To consolidate the nation’s culture, Taiwanese should recognize the languages and cultures of Taiwan’s various ethnic groups, learn about local customs and understand the nation’s history.
Taiwanese need to construct a shared historical memory so that Taiwan can become a confident, humanistic nation with citizens who identify with their homeland.
Only then will Taiwan be able to become a normal nation, and “Taiwan Culture Day,” observed on Oct. 17, would become truly meaningful.
However, as of now, two distinct ways of cultural identification prevail in Taiwan.
I was chatting with a friend the other day. According to him, Taiwan has no culture. I was shocked by his comment. How could our understandings be so different?
I believe this is because, through education, he was strongly influenced and indoctrinated by the remnants of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) party-state.
His cram school business has been profitable, but he does not care for Taiwanese society. He has given to his students what he accepted in his school days: a mindset of keeping oneself to oneself.
In Taiwanese society, especially in the education system, there are many people of his kind, causing many others to worry about the next generations of Taiwanese and how many of them could be affected by such shortsighted attitudes.
Fortunately, I have another group of friends who do care about society and the nation. They spend their money and make large efforts to host events and activities for everyone to find out more about Taiwan and the world. Participating in their clubs is like a treasure hunt. I always learn from them and follow what they do with great interest.
The culture of Taiwan can be traced back beyond the modern era to ancient civilizations. Now Taiwan is renowned for its prowess in the fields of science and technology. The world depends on chips made in Taiwan. The nation is internationally admired for this achievement.
In the past few years, the Ministry of Culture has devoted itself to governing and nation-building through culture. It makes every effort to preserve and recreate Taiwanese culture, and promotes it to the international community.
Every year, Taiwan-based non-governmental organizations hold all kinds of cultural forums focused on academic discussions.
Evening parties and music fairs are also held to entertain Taiwanese and introduce them to the art of Taiwan’s ethnic groups, such as indigenous dance, Hakka music and Taiwanese folklore. Participants can discover the diversity of Taiwanese culture and be artistically inspired about how to think about being Taiwanese with dignity.
Untold Herstory (流麻溝十 五號), a movie to be released this month based on real events of the White Terror era in 1950s Taiwan, is the nation’s first docu-fiction film about female political prisoners. It is a milestone for Taiwan’s creative industries.
Southern Taiwan Society chairman Tseng Kuei-hai (曾貴海), a physician, activist and poet, recently published two poetry collections: Eyes of Four Seasons (四季的眼神) and Farewell, Waiting for Freedom (再見等待碰見自由).
At three book launch talks — in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung — his deep insights were on full display.
Meanwhile, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was preceded by linguistic and cultural infiltration. The talk of “same script, same race” is also prevalent in Taiwan.
As Taiwanese look at others, we need to think about ourselves. Only by consolidating our cultural autonomy and confidence can Taiwan be truly at peace.
Ng Siu-lin is deputy director of the Northern Taiwan Society.
Translated by Liu Yi-hung
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