From Locality to Modernity
Where does the literature in Taiwan come from? Of course it is cultivated more from tangible daily life rather than from the imagination or dreams. On the one hand, it comes from the wisdom of traditional agricultural society; on the other hand, it comes from the pursuit of modernization. These two great inspirations can be represented respectively by the water buffalo and the railway. The water buffalo, which plowed the land without complaints, plowed earth, is a spiritual representation of local culture. The railway implies vast distances and room for expansion, and in the 19th and 20th centuries it was also a symbol for connectedness with the larger world. From classicism to modernity, and in oral and written transmission, Taiwan literature possesses both the rooted nature of the water buffalo and the modernity of the railway.

Symphonies of Languages, Blossoms of Multiethnic Literatures
Language is the blood and flesh of literary souls. Taiwan is a society of immigrants, and the predecessors of different ethnic groups came to this island in succession over a period of hundreds of years. Therefore, many different languages are found resonating in Taiwan literature, such as the indigenous languages, Dutch, Spanish, Hō-ló (Taiwanese), Hakka (Taiwanese), English, Japanese and Mandarin. The exhibition rooms are arranged in chronological order, and illustrate in vivid detail the wide range of language that appear in Taiwan literature. At the center of the display area, lullabies sung in different languages are broadcast. Throughout the exhibition, we are able to understand the wonderful soul dances performed by various ethnic groups which occurred during the development of Taiwan literature.

Sharing Memories, Developing Themes
Shaped like a whale, the island of Taiwan is located in the western Pacific Ocean. The history of Taiwan is like a symphony of fate, weaving historical incidents that involve immigration, settlement, colonization and anti-colonization. These experiences created common memories for the people in Taiwan and made deep impressions on its residents. Through writers of different times, of different tribes and of different backgrounds, these common memories have been presented in a myriad of ways, which constitute the spirits and forms of Taiwan literature. This room presents those spirits and forms under ten themes.

Discovering the History of Taiwan Literature
Because Taiwan was controlled many times by foreign regimes, the “history of Taiwan literature” is often categorized under Chinese and Japanese literature. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the term “Taiwan literature” began being used widely, which then led to a serious study of its history. This exhibit hopes to describe how Taiwan literature is defined and how it gradually came to be accepted. Through this exhibit, viewers can understand the twists and turns of the history of Taiwan literature.

Writer’s Studio, Literary Maps
This exhibit room uses concrete spaces—a studio and three maps—to show where writers work, both in a larger context and on a day-to-day basis. Lōa Hô’s studio is chosen because it is not only an important place where Lōa Hô, one of the most outstanding leaders of new Taiwan literature during the Japanese colonization, creates most of his excellent literary works, but also a cradle where he enlightens and encourages other new contemporary writers at the time. The literary maps clearly show where different authors lived during the Qing Dynasty, Japanese colonization, and after the war. Through these illustrations, viewers can see the styles and themes of writers in different historical contexts.

Combining Trends, Embracing the World
World literature and Taiwan literature have, through their interaction, had a profound influence on each other. World literature has affected the development of Taiwan literature, and Taiwan literature, through translation, has introduced its works to the world. Focusing on the relationships between the two, this display room outlines the international position of Taiwan literature. The development of Taiwan literature, from traditional to modern, has been affected by Chinese literature and literary trends in world literature. After the 1920s, however, the influence mainly came from Japanese, European and American literature. In addition, through translation into a number of foreign languages, Taiwan literature has gradually been integrated into world literature, while finding its own unique place and meaning.

Writers’ Manuscripts
Before sending their works off to the printer, Taiwanese writers from the past to the present have left behind manuscripts in their own handwritings. When appreciating their handwritings, we can imagine the characteristics, spirits and styles of the writers. The manuscripts in this display area should be appreciated in terms of their value as “writing” rather than as part of the art of calligraphy.

The True Face of Literature, Passageway of Time
Taiwan literature, from its ancient roots to its modern manifestation, forms a passageway of time. Along this hall, writers with similar styles formed their own literary circles, which then became a source of inspiration for later writers. This exhibit begins with the Shen Guang-wun “Dongyin Poetry Society” in the 17th century and goes all the way to the Literary Taiwan magazine in the 1990s, and includes photographs or paintings of many famous writers, as well as the covers of the famous literary magazines, creating an organic whole and allowing viewers to get a personal look at the writers and their literary achievement, as well as the path of Taiwan literary history.

Old Architecture, New Life

This building was originally the government building during the Japanese Colonial Period, and after the war was the Department for the Air Force. The building is now known as the Former Tainan District Hall, and was administered by the Tainan City Government. It has already stood for over a century, and has become an example of a historic building that has been restored and is now being put to new use by the Tainan City Government. In order to emphasize the history and value of the building, the “Old Architecture, New Life” exhibition has been divided into three parts: 1. Architectural development of government building during the Japanese Colonial Period. 2. Aesthetics of architecture. 3. The value of restoring and making new use of historical buildings. It is hoped that visitors can, apart from feeling nostalgia, understand the history of old building and come to a new appreciation of the story behind the Former Tainan District Hall.

Step into the Hall’s History
The Former Tainan District Hall was built in 1916 on a Western historical style. The building is made of bricks, and the outer walls have a washed stucco finish. There is a portico at the front entrance, and the two turrets at the sides give the entrance a sense of classical balance, which made it a typical government building at the time. This exhibition is divided into seven sections: 1. Introduction of the architect, Moriyama Matsunosuke 2. History of the Hall 3. The Architectural Interior of the Hall 4.Historical changes in the building 5.Analysis of the building and its facade 6. Display in situ 7. Introduction of the materials used in the construction of the Hall. The history of the Hall is introduced using pictures, film, documents, models, materials and through a tour of the building itself.

Regeneration of the Old Building
“Regeneration of the Old Building” is an exhibit that shows how historic buildings can be restored and reused. Through materials, documents, and film, the three phases of the restoration process are introduced, from the hatching of the idea to planning and design and then construction. The records and notes kept by the architects, engineers, scholars and experts involved in the planning and construction of the restoration project are on display. The preservation of these records will be of immense value to those who attempt to restore other historic buildings in the future. The Former Tainan District Hall has enormous educational value. During its restoration, the National Center for Research and Preservation of Cultural Properties, in cooperation with architects, reinforced the original pillars, posts, and wall supports of the hall. Visitors can see how this was done in this exhibition, allowing them to appreciate the special techniques used in the hall’s restoration.

Principles of Restoration and Reuse
This exhibition uses a documentary to introduce the restoration process of the Former Tainan District Hall. The film explains how historic how historic buildings in Taiwan are being restored and put to new use.

Exhibit Showing the Strengthening of Wall Supports
This exhibit shows how new building materials were blended with old ones during the restoration process. Brick was the primary material used in the walls of the Former Tainan District Hall. Brick piers and brick walls were stacked on top of one another using cement mortar, ash, and other adhesive materials. Because the walls did not have steel supports inside, the building was not strong enough to endure an earthquake that shook in a horizontal direction or to bear unusually heavy weight. Therefore, steel supports were used during the restoration process to strengthen and reinforce the structure.

Text and images are provided by National Museum of Taiwan Literature