To the Custodians of Our Stories

Reading the stories in this issue, I felt as if I was in a London market smelling the aromas of licorice and star anise wafting in the air, seeing that tree of uncertain identity—mandarin or pomelo?—in the backyard of an old house on Kinmen, and feeling the moist ceramic clay handled by four generations at a pottery in Yingge….

The warmth of these stories lies in the preservation of “roots.” In Nantou, ceramicist Lin Yung-sheng has taken on the mission of keeping alive the two-centuries-old local pottery industry. Despite the disappearance of local craftsmen and clays, he has kept on making ceramic products for modern life. Meanwhile, at Li Jin Kiln in Yingge, Su Cheng-li recreates the painted bowls and dishes of days gone by. Their creations are part of our history, enabling us to maintain a dialogue with the past despite rapid change.

However, preserving the past does not mean being stuck in a rut. In London, Jou Jou Chen and Mustapha Shaldoum of Jou Jou’s Bites serve braised pork rice made to Jou Jou’s grandmother’s recipe, to the delight of Hollywood stars and London’s financial elites. In Paris, Stéphane Lin and Jody Liu, founders of the Laïzé beverage shop chain, have turned osmanthus oolong tea and traditional Taiwanese hospitality into part of daily life for French people. These creators remind us that good food and unique design are universal languages that can transcend politics and borders and help people connect with Taiwan on an emotional level.

The stories that move me most are ones of mutual reliance in adversity. Author Yang Shu-ching and painter Yang Shu-sen, two brothers from Kinmen, grew up amid the sound of artillery fire. In Shu-ching’s eyes, his older brother was his rock and protector in childhood. Later, when Shu-sen suffered psychological problems, his younger brother supported him through writing and action. Their attachment shows how blood ties and art have intertwined to provide healing.

Whether the topic is temple door gods or the cutting-edge fashions of Kuo Wei and Claudia Wang, these stories all convey a single message: Culture is not rigid dogma, but living everyday reality.

We invite you to join with us to experience the heartfelt sentiments of this land conveyed in these reports. They are about more than just success, but also how we who live on this island tenderly preserve each other’s stories.