This Top University research project focuses on how two massive history backgrounds experienced from opposition to communication and produced post-war Taiwanese literature. In the case, Taiwanese literature has absorbed two different types of literature tradition, immense traditional Chinese culture and prosperous ocean culture, and thus it owns the artistic characteristics of rich contents and diverse topics. Combining the two major art trends, Taiwanese
literature firmly establishes its own historical position; precisely, it has to inherit the cultural resources from the long history and to initiate diverse art structures. Between inheritance and transformation, Taiwanese literature is not
only a challenge but also a breakthrough to 20th century China. Especially after 1960s, the position of Taiwanese literature is indeed much higher than that of People’s Republic of China. The purpose of the project is to discuss
further into the limitation and resistance of Taiwanese literature in colonial time. Moreover, the discussion also extends to in second half of 20th century, how Taiwanese literature sought for subjectivity and elevated it to deeper
self-request.

1. The limitation and extension of Chinese vernacular in the modernization of Taiwan.

This sub-project aims at inspecting into the effect of vernacular on Taiwanese literature.

2. Significant transition from classical literature to new literature In the writing Taiwanese literature history, the role of classical literature usually is deemed as negative.

This sup-project discusses the dialectics relation of coexistence and opposition between old literature and modernization. Here, Taiwanese classical poems and Chinese classical poems are compared to observe the historical position and culture meaning of traditional scholars in the two different  societies.

3. Understanding the spread of Taiwanese literature knowledge from diaries.

With the abundance of private historical records, it can be seen that how people read, how they interfered the study  market, and how they built their values toward their lives and the world. Furthermore, diaries can be considered as
another type of literature, and by including them into this project, the understanding of Taiwanese literature and its positive meaning in the formation of modern China can be  deepened.

4. Taiwanese literature and cultural research.

This sub-project intends to reinterpret well-known Taiwanese literature. Through the readings, abundant evidences of life changes can be observed. Cultural research no longer merely focuses on creating the art of words, but see through the massive cultural flow behind the words. Combining literature and movie or drama as the inter-disciplined integration, we not only see the spirit of art, but also the power to govern. By including the issue in this project, the interpretation of Taiwanese literature can be broadened, and the historical truth might even be unveiled.

5. The discontinuity and continuance of the spread of modernism in Taiwan.

This sub-project aims at reinterpreting the significant transition in Taiwanese literature history. Without the trial of modernism, there will be no postmodernism in Taiwan. Though the magnitude cannot compete with the modernism in the west, modernism in Taiwan had liberated the imagination of Taiwanese literature afterwards. Including poems, prose and novels, famous writers made great achievements in various fields and created interesting literary works. When it comes to the formation of modern China, modernism in Taiwan plays a significant role.

6. The rise and fall of left-wing thought trend and criticism on Taiwanese literature.

The sub-project aims at reinterpreting the overall development of Taiwanese literature. Moreover, how Taiwanese intellectuals wrote with a critical attitude to oppose the violation from dark power is also illustrated.

7. The impact of feminism on Taiwanese literature.

The sub-project intends to cast off the ideology of and rocentrism and the control of nation power and nationalism, allowing the long-absent female identity to regain its position of interpretation. In the past, females are gazed and interpreted; now it is females’ turn to interpret the era. To the formation of modern China, the symbolic meaning owned by female writers is undeniable.