Taiwan's pavilion at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair opened yesterday, showcasing works by six "featured authors" grouped under the theme of death, ghosts and deities.
German translations of the featured authors' works are available for purchase, alongside a diverse selection of titles from Taiwanese publishers on display in the exhibition area.
Photo: CNA
Poet Wu Huai-chen (吳懷晨) said his writing draws inspiration from indigenous legends about bears, wind and water that have been passed down through his family for generations.
Crime novelist Katniss Hsiao (蕭瑋萱), who debuted in Germany last year with Before We Were Monsters, described ghosts as "a reflection of the human mind."
The four other author highlighted in Frankfurt are Taiwanese Hokkien writer Ou Tiong-siong (胡長松), novelist Kevin Chen (陳思宏), BL (Boys' Love) writer Shi Wu (蒔舞) and manga artist Nownow (小峱峱).
This group of writers brings a "wide spectrum" of genres to the fair, Taipei Book Fair Foundation chairman Rex How (郝明義) said.
The exhibit sparked discussion among visitors about the cultural meaning of spirits in Asia and beyond.
Indian author Sunandan said that in Asian traditions, ghosts symbolize the coexistence of the human and spiritual worlds, rather than serving solely to evoke fear.
In his native Bengali, the word "bhut" means both "ghost" and "past," showing how spirituality is linked to human memory, Sunandan said.
Mexican publisher Ulises Benítez, who lives in Taiwan, said that Taiwanese society is growing more open about death and spirituality, adding that in Mexican culture, death is embraced as part of life and celebrated through the Day of the Dead.
The 77th Frankfurt Book Fair brings together more than 1,000 authors and publishers from 92 countries, and runs until Sunday.
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