Kuo Wei-fan, chairman of the Council for Cultural Planning and Development, recently sent an open letter to the CEOs of the top 1,000 companies on Taiwan, hoping that more benefactors would come forward and provide support for the arts.
The letter pointed out that business has created an economic miracle on Taiwan, but many adverse social side effects have been produced because the cultural level has comparatively lagged behind, and he hoped that everyone would work together to create a "cultural miracle."
There have been examples of Taiwan businesses supporting the arts in the past, but most were short-term and not lasting enough. How should businesses support the arts? On what basis? And how can those in the arts and business gain a better understanding of one another? These questions are explored in this issue in depth.
Our series on noted Western sinologists has generated a great deal of response from readers overseas, making us realize that sinology is not such an unpopular field as most people imagine. Many Western sinologists are as deeply devoted to Chinese culture and have labored as hard in studying it as the Chinese themselves. The sinologist R.H. van Gulik introduced in this issue's special feature is an example. Van Gulik himself has passed away, but our reporter made a special trip to Holland to interview his widow and his eldest son to give readers a closer look at his astounding life.
The R.O.C.'s biggest election since the lifting of martial law has ended. Although not free of defects, it marked a beginning in the nation's move toward multiparty politics. We have two articles about it for you.
Finally, this issue's photo essay has a different layout than in the past. Do you have opinions? Please share them with us!