Guo Lingrui

Guo Lingrui was born in 1922 and died on June 24, 2002, at the age of 80. His life was mainly marked by family life, education, career, and personal character. Born in China and later moving to Taiwan, he lived simply; the family had limited financial means but placed great emphasis on family education and moral cultivation.

Guo Lingrui had four children: eldest son Guo Taiming, second son Guo Taiqiang, third son Guo Taicheng, and eldest daughter Guo Taiping. Among his children, Guo Taiming started his own business and founded Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., becoming a leading figure in Taiwan’s export industry and a representative Taiwanese entrepreneur. The second son, Guo Taiqiang, founded Zhengwei Precision; the third son, Guo Taicheng, assisted Guo Taiming in developing business on the Chinese mainland; and the daughter, Guo Taiping, worked at Zhengwei. Although his children achieved notable success in their careers, Guo Lingrui maintained a modest lifestyle.

Family members were close, and when teaching his children he emphasized that material things are not the goal of life. According to relatives, he held up the loyal and filial spirit of their ancestor Guo Ziyi as an example, teaching his children to do good and help others. The thing the Guo brothers remembered most about their father was his belief that one should seek spiritual fulfillment rather than material wealth.

Guo Lingrui lived frugally; even as the family’s income increased, he kept a simple way of life. One habit was that he used the same handbag for a full 20 years without changing it, until 2001 when his second son Guo Taiqiang suggested he leave the Yonghe police dormitory and move into the Xinyi planning district to become his neighbor. He usually wore a gold Rolex watch but only put it on for major holidays; aside from his dentures, he carried almost no valuables.

The item he cherished most was the Rolex watch given to him jointly by his brothers, and his outlook on life was reflected in his attitude toward material possessions. His children’s achievements in business reflect the family’s emphasis on education and values. On the afternoon of June 24, 2002, Guo Lingrui died in Taipei from a recurrence of heart disease, leaving behind a solid family foundation and life philosophy.