This sourcebook contains more than 160 documents and writings that reflect the development of Taiwanese literature from the early modern period to the twenty-first century. Selections include seminal essays in literary debates, polemics, and other landmark events; interviews, diaries, and letters by major authors; critical and retrospective essays by influential writers, editors, and scholars; transcripts of historical speeches and conferences; literary-society manifestos and inaugural journal prefaces; and governmental policy pronouncements that have significantly influenced Taiwanese literature.
These texts illuminate Asia’s experience with modernization, colonialism, and postcolonialism; the character of Taiwan’s Cold War and post–Cold War cultural production; gender and environmental issues; indigenous movements; and the changes and challenges of the digital revolution. Taiwan’s complex history with Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese colonization; strategic geopolitical position vis-à-vis China, Japan, and the United States; and status as a hub for the East-bound circulation of technological and popular-culture trends make the nation an excellent case study for a richer understanding of East Asian and modern global relations.
Spis treści
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Literary Taiwan—an East Asian Contextual Perspective
Part I. The Beginnings and the Entry Into Modernity Through Colonial Mediation (1728–1948)
1. Preface to Volume 1 of Jade Ruler Between Sky and Sea (1728), by Xia Zhifang
2. Preface to Collection of Coral Branches (Eighteenth Century), by Zhang Mei
3. Preface No. 5 (by the Author) (1816), by Zhang Fu
4. Ars Poetica (Mid-nineteenth Century), by Lin Zhanmei
5. Elucidating the Meaning of Literature, by Xie Xueyu
6. Congratulations on the Founding of the Taiwan Literary Society, by Wei Qingde
7. On the New Mission to Promote Vernacular Writing, by Huang Chengcong
8. On Reforming Classical Chinese, by Huang Chaoqin
9. A Letter to the Youth of Taiwan, by Zhang Wojun
10. The Awful Literary Scene of Taiwan, by Zhang Wojun
11. On Reading 'A Comparison of Old and New Literature’ in the Taiwan Daily News, by Lan Yun (Lai He)
12. Diary, by Liu Na’ou
13. Advance, by Lan Yun (Lai He)
14. The Solitary Spirits League and the Anarchist Theater Movement, by Zhang Qishi
15. Why Not Promote Nativist Literature?, by Huang Shihui
16. Annotation on Three-Six-Nine Little Gazette, by Xin An
17. A Proposal on the Construction of Taiwanese Vernacular Writing, by Guo Qiusheng
18. On Reforming the Taiwanese Vernacular, by Huang Chunqing
19. The Prospect of Popular Literature, by Qi (Ye Rongzhong)
20. A Giant Bomb on the Old Poetry Scene, by Chen Fengyuan
21. Elegant Words, by Lian Yatang
22. Absolute Objection to Nativist Literature Written in the Taiwanese Vernacular, by Lai Minghong
23. On Taiwan’s Nativist Literature, by Wu Kunhuang
24. Burning Hair—the Rites of Poetry, by Shui Yinping
25. Writing on the Wall, by Guo Shuitan
26. Manifesto, by Jie Zhou
27. Foreword: Understanding Folk Literature, by Huang Deshi
28. Art Belongs to the People, by Yang Kui
29. The Historical Mission of Taiwan Literary Arts, by Zhang Shenqie
30. Miscellaneous Thoughts on Literature—Two Types of Atmosphere, by Lü Heruo
31. Poetry Snippets: On Highbrow, by Weng Nao
32. Preface to Mountain Spirit, by Hu Feng
33. Youth and Taiwan (II): Ideal and Reality of the New Drama Movement, by Shima Rikuhei (Uchiyama Atsumu)
34. A Chat with the Governor-General About Discontinuing Chinese Columns in Daily Newspapers, by Anonymous
35. Why Can’t Taiwan’s Art Scene Not Advance?, by Old Xu
36. Criticism and Guidance Welcomed, by [Wu] Mansha
37. On the Future of Taiwanese Literature, by Zhang Wenhuan
38. The Prospect of Taiwanese Literature, by Long Yingzong
39. The Past, Present, and Future of Taiwanese Literature, by Shimada Kinji
40. On Building a Literary Scene in Taiwan, by Huang Deshi
41. Diary (1942–1944), by Lü Heruo
42. Responsibility of the Literati on the Island, by Yu Wen
43. Taiwanese Theater in the Current Stage of Development, by Takita Teiji
44. A Conversation on Taiwanese Culture, by Nakamura Akira and Long Yingzong
45. A Commentary on Current Literature, by Nishikawa Mitsuru
46. Kuso Realism and Pseudo-Romanticism, by Shi Waimin
47. An Open Letter to Mr. Shi, by Ye Shitao
48. Good Writing, Bad Writing, by Wu Xinrong
49. In Defense of Kuso Realism, by Yidong Liang
50. The Thorny Road Continues, by Zhang Wenhuan
51. Our Propositions, by Nagasaki Hiroshi, Takayama Bonseki (Chen Huoquan), et al.
52. The Path of Bridge—Report on the Second Writers’ Gathering, by Ge Lei
53. Questions and Answers Concerning Taiwanese Literature, by Yang Kui
Part II. Wading Through the Cold War Under Martial Law (1949–1987)
1. Inaugural Preface to Literary Creation, by Zhang Daofan
2. Declaration, by Ji Xian
3. Inaugural Preface to Military Literature: Establishing a Modernized, Popularized, Revolutionary, and Combative National Literature, by Editors
4. Poetry Is Poetry; Song Is Song; We Do Not Say 'Poem-Song’, by Ji Xian
5. Explicating the Tenets of the Modernist School, by Ji Xian
6. To the Reader, by Xia Ji’an (T. A. Hsia)
7. A Critique of Peng Ge’s Setting Moon and a Discussion of the Modern Novel, by Xia Ji’an (T. A. Hsia)
8. Newsletter of Literary Friends: Correspondence Between Zhong Zhaozheng and Zhong Lihe
9. Notes from the Editors of Epoch Poetry Quarterly, by Zhang Mo
10. On Symbolist Poetry and Chinese New Poetry: A Rejoinder to Professor Su Xuelin, by Qin Zihao
11. Five Years Later, by Editors
12. To the Poet Ya Xian, by Shang Qin
13. Random Talk on New Poetry No. 4—Whither It Goes?, by Yan Xi
14. Taiwanese Writers Whose Works Burst with Local Color, by Wang Dingjun
15. Notes of a Poet, by Ya Xian
16. Introduction to Modern Literature, by Editors
17. One Year of Modern Literature, by Editors
18. Preface to Selected Poems of the 1960s, by Zhang Mo, Luo Fu, and Ya Xian
19. On Yu Guangzhong’s Sirius the Dog Star, by Luo Fu
20. Goodbye, Nihilism!, by Yu Guangzhong
21. Preface to the Japanese Edition of The Orphan of Asia, by Wu Zhuoliu
22. An Open Letter to Guo Lianghui, by Xie Bingying
23. An Announcement from the Chinese Writers Association
24. I Do Not Value The Locked Heart and Membership in the Writers Association, by Guo Lianghui
25. Cutting off the Prose Braids, by Yu Guangzhong
26. Lower the Flag to Half-Mast for May Fourth!, by Yu Guangzhong
27. Message from the Editors, by Lin Hengtai
28. Afterword to Leisurely Journey, by Yu Guangzhong
29. Toward a New Departure in Modernism: Thoughts on the Recent Production of Waiting for Godot, by Chen Yingzhen
30. The Girl with Long Black Hair: The Author’s Preface, by Ouyang Zi
31. The Evolution of Modern Poetry in Taiwan, by Huan Fu
32. Epigraph to the Inaugural Issue, by Chen Fangming
33. On the Predicament of Modern Chinese Poets, by Guan Jieming (John Kwan-Terry)
34. On the Special Issue of Retrospect, by Ye Shan
35. Not Our Paradise, by Tang Wenbiao
36. Benchmarks in Fiction Criticism: Reading Tang Jisong’s 'Autumn Leaves by Ouyang Zi’, by Bai Xianyong
37. Qideng Sheng’s 'Polio’ Style, by Liu Shaoming (Joseph S. M. Lau)
38. Take Pains to Read, Take Care to Evaluate Family Catastrophe, by Yan Yuanshu
39. Looking Forward to a New Kind of Literature, by Yan Yuanshu
40. Two Kinds of Spirit in Taiwanese Literature: A Comparison of Yang Kui and Zhong Lihe, by Lin Zaijue
41. Author’s Preface, by Huang Chunming
42. She Is a True Student of China: On Reading Zhang Ailing on Reading, by Zhu Xining
43. Should the Ban on May Fourth and 1930s Writings Be Lifted?, by Zhu Xining
44. Grassroots Manifesto, by Luo Qing and Li Nan
45. The Past Decade of Taiwan Literature (1965–1975)— with Remarks on Wang Wenxing’s Family Catastrophe, by Liu Shaoming (Joseph S. M. Lau)
46. The Pursuit and Disappearance of Utopia, by Bai Xianyong
47. Random Thoughts: Author’s Preface, by Chen Ruoxi
48. Starting from the Flaws of Taipei People: On the Method and Practice of Literary Criticism, by Ouyang Zi
49. Looking Back, by Bai Xianyong
50. Preface to Three-Three Journal, by Zhu Tianwen
51. It’s Realist Literature, Not Nativist Literature: A Historical Analysis of Nativist Literature, by Wang Tuo
52. Introduction to History of Nativist Literature in Taiwan, by Ye Shitao
53. The Blind Spot of Nativist Literature, by Xu Nancun (Chen Yingzhen)
54. Where Is Literature Without Human Nature?, by Peng Ge
55. Xiangtu Wenxue: Its Merits and Demerits, by Wang Wenxing
56. Impressions Gleaned from the Conference on Literary Arts Organized by the Armed Forces: The Bugle of Unity, by Zeng Xiangduo
57. Notes on the Publication of Essays on Nativist Literature, by Yu Tiancong
58. Two Types of Literary Mind: On Two Short Stories That Won the United Daily News Fiction Contest, by Zhan Hongzhi
59. Ten Years of Flowing River, by Lin Haiyin
60. Foreword to Anthology of Modern Chinese Prose, by Yang Mu
61. Preface to Thirty Stormy Years: The Present Predicament Facing the Newspaper Literary Supplement in Taiwan and a Way Out, by Ya Xian
62. Looking Back at the Chinese Writers and Artists Association, by Yin Xueman
63. Taiwan Consciousness of the Taiwanese People, by Zhan Hongzhi
64. Influence and Response! From Concern, Engagement, and Action to 'We Have Only One Earth’, by Han Han and Ma Yigong
65. Footprints, Sort Of: Superfluous Words on the Launch of the Newsletter of Literary Friends, by Zhong Zhaozheng
66. Eternal Quest (in Lieu of a Preface), by Wang Zhenhe
67. The Question of Nativization in Taiwan Literature at the Present Stage, by Song Dongyang (Chen Fangming)
68. House of Salt—by Way of Introduction, by Shi Shu
69. Flaws and Mercy—Preface to The Mulberry Sea, by Yuan Qiongqiong
70. The Translingual Generation of Poets: Beginning with the Silver Bell Society, by Lin Hengtai
71. Heralding a Taiwanese Dawn: Introducing Lin Shuangbu, Novelist of the New Generation of Taiwan Fiction and Appraising Taiwan’s Enfeebled Fiction, by Song Zelai
72. Sacrificing a Life to Literature Is Nothing to Boast About, by Zhong Zhaozheng
73. A Painful Confession, by Ye Shitao
74. Something Out of Nothing: On Improvisation and Theater, by Lai Shengchuan (Stan Lai)
Part III. The Era of Democracy and Globalization (1987–2005)
1. Preface to Series in Contemporary Mainland Chinese Writers: Replies to Inquiries, by Guo Feng
2. Coming Together for a Long Journey Ahead: Celebrating the Birth of the Taipei Theater Fellowship, by Zhong Mingde
3. Preface to Heteroglossia, by Wang Dewei (David Der-wei Wang)
4. Writing a Literature with a Nationality, by Peng Ruijin
5. Recovering Our Names, by Monaneng
6. Preface to Taiwanese Writers: Complete Works (Short Stories), by Zhong Zhaozheng
7. If the Poets Don’t Die, the Thieves Won’t Quit: The Predicament of Taiwan’s Poetry Scene and How to Resolve It, by Lin Yaode
8. She Waves the Flag: Preface to Ping Lu’s New Collection Who Killed XXX?, by Zhang Xiguo (Hsi-kuo Chang)
9. Diary, by Qiu Miaojin
10. Literature of the Military Family Village: The Inheritance and Abandonment of Homesickness, by Qi Bangyuan
11. Discovering a New Taiwan: On Wang Qimei’s Collage, by Jiao Tong
12. Inaugural Editorial of the Taiwan Poetry Quarterly
13. The World of Mountains and Seas: Preface to the Inaugural Issue of the Culture of Mountains and Seas Bimonthly, by Sun Dachuan
14. Who Is Going to Wear My Beautiful Knit Dress?, by Ligelale Awu
15. Summer Mist, by Zhu Tianxin
16. Postscript to On the Island’s Edge, by Chen Li
17. On Ku’er: Reflections on Ku’er and Ku’er Literature in Contemporary Taiwan, by Ji Dawei (Ta-wei Chi)
18. Preface: Just Who Is the Devil with a Chastity Belt?, by Li Ang
19. Wandering in Gods’ Garden (in Lieu of a Preface), by Wang Dingjun
20. Saving a Boatload of Starlight: The Story of How Mr. Wang Tiwu Gave Financial Assistance to Young Writers, by Jiang Zhongming
21. The Activist Character of the Literary Supplement to the United Daily, by Li Ruiteng
22. Newspaper Literary Supplements and the Nobel Prize in Literature: A Personal Reflection, by Zheng Shusen (William Tay)
23. On Bai, by Zhang Dachun
24. Retrospect on Thirty Years of Taiwan Literary Arts, by Zhong Zhaozheng
25. Foreword II: On Taiwan’s Literary Canon, by Chen Yizhi
26. To the Reader: Preface to the Unitas Edition of Complete Works of Luo Zhicheng, by Luo Zhicheng
27. Broken Chinese and Good Work, by Huang Jinshu
28. Like a Road Sign That Looks Ahead and Behind: Introduction to Compendium of Taiwanese-Language Literature, by Lin Yangmin
29. The Brave New World of the Mother Tongue: Taiwanese Language Literature Under Construction, by Xiang Yang
30. A Flower Recalls Its Previous Incarnation: Remembering Zhang Ailing and Hu Lancheng, by Zhu Tianwen
31. The Mysterious Revelations of Nature Writing, by Wu Mingyi
32. Building a Bridge for Taiwan Literature: Foreword to Newsletter of the Taiwan Literature Museum, by Lin Ruiming
33. A Perspective on Prose, by Liu Kexiang
34. My Story of the Chinese Language, by Li Yongping
35. A First Step out of 'Migration Literature’, by Nanfang Shuo
36. Hakka Literature, Literary Hakka, by Li Qiao
37. The End of the Military Family Village, by Su Weizhen
38. Interview with Wu He, by Zhu Tianxin
39. On Prose, by Zhang Xiaofeng
40. Preface to the New Edition of Born Under the Twelfth Star Sign, by Luo Yijun
41. Ocean Tide Loves Me Best: A Dialogue Between Sun Dachuan and Xiaman Lanpoan
Glossary
Selected Bibliography
Notes on the Translators
Notes on the Authors
Index
O autorze
Sung-sheng Yvonne Chang is professor of Chinese and comparative literature at the University of Texas at Austin. She is author of Literary Culture in Taiwan: Martial Law to Market Law; Transformations of a Literary Field: On Contemporary Taiwanese Fiction; and Modernism and the Nativist Resistance: Contemporary Chinese Fiction from Taiwan. She is the editor of Bamboo Shoots After the Rain: Contemporary Stories by Women Writers of Taiwan. Michelle Yeh is professor of Chinese literature at the University of California at Davis. She is the author, translator, and editor of Modern Chinese Poetry: Theory and Practice Since 1917; Anthology of Modern Chinese Poetry; No Trace of the Gardener: Poems of Yang Mu; Frontier Taiwan: An Anthology of Modern Chinese Poetry; and A Lifetime Is a Promise to Keep: Poems of Huang Xiang.Ming-ju Fan is professor and director of the Graduate Institute of Taiwanese Literature at the National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Her books in Chinese include Literary Geography: Spatial Reading of Taiwanese Fiction; Chronological Searches of Taiwanese Women’s Fiction; and Like a Box of Chocolate: Criticism on Contemporary Literature and Culture.