Hong Kong
and Singapore
, until founding DEM Inc. in 2003.
In Spring 2001, Chiang began a relationship with local starlet Lin Heng-yi (林姮怡), the daughter of Buddhist Tzu Chi
General Hospital's then president Lin Hsin-jung (林欣榮). The couple married in February 2003 and now have a daughter born in 2003 and a son born in 2005.
Despite his pedigree
and celebrity
identity, Demos Chiang has repeatedly announced in recent years that he is not interested in political affairs. He has also accused both the Kuomintang
and the Democratic Progressive Party
for "poor political tactics", especially for utilizing Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo as figures of worship or denigration. In contrast to other prominent members of the Chiang family, such as John Chiang
and his mother Chiang Fang Chi-yi, Demos Chiang has expressed his belief that the controversies of his ancestors should be faced fairly and left to history. He started a personal blog in January 2008 to further explain his beliefs.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(ROC) President Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
and the grandson of late President Chiang Ching-kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo , Kuomintang politician and leader, was the son of President Chiang Kai-shek and held numerous posts in the government of the Republic of China...
.
Born to Chiang Ching-kuo's third son Chiang Hsiao-yung
Chiang Hsiao-yung
Chiang Hsiao-yung was a politician of the Republic of China.-Biography:Chiang was born in Shanghai, Republic of China in 1948. He was the third son of Chiang Ching-kuo, the President of the Republic of China in Taiwan from 1978 to 1988. His mother was Faina Ipatyevna Vakhreva, also known as Chiang...
, Demos Chiang was raised in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
until his grandfather's death in 1988. After his grandfather's death, Chiang's parents sent him to live in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and later the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, though he still retained his ROC nationality. Chiang received a bachelors degree in Information Management from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in late 1990s. After graduating, Chiang worked in the entertainment and fashion industries in Taiwan, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, until founding DEM Inc. in 2003.
In Spring 2001, Chiang began a relationship with local starlet Lin Heng-yi (林姮怡), the daughter of Buddhist Tzu Chi
Tzu Chi
The Tzu Chi Foundation, whose name means "compassionate relief," is an international humanitarian organization and the largest non-governmental organization in the Chinese-speaking world....
General Hospital's then president Lin Hsin-jung (林欣榮). The couple married in February 2003 and now have a daughter born in 2003 and a son born in 2005.
Despite his pedigree
Pedigree chart
A pedigree chart is a diagram that shows the occurrence and appearance or phenotypes of a particular gene or organism and its ancestors from one generation to the next, most commonly humans, show dogs, and race horses....
and celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
identity, Demos Chiang has repeatedly announced in recent years that he is not interested in political affairs. He has also accused both the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
and the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
for "poor political tactics", especially for utilizing Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo as figures of worship or denigration. In contrast to other prominent members of the Chiang family, such as John Chiang
John Chiang
John Chiang Hsiao-yen , formerly surnamed Chang , is a Kuomintang politician in Taiwan.-Biography:He and his twin brother, Winston Chang, both illegitimate, were born the sons of Chiang Ching-kuo and his mistress Chang Ya-juo in Guilin amid the Sino-Japanese War...
and his mother Chiang Fang Chi-yi, Demos Chiang has expressed his belief that the controversies of his ancestors should be faced fairly and left to history. He started a personal blog in January 2008 to further explain his beliefs.