Culture

Machine gun bullet from WWII air raid found lodged in Tainan City temple roof

composite image showing bullet and place found lodged in roof ridge
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , , ,

Workers renovating a 186-year-old temple in Tainan City found a machine gun bullet lodged in the roof, and it is most likely a relic of US air raids at the end of World War Two, the Tainan Cultural Assets Protection Association says. The Cultural Assets Association said that the Shanxing Temple in Jiali District was founded in 1836. The exquisite clay sculpture and other construction methods, the traditional Fujian-style courtyard, and the Golden Tang Hall reflect the characteristics of the

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Taiwanese teen releases second book in young adult fantasy trilogy

composite image showing author and book
Culture 
Press Release 0 Comment

Seventeen-year-old Taiwanese author Hermione Lee’s second book in the Otherworld trilogy was released on March 7th. It is a sequel to her debut novel, In the Name of the Otherworld, a young adult fantasy adventure book published last year by World Castle Publishing. In the Name of the Otherworld has received many accolades in various international contests, placing first in two categories in the prestigious 2021 Critters Annual Readers Poll—namely Best Sci-fi and Fantasy Novel and Best Young Adult Book,

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Documentary series on Austronesian origins in Taiwan premieres on National Geographic

secrets of the ocean tribes graphic
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

A documentary series exploring the origins of the Austronesian speaking peoples starting in Taiwan, and expanding as far away as New Zealand and Easter Island, premiers on National Geographic tonight, February 18, at 9:00 pm. The three part series will explore language, shipbuilding, tattoos, architecture, and arts and crafts, and will be aired in more than 40 countries in the Asia Pacific region. The second episode will air on February 25, and the final episode on March 4. The National

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For Taiwan teen novelist English is an art, not a tool

Taiwanese author Hermione Lee
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

“The path to success is paved with adversities, but that’s what makes it so special,” says seventeen-year-old Taiwanese author Hermione Lee. Lee’s first novel, In the Name of the Otherworld, was released by World Castle Publishing on September 21st. It is a recipient of the Literary Titan Silver Book Award, which, according to Literary Titan, is “bestowed on books that expertly deliver complex characters, intricate worlds, and thought provoking themes”. In the Name of the Otherworld hit #1 on New

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Funeral in New Taipei City attracts 4,000 people, major triads represented

police and gang members scuffle outside funeral home.
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

More than 4,000 people attended a funeral for a respected gang leader’s deceased mother in Banqiao District, New Taipei City, yesterday, October 9, and members of rival gangs gathered peacefully for the solemn occasion. Ye Wenxiang, a native of Sanchong District, was described by United Daily News as a “heavyweight gang boss,” and various news outlets accorded Ye the title of “a man of the Shanghai style,” which evokes a Gatsby-like figure, lavish with money, and host to a wide

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Japan’s incoming Prime Minister and his Taiwan connection

Lee Teng-hui and Fumio Kishida
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Keelung City Mayor Lin Yu-chang was proud to point out today that Fumio Kishida, who is set to become Japan’s 100th prime minister October 4, has an ancestral family connection with the port city. Fumio Kishida’s great-grandfather established two stores in Keelung City in 1895 and the buildings not only survive, but are well preserved. Democratic Progressive Party legislator Tsai Shih-ying pointed out the connection in a Facebook post yesterday, explaining that Kitaro Kishida established a Kimono store and a

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Theater stages comeback in Taipei with Post Pandemic Renaissance

post pandemic renaissance theatre poster
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

After a long pandemic winter for theater lovers in Taipei, Post Pandemic Renaissance Theater Company is on a mission to bring a blossoming spring of culture, with invigorating new plays, and timeless classics, for both local and global audiences. Post Pandemic Renaissance (PPR) is is made up of professional and amateur theater artists dedicated to bringing high quality performances and entertainment experiences to audiences every Friday at two Taipei City venues, Co-founder and Artistic Producer, Stewart Glen told Taiwan English

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Origin of the Austronesians: book on one of the greatest migrations in human history launched in Taiwan

book launch for Origins of the Austronesian People's August 17, 2021
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

The Council of Indigenous Peoples launched a book that explores the origin of the world’s most widely distributed language group, yesterday, August 17. The Origins of the Austronesians consists of articles by experts and scholars from around the world, and was published under the auspices of Taiwan’s Council of Indigenous Peoples. The book is the culmination of efforts that began at the International Austronesian Languages Revitalization Forum, jointly organized by Taiwan, Japan, and the United States, and held in Palau

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Invasive crazy ants threaten ecology, traditional customs on Orchid Island

woman holds land crab on Orchid Island
Culture Environment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Ecologists are warning that yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) have been found to be already established on Orchid Island, threatening a local species of land crab, and cultural workers say it could also affect important traditional customs of the indigenous Tao people. Professor Lin Chung-chi, an ecologist from the biology department at National Changhua Normal University recently led a team of students and researchers to the island, and found that the crazy ants are already established on the island. The

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Miaoli County farmers create field painting for Mother’s Day

mother's day painting rice field
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Farmers in Yuanli Township in Miaoli County have created a rice field “painting” dedicated to mothers ahead of Mother’s Day, and it will last to early July, the Yuanli Township Farmers’ Association says. The rice isn’t actually painted, the association pointed out, but rather is created by using five different varieties of rice producing different colors. A viewing platform was constructed, and opened in mid-April, and the peak viewing season will be from May to early July. The association has

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