Chen lauds local artists

Taiwanese culture should not be a marginalized segment of Chinese culture, as it is a substantial civilization with its own individuality and uniqueness, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday.

"Taiwanese literature is profound and extensive, and should be elevated to a national literature from its present status as a regional literature," Chen said.

"Amid all nation-building activities, cultural cultivation is considered the most critical for a state. We can say that the genuine democracy and progress of a country depend on how much its government values its cultural roots. Everything else is temporary and shallow."

The president also said that the government must devise ways to promote and educate people about local Taiwan culture.

Chen, accompanied by the Council of Cultural Affairs chairwoman Tchen Yu-hsiu (陳郁秀), made the comments yesterday during an appearance at a seminar held for writers. The seminar, called the "Salt Belt Literary Workshop," is being held in Peimen township (北門鄉), Tainan County until Aug. 7.

Chen drew a parallel between the indispensability of literature and salt in people's daily lives, noting that the workshop is being held in a key salt-producing area of Taiwan.

"In the past when Taiwan was severely stricken by poverty, Taiwanese ate rice, adding salt as the sole spice. By this token, literature and culture are as vital to people's souls as salt is irreplaceable to our diet," he added.

At the workshop, Chen granted awards to six senior Taiwanese writers, Wu Yung-fu (巫永福), Yeh Shih-tao (葉石濤), Chan Ping (詹冰), Chen Chien-wu (陳千武), Lin Heng-tai (林亨泰) and Chuang Pei-chu (莊培初). He lauded their work in promoting Taiwanese literature.

This year marked the 22nd meeting of the workshop. The venue was chosen in the area that gave rise to several revered Taiwanese writers, such as Wu Hsin-jung (吳新榮) and Kuo Shui-tan (郭水潭), whose works exemplify regional styles.

Writers Yang Tzu-chiao (羊子喬) and Huang Chin-liang (黃勁連), among others, organized the first workshop in 1979, when Taiwan was still under martial law.

During the workshop, established writers are invited to lecture on the development of Taiwanese literature as well as to offer their views on how to create distinctive fiction, poetry and essays.

Since its establishment, the literary workshop, held every summer, has served as a meeting ground for prominent writers who have created many of Taiwan's notable literary works.