Two Brothers from Kinmen

A lifetime for one island

Yang Shu-ching, the younger brother, is one of Taiwan’s most important writers of literary reportage. For many years now, he has built his work around the history and people of Kinmen, gathering together the collective memories of this island. He is a major advocate of Kinmen studies,” and gives vivid literary shape to the island’s history.

Shu-ching was remarkable for his talent even as a youth, and his submissions to newspapers were so numerous that the papers’ owners grew concerned about the cost. His works were widely read in Kinmen, Taiwan, and overseas, and he won numerous literary prizes.

photo by Kent Chuang

On this visit back to his old home in Kinmen’s Guqu community, Yang Shu-ching found the grapefruits ripe. (photo by Yang Shu-sen)

Yang Shu-ching, a well-known writer of reportage.

A photo of the Yang brothers with their father. From left to right, they are writer Yang Shu-ching, father Yang Guoqi, and painter Yang Shu-sen. (photo by Chen Yongming)

Pomelo and mandarin orange

The starting point of Shu-ching’s work was in fact his older brother, Yang Shu-sen. His first essay to be published was called “My Elder Brother,” and his brother finished it for him. His excitement at seeing his name for the first time in the Kinmen Daily News propelled him to continue writing.

In contrast to his younger brother’s early commitment to literature, Shu-sen’s path to painting was bumpier. As a youth he loved drawing, but for practical reasons he chose to study in a STEM department, and the long-term stress caused him to suffer from psychological problems. He went into isolation for many years.

After his recovery, Shu-sen held his first solo exhibition in a hospital. Originally the show was simply an opportunity to display his works, but the vitality exhibited in the paintings attracted attention. Meanwhile, Shu-ching was by Shu-sen’s side all the way, curating exhibitions, writing articles, and navigating for him as they built a deep and enduring friendship, like Theo and Vincent van Gogh.

Yang Shu-ching published his first work, Soliloquy of a Young Reporter, at age 19. The cover portrait was drawn Yang Shu-sen. (courtesy of Yang Shu-ching)

Yang Shu-sen’s studio in Sanzhi, New Taipei City.

Witnessed by Pastor Hu Min-yueh (right), calligrapher Chen Kun-chien (center) presents a calligraphy to Yang Shu-ching (left). The inscription reads: “Literature is my faith; suffering is the nourishment of my writing.”  (photo by Chung Yung-ho)

Yang Shu-sen uses his paintbrush to give new life to driftwood; his art is therapeutic for him.

Literary faith and art therapy

“Literature is my faith,” says Shu-ching. Though now in declining health, he still reads and writes daily. He shares his life and thoughts on literature through social media, attracting many followers.

Shu-sen, meanwhile, leads a slow-paced life on the North Coast, using driftwood as his canvas. Creating is his therapy and his way to find harmony with the world.

These brothers’ stories began in Kinmen and have spread across Taiwan. They have resonated with each other through their art and illuminated each other’s lives. 

The brothers hold up a photocopy of a drawing, recalling that when Shu-ching was born, Shu-sen was there to witness his mother’s difficult labor.

Xueyuan: In this driftwood work, named after his mother, one can sense how much Yang Shu-sen misses her.

These two brothers from Kinmen have had each other’s backs in Taiwan for nearly half a century. The story of their deep attachment is still ongoing.