International spotlight
Rowen and Diefenbach were among the very few trailblazers at a time when many people across the world couldn’t even distinguish between Taiwan and Thailand. In recent years, however, drastic shifts in global geopolitics have changed the situation. Covid-19 marked a clear watershed. Since the end of the pandemic, the international community has become considerably more eager to learn about Taiwan.
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is profoundly aware of this new wave of interest in Taiwan. Located in Tainan, the NMTL is devoted to the promotion of literature. Its director, Nikky Lin, tells us that because literature and other publications are important channels through which the wider world gets to know Taiwan, “in the past two or three years, there has been a significant increase in the number of foreign universities, libraries, publishers, and diplomatic missions in Taiwan approaching us to seek collaboration.”
When you visit the NMTL, don’t forget to explore the basement library, where you’ll discover many shelves of foreign-language titles among the vast collection of books. These are translations of Taiwanese literary works published in various countries.
Several names emerge from this massive sea of books, catching our eyes again and again: senior literary stars Pai Hsien-yung (Kenneth Pai) and Li Ang; younger established authors Wu Ming-yi, Chi Ta-wei, Lanboan Xiaman (Syaman Rapongan) and Kaori Lai; and then Kevin Chen, who rose to fame only a few years ago. These writers, from different generations and grappling with different topics in different styles, have all helped shape overseas readers’ perceptions of Taiwan.
In terms of subject matter, gender is a popular theme among Taiwanese writers of all ages. This shared commitment reflects Taiwan’s persistent struggles for gender equality over the decades, as well as our being the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Noriko Shirouzu, professor emerita at Yokohama National University, is known in Taiwan for having translated Gan Yao-ming’s novels into Japanese. A veteran scholar of feminist and LGBT issues, she observes that Taiwanese literature abounds with works that give pride of place to women and queer subjects. Prominent examples include Pai Hsien-yung’s Crystal Boys (1983) and Taipei People (1971), Li Ang’s The Butcher’s Wife (1983), Qiu Miaojin’s Notes of a Crocodile (1994), Chi Ta-wei’s Membrane (1996), and Kevin Chen’s The Good People Upstairs (2022). The richness of these texts is exactly what inspired Shirouzu to plunge herself into Taiwanese literature.
If we look at the achievements of individual writers, Li Ang—known for her bold choice of topics and punchy, elaborate style—is one of the first Taiwanese writers to attain international fame. Her novel The Butcher’s Wife sold some 50,000 copies in Germany alone. But younger writers are also becoming forces to be reckoned with. Nearly 30 overseas editions of Wu Ming-yi’s novels have been published in more than ten languages, including The Land of Little Rain (2019), The Stolen Bicycle (2015), The Man with the Compound Eyes (2011), The Magician on the Skywalk (2011), and Routes in the Dream (2007).
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature (NTML) seeks to facilitate the introduction of Taiwanese literary works to other countries. This photo shows Japanese anthologies of Taiwanese short stories and novellas.
NTML director Nikky Lin works hard to expand the global reach of Taiwanese literature.