The Gentle Power of Taiwan

Reading this month’s Taiwan Panorama, you will get a sense of the richness and diversity of life in Taiwan, and the gentle power that pulses through this island. This power is not ostentatious, but has a warmth that fills people’s hearts and brings them together. It is ensconced in mountain tea farms, ocean tides, historic streets, and the determined optimism in people’s eyes.

Imagine yourself in the tea-growing town of Pinglin. The fragrance of tea that permeates the air is more than the simple aroma of a crop, but a product of dialogue between this land and the younger generation of tea farmers. Meanwhile, the stone fish weirs of Penghu—structures used by our forebears to catch fish using their knowledge of the tides—are living monuments to people’s sustainable co-existence with the sea.

The town of Yingge is home to a resilient ceramics industry that has seen transition from crude pottery to precision ceramics, from coal-fired to electric kilns. Today, in an era of widespread offshoring, local ceramics makers have broken with traditional notions and opened up their premises to visitors, for everyone to share in the pride of “Made in Taiwan.” The mountain town of Jiufen is another a place that has attracted countless dreamers.

Looking further afield, treasures from the National Palace Museum are going on display in Europe, launching a cultural dia­logue between Taiwan and the world. The renowned Jadite Cabbage, shown in Tokyo in 2014, is making its first trip to Europe. Its exquisite carving and symbolic meaning of fecundity enable it to transcend linguistic barriers and charm the people of other lands. These exhibits showcase Taiwan’s expertise as a conservator of culture, and show the world the deep cultural base beneath Taiwan’s “tech island” image.

Lastly we should mention the documentary film A Chip Odyssey, and the spirit of Taiwan that it reveals. This history of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry not only tells a tale of technological advancement, but is a microcosm of Taiwanese people’s determination to struggle for the good of their country, enterprise, and family.

Our articles this month, whether focusing on ordinary people in small towns or pioneers of national development, all tell of unique life experiences and the warm and profound links between Taiwan and its people. They remind us that Taiwan is not just a geographic location, but an interdependent community of emotional attachment, intelligence, and resilience.

Taiwan Panorama is honored to be the medium for these reports, and we invite you to also experience this island’s gentle stories. We hope that through our words, you will encounter a more three-dimensional and warmhearted Taiwan and find a distinctive beauty that connects you to this land.