The Council of Indigenous Peoples is to launch its first English-language anthology of Taiwanese Aboriginal literature at the Taipei International Book Exhibition to give English-language readers greater access to literary works by Aboriginal writers.
The four-book set, titled The Anthology of Taiwan Indigenous Literature, consists of selections of poetry, prose and short stories by more than 30 poets and writers, as well as a chronicle of significant events in Taiwanese Aboriginal literature between 1951 and last year, said Wagi Taro, senior executive officer of the council’s Department of Education and Culture.
A total of 1,500 copies of the anthology are to be made available at the book fair, which runs from Wednesday next week to Feb. 16 at the Taipei World Trade Center, she said.
As the books have yet to be priced, the council will decide later if it will sell the books or distribute them for free at the fair, she added.
Monanen, a poet from the Paiwan tribe whose works have been included in the anthology, said he wrote the poem When the Bells Ring for Taiwanese Aboriginal children who were sold into prostitution, including his own sister.
Monanen, who lost his sight as a result of an accident, said he felt “extreme pain” after learning about the ordeals of his sister and other child prostitutes.
“This poem is for them,” he said.
“When the church bells ring/Do you know, mama?/The injection of hormones brings a premature end to your daughter’s childhood/When the school bells ring/Papa, do you know?/In the brothel, the bodyguards’ punch has foreclosed your daughter’s laughter,” the poem reads.
“We hope that English readers will get the chance to learn about Taiwanese Aboriginal literature through the anthology,” Wagi Taro said.
“Many of the works show the writers’ concern for society and their thoughts on ethnic issues,” she said. “They address a diverse range of topics.”
The anthology will be among more than 500 publications to go on display at the council’s first-ever pavilion at the fair, said Lamark Balimodai, an officer with the council’s Department of Education and Culture.
They will also include manuscripts, historical documents and oral histories, as well as academic publications, Balimodai said.
In addition, more than 30 Taiwanese indigenous writers, including Walis Nokan, Syaman Rapongan and Badai, are to attend the fair to meet visitors, he added.
Kimbo and other Aboriginal singers and musicians are also to perform at the pavilion, he added.
As this year’s theme country is New Zealand, Wagi Taro said the council has also organized trips to bring New Zealand Maori writers to Taiwanese Aboriginal tribes so that the two sides can learn more about each other.
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) has funded short-term internships in Taiwan for more than 4,500 young people from more than 40 countries since 2015, with the goal of attracting and retaining international talent, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. Fifty-five colleges launched 514 projects this year, including in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, medicine and biotechnology, green energy, and sustainability, it said. The program provides research and practical internships in Taiwan for two to six months, and offers cultural exchange and networking opportunities, the ministry said. For example, National Formosa University’s Embedded System and Autopilot Laboratory developed two solar-powered drones in
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
Taipei resident Mu Chu-hua caught some glimpses of China’s mighty military parade on YouTube on Wednesday. As she watched hypersonic missiles roll down Beijing’s Changan Avenue and troops march in lockstep, she did not feel like they posed a threat to Taiwan. Mu, a 69-year-old retiree, said she saw the parade as simply a way for Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to “say thank you to the troops.” “I thought it was quite normal,” she said. “It was very cool.” China’s military parade commemorating the end of World War II was being watched internationally for insights into Beijing’s military advances and its show
RSS