The first authors
Initially mixed with Chinese-speaking writers, by the end of the 19th century, island authors had to express themselves in Japanese. It is therefore difficult to speak of Taiwanese literature during the Japanese occupation, despite the remarkable talent of some, such as the charismatic Lai Ho (1894-1943). Trained as a doctor, he advocated protest writing and was recognized as the greatest writer of the 1930s. He wrote a great deal of fiction, but is particularly appreciated for his poetry.
Wu-Cho-Liu (1900-1976), writer and founder of the magazine Taiwan Wenxue (Taiwan Literature), also stands out. In the aftermath of the Second World War, Taiwanese letters, far from emancipating themselves, remained in the wake of mainland China, under the impetus of the Guomindang. It wasn't until the 1980s that Taiwanese authors began to distinguish themselves, not only for their talent, but also for the fact that they belonged to the island. The uniqueness of Taiwanese literature is now obvious. The twentieth century was the century of all the changes that contributed to the progressive entrenchment of literature in Taiwanese culture. For example, in the twenty years following the Japanese defeat and the establishment of Chiang Kai-shek's government, there was no such thing as Taiwanese literature, only literary currents: some advocated ideological writing, sometimes communist, sometimes independence-oriented, but always in response to the Generalissimo's repressive methods.
Others continued to write in Japanese, while the nostalgic mainlanders produced texts with a universal vocation, unconcerned with local realities, which were then the prerogative of only a handful of writers, Taiwanese in fact and in heart, whose two leaders are Ch'en Ying-chen born in 1961(The Green Island) and Hwang Chun Ming. The latter, born in 1939, is one of the leading exponents of local literature. His work, rooted in Taiwanese culture, details the plight of the common people, which he has observed through his work as a soldier, teacher and filmmaker. He began writing in 1961. Le Gong, translated into French, is one of his most famous books.
Towards a literature of identity
The standardization of letters only became a reality when martial law was lifted in 1987, political pluralism was finally made possible, and above all, the continental obsession hammered into government speeches gave way to national enthusiasm. The identity movement was born of criticism of the old regime. Among the new generation, the great authors are Chu T'ien-hsin(À mes frères du village de garnison, Le Chevalier de la Mancha), Li Ch'iao (Trilogie de la nuit d'hiver), Bai Xianyong(Gens de Taipei, Garçons de cristal) and Chang Ta-chun(Enfants des rues).
The last twenty years have seen the emergence of an aboriginal literature whose main representative is T'ien Ya-ke. He was born in 1960 in the Nantou district, into the Bunun tribe, which he left at the age of 9 for the city. His original name is T'o-pa-ssu. As a doctor, he worked with aborigines. His first novel, published in 1981, won the Nanxing Prize. Since then, critics have showered him with praise, and three collections of short stories have followed this first novel, including The Last Hunter.
Considered one of the most promising authors of his generation, Wu Ming-yi has written several books, several of which have been translated into French: Les Lignes de navigation du sommeil (You Feng, 2013) and L'Homme aux yeux à facettes (Stock, 2014), which won the 2014 Fiction prize at the Salon international du Livre insulaire d'Ouessant. In 2017, the novel Magicien sur la passerelle (Magician on the Bridge) sails between amusing and touching memories and Taiwanese dreams and fears.
Also released was the anthology Taipei, histoires au coin de la rue, a collection of short stories written by contemporary Taiwanese authors. Questions about identity and the future are omnipresent.
Li Ang, controversial author
Let's take a look at Li Ang. A feminist author who campaigns for women's rights, she is a self-proclaimed independence fighter and proud Taiwanese. She is one of the leading exponents of her country's literature, and above all wishes to avoid being confused with Chinese authors. For her, literature is linked to the land. She made a name for herself in 1983 with her novel The Butcher's Wife, translated into French. Naturally, the book caused a scandal at the time, denouncing male violence and sexual abuse in Taiwanese society. Li Ang is controversial and often criticized as an immoral author. In 2003, she published The Garden of Misguidance, a novel in which she focuses on Taiwanese identity consciousness and female sexuality. She also wrote the novels Nuit obscure (2004) and Le Banquet aphrodisiaque (2023), and the short stories Pour un bol de nouilles au bœuf (2004) and Le fantôme de la mangrove (2016).
What about comics?
It's easy to think that comics don't really exist in Taiwan, but the island is no slouch when it comes to Japanese productions! Since 2010, the Golden Comics Awards have been held every year. The event is filmed by national television, and many foreigners make the trip. It's worth noting that in the 1960s, fans of Japanese comics were treated to a series of comic strips, including the famous Jhu-Ge Shi-ro by Yeh Hong-Shia. But the censorship of the "white terror" had gradually sidelined everyone.
Two particularly well-known comic authors are Ao You-xiang and Mickeyman. Ao You-xiang has a thirty-year career behind him. In 1983, he published Wulongyuan in installments. He has received numerous awards, including China's Golden Dragon in 2004 for his contribution to animated film in China, and the Taiwan Golden Comic Awards in 2006 for his body of work. Mickeyman, meanwhile, is an author on the Taiwanese underground scene. Early in his career, he published his work in the form of fanzines. He used to sell them himself on the streets of Taipei! Now he's recognized worldwide, and in 2014 won a Golden Comics Award. Taiwanese manhas started to attract international attention, with translations and publications outside Taiwan. This has enabled Taiwanese artists to gain worldwide recognition. The comics fan community in Taiwan is vibrant, with numerous clubs, online forums and conventions dedicated to manhua. Publishing houses such as Tong Li Publishing and Karma Comics play a key role in the publication and distribution of manhua. They provide a platform for many local and foreign artists.
There are several schools and workshops in Taiwan offering training in drawing and comics creation, supporting the next generation of artists.
Taiwanese comics continue to grow and evolve, enriching the island's cultural landscape with innovative and relevant works.
