centered...2020/10/10 · regina’s stunning original artwork, blue moon rising, will be showcased...

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Centeredon TAIPEI

OCT 2020

Vol. 21 | 02

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3www.communitycenter.org.tw OCTOBER 2020

COMMUNITYThe Center: How It All Began 9Explore The Alluring Charm of Sancai or “Three-Colored” Pottery 10Blue Moon Rising with Regina Linke 12Japanese Folklore: The Amabie – A Protector Against Illness 14

OUTLOOK Saying Goodbye to Toxic Relationships 16

HEALTHWhat’s Beyond Organic? 18

CULTUREIndigenous Bridges Taiwan – Experiencing the Sacred Ami Harvest Festival 20

PHOTOGRAPHYNeil Wade 24Tony Coolidge 25

FOODMade With Love 26

TRAVELYangminshuwu 28

CSC From the Editors 5October 2020 Center Gallery 6October Activities Highlights 7CSC Business Classified 23

C O N T E N T SOctober 2020 volume 21 issue 2

Centered on Taipei is a publication of the Community Services Center, 25, Lane 290, Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 6, Tianmu, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: 02-2836-8134fax: 02-2835-2530e-mail: [email protected]

Correspondence may be sent to the editor at [email protected]. Freelance writers, photographers and illustrators are welcome to contact the editor to discuss editorial and graphic assignments. Your talent will find a home with us!

Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner.

Community Services Center, TaipeiSuzan BabcockRichard SaundersNaomi [email protected]

Siew Kang, Fred Voigtmann

Farn Mei Printing Co., Ltd.1F, No. 102, Hou Kang Street, Shilin District, TaipeiTel: 02-2882-6748 Fax: 02-2882-6749E-mail: [email protected]

PublisherEditorCo-editorAdvertising ManagerMagazine EmailTelFax

Community ServicesCenter Editorial Panel

Printed by

COT is printed on FSC certified 100% post-consumer recycled fiber. The paper is certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council which promotes environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests. https://ic.fsc.org/

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4

TIGER TOTS PRESCHOOL A LOVING PLACE FOR LEARNINGA LOVING PLACE FOR LEARNINGA LOVING PLACE FOR LEARNING

North American Curriculum Qualified Instructors Low Student/Teacher Ratios

Fun and Educational Daily Activities Fun After School Enrichment Classes Mandarin Playgroups Gymnastics and Music Class

Engaging Outdoor Playgrounds

TYPA MAIN OFFICE: (02)2873-1815 www.typa.org.tw

PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN (LOCATED INSIDE TAS)

TIGGER'S(PRE-2S), 2S AND 3S PLAYGROUPS (TIAN YU CAMPUS)

GRADE 1 & 2 : AFTERNOON LANGUAGE & LITERACY PROGRAMS

We’d love to introduce you to our diverse and incredibly special community of learners!Please call to arrange a visitation.

OCTOBER 2020 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Invite you to AN exhibition of

Messages tomother nature

Opening: 25th September, 2020, 6:30pm - 9 pmRed Room’s Trash to Treasure program invites you to a collective Mother Nature project. These exhibits are created

參與「大地母親」創作計畫的藝術家們在過去這幾個月將心力獻

給大自然，專注於將自然環境周遭所見之物，如種子殼、樹枝、

樹皮、竹子等物自由連結其他回收二手媒材激盪出藝術生命。他

們想跟大地之母訴說的，如今都集結在這次展覽中了，包括織

品、攝影、音樂等不同形式的表達，所有作品皆創作啟發藝術家

與大自然的互動、關係。

Exhibition dates: 25 Sept to 25 Oct 2020Proceeds go to the artists and to support Red Room.

FB: @collection.baiwinRSVP: Echo Ph: 2874 5525

For more upcycling projects at the Red Room 更多紅坊的再生計畫請見: https://bit.ly/3jk2GFE

&

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COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER

Adam McMillan

Grace Ting

I-wen Chan, Katherine Chang, Hui-shiang Chao, Jung Chin, Chiao-Feng Chung, Cerita Hsu, Miranda Lin, Emilie Ma, Kuang-Shan Wan

Wendy Evans, Michael Mullahy, Mary Lagerstrom

Joanne Chua

Monica ChengRosemary SusaJoy MeglassonMirjam MeidingerPia Munk-Janson Gloria GwoSamson DebeleXimena Lopez, Sofia Vintimila

Miyuki Boice, Michelle Collins, John Imbrogulio,Ximena Lopez, Leslie McFarlane, Mirjam Meidinger, John McQuade, Bunny Pacheco, Lucy Torres

Bai Win AntiquesEuropean Chamber of CommerceGrand Hyatt Taipei

Concordia ConsultingICRTSan Fu Global

Director

Office Manager

Counselors

Consultants

Counseling Admin.

Accountant Programs ManagerEvents CoordinatorCoffee Mornings Coordinator Communications Mandarin Chinese TeacherSystems ManagerCounseling Interns

Volunteers

Benefactors

Premier Sponsors

The Community Services Center (CSC) is a non-profit foundation. CSC provides outreach and early intervention through counseling, cross-cultural education and life skills programs to meet the needs of the international community in Taipei. CSC offers the opportunity to learn, volunteer, teach and meet others. Check out our website www.communitycenter.org.tw and drop by The Center to chat with us about our programs. You can also email us at [email protected].

COT Team

Feature Writers and Photographers

Writing, Photography and Art Contributors

Faye AngevineAnonymousSue BabcockTony CoolidgeDaniel CunninghamFengbin Village, HualienChloe J. HsiaIndigenous Bridges – ATAYALRegina LinkeMorgan LoosliJoy MeglassonGail A. MetcalfPia Munk-Janson

Joseph ReillyRichard SaundersRosemary SusaSena TabuchiSheng-ruei TangGrace TingNeil WadeJoel WallachTarana WeinrichUlli WeinrichYang ShaoenYESHEALTH Group

The theme of this year’s Community Services Center Auction Dinner Gala is Blue Moon Monster Ball. Join us as we celebrate the magic of Halloween with an added twist of Asian folklore. Fun costumes are encouraged but not required. Come dressed as your favorite monster, scary movie character, zombie, robot, pumpkin or even as an emoji: the choices are endless. But your presence is what matters as we honor our commitment to the local and international communities that we serve.

A full blue moon is rare, happening once every 18 or 19 years. This October will witness two full moons, with the blue moon appearing on Halloween. Regina Linke, the inspiration behind this year’s theme, is an up-and-coming Taipei-based artist with a passion for Chinese folklore and imagery. Regina’s stunning original artwork, Blue Moon Rising, will be showcased at the auction.

The amabie, a nineteenth century Japanese good luck folklore icon, has become a 21st century international social media sensation. This little creature signifies a commitment to protect people from illness. The Center happily welcomes another young local Asian-Japanese artist, Sena Tabuchi (Sheng-ruei Tang) who designed his own contemporary version of the amabie especially for this year’s Community Services Center Auction Dinner Gala. Each table will have one of Sena’s good luck amabie, ensuring that a fun time will be had by all.

In closing, we continue to wish everyone continued good health.

Pick COT up at:Uptown: Community Services Center, No. 25, Lane 290, Sec. 6, Zhongshan North Rd.Sprout – No. 33, Sec. 7, Zhongshan North Rd.George Pai’s Beauty – No. 14, Tienmu East Rd.Downtown:Ooh Cha Cha – 207, Sec.2, Nanchang Rd.

Please send email submissions, comments, and feedback to [email protected].

Sue and Richard

COVER IMAGE: Paiyun Sunset by Neil Wade

For more information, please go to our website atwww.communitycenter.org.tw

Suzan BabcockEditor

[email protected]

KCGraphic Designergraphicdesigntaipei.

weebly.com

Richard SaundersCo-editor

[email protected]

Naomi KalyAdvertising Manager

[email protected]

Daniel Cunningham

Tony Coolidge Chloe J. Hsia Regina Linke Neil Wade

FROM THE

EDITORS

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6 OCTOBER 2020 www.communitycenter.org.tw

GalleryCSC A percentage of all proceeds of items sold at the Gallery will go to the Center. Please remember that by displaying your items or shopping at the Gallery, you will be helping the Center to continue to provide valuable services to the international community.@CENTER

OCTOBER COLLECTION

NAOMI GODDARD AND MINSIK JUNG "FLOW WITH JOURNEY" MODERN PAINTINGS BY CHIH YING HE

SAHAR SHAIKH-AN EXQUISITE INDIAN COLLECTION OF JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES

A selection of photographic work by Naomi Goddard and Minsik Jung (of Minim Photographic Studio) will be on display. Their collection will comprise photographic fine art prints and postcards of Taiwanese landscapes and portraits from around Asia.

“What I see, I hear and I feel are my perpetual sources of inspiration.” As a self-taught artist, Chih-Ying He blended her soul and colorful elements into her creative process. Every artwork of hers is full of smiles, love and adventure.

Sahar's collection includes individually crafted necklaces, silver jewelry embedded with semi-precious stones, hand embroidered cotton and crepe tunics with intricate embroidery and thread work, lightweight silk and cotton scarves in rich vibrant colors. A perfect soution for gift-giving.

MORNING BOOK CLUB

October 13thFor times and locations, contact

Julie Hu at: [email protected]

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Do you have a skill or talent that you would like to share? Or have you found some great places around Taipei that you would like to take others to see? Then why not consider teaching a course or leading a tour for the Center in Spring 2021? If you are interested, or would like more information, please contact Rosemary at [email protected].

THE CENTER NEEDS YOU!

Seeking instructors and tour guides for the Center for Spring 2021

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CSC

Film Photography: Using an Analog Camera to Capture Scenic Taipei: Dalongdong Village and the Confucius Temple Tuesday, October 6th; 10 am – 1 pm; $1,600Instructor: Naomi Goddard and Minsik JungThis unique photography class will teach you about analog film cameras while being guided through a traditional Taipei district known for its Japanese and Qing period architecture and Taiwanese folk religious temples. Naomi and Min will start the class at their Minim Photographic Studio and Gallery, where they will introduce you to the cameras and how to operate them. They will provide you with a 35mm camera to use and one roll of film to shoot. You will then have time to appreciate the slow photo process and take photographs on 35mm film as the group visits several interesting nearby locations, including the lesser known part of Dihua Street, Section 2, walking towards Dalongdong Village to see the impressive Taipei Confucius Temple. After the class, your instructors will develop and email the images to you; negatives will be delivered to the Center for your collection. You may choose to order prints for a small additional fee. Cost of film and developing are included.

Mandala Art WorkshopThursday, October 8th; 10 am – 12:30 pm; $1,200Instructor: Kate ChetabutIn Sanskrit, mandala literally means “circle,” and this art form can be found in both Buddhist and Hindu religious practices. Often, the highly-detailed geometric patterns and imagery are used in conjunction with meditation practices, representing the intersection of the universe and the self. While the geometric framework may be simple, painting the complex designs can take the artist to a calm and focused mindset, achieving an impressive

finished product one dot at a time. Drawing on her education from Thailand’s Silpakorn University of Fine Arts beside the Grand Palace, Kate will help participants get started on creating their own unique and creative designs. Materials to produce your own personally-inspired artwork are included.

Yoga for WellnessThursdays, beginning on October 13th; 8 sessions; 9:30 am – 12:30 pm; $4,400Instructor: Malabika DasIn this yoga for wellness class we will explore the Chinese mythological phoenix or fenghuang, and its various yin-yang qualities, virtues and resilient spirit. Feng is a male bird, and huang is a female one; thus Fenghuang symbolizes the union of femininity and masculinity and is also the partner to the Chinese dragon. Yin Yang yoga combines pranayama (breath work), guided meditation, active vinyasa flow and strength-building asana (postures) with passive longer-held, restorative and fascia-focused asana. Emphasis is placed on safety, proper alignment, connection of breath to movement, tracking sensations, stress reduction and deepening our body-mind-spirit connections. Please bring a yoga mat, a large and small towel, two foam blocks, a yoga strap, and a curious heart. Please contact the instructor in case of any health imbalance to assess suitability. All levels welcome.

Marvelous MaokongPOSTPONED UNTIL SPRING 2021Instructor: Helen ChenDedicated to the Daoist deity Lü Dongbin, Zhinan temple is well-known for the thousand-stepped path up to it, starting at the bottom of the hill. Lucky for us, it's now only a ten-minute walk from one of the Maokong Gondola stops. Built in 1890, Zhinan is one of Taiwan's oldest and most important Daoist temples. Folklore says that

unmarried couples will break-up after visiting the temple together. Like many temples in Taiwan, deities from Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are all honored and revered within its different halls. We are fortunate to have a professor of religious studies from Taiwan's National Chengchi University as our temple guide. From the temple, we will take the gondola up to the top to visit a family-owned tea farm with more than a hundred years of experience in tea growing and production. We will meet with the current owner, a fifth generation family member, tour their tea processing area, and learn about the family’s unique history. We will sample different types of tea and learn how to distinguish between the varying qualities. From there we will retrace our steps and end our tour at the Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo Station where our day began. This tour involves a good amount of walking (including some up and down), along mostly paved and gravel paths, so sturdy and comfortable walking shoes are a must. Tea tasting, tea snacks and a one-way fare on the gondola are all included. Please bring water and a packed lunch; your EasyCard for the gondola ride down; and rain/sun/insect protection as required.

Taiwanese Please: Easy Stir-friesFriday, October 16th; 10 am – 12 noon; $1,200Instructor: Ivy ChenAlways popular, Ivy's stir-

fries are delicious, use locally-sourced and seasonally available ingredients, and are quick and easy to prepare. Join this class to learn three of Ivy's special recipes: stir-fried shrimp with asparagus; stir-fried beef with coriander leaves; and oolong- infused chicken with pine nuts. Haŏ chī!

Pingding Historic Canal HikeTuesday, October 20th; 9 am – 2:30 pm; $800Instructor: Jennifer TurekFrom the Jiantan MRT station we will take the bus to Pingding village where we will start this scenic hike along the Pingding Historic Canal. The trails we will follow are mostly downhill, along stone pathways and steps. The pathways are mostly shaded and very picturesque. There are three levels of waterways, that date back about 150 years, to walk along and explore. The canals were built to provide transportation, irrigation and drinking-water for the village. The trails eventually bring us to Zhishan Road where we will catch the bus back to the Jiantan MRT. If time permits, we will make a quick run across the street to look at the Shengren Waterfall. The falls can only be viewed from a distance but they are lovely to see. This is an easy to moderate hike, depending on your fitness/hiking experience. Wear proper hiking shoes; bring your EasyCard for the bus; water, lunch and sun/rain/insect protection as required.

OCTOBER ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTS

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The Community Services Center is a registered non-profitorganization, which provides an important support andresource network to newcomers and long-time expatresidents. Its team of professional counselors offercounseling sessions, crisis intervention and a 24-hour crisishotline. A wide range of classes, hikes, day-trips, Mandarinlanguage lessons and cross-cultural training sessions provideinsights into Taiwan and opportunities to meet others in ourdiverse community.

What is the Community Services Center?

The Center relies on the generosity and support of theTaipei community to continue providing critical services,especially during these uncertain times. Every year, weinvite you to join in the celebration of the Center’s work atthe Annual Auction Gala. This charity event is madepossible by donations and volunteers from across thecommunity. To book your table or donate, contact Joy at02 2836-8134 or [email protected].

Come join Us and Support Your Center

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https://bit.ly/csc_auction2020


T ragedy struck the Taipei expatriate community in the mid-eighties when two teens, high on a commonly a v a i l a b l e p s y c h o t r o p i c n o n -prescription drug, murdered one of their friends. While this incident was extreme, expatriate community leaders real ized there was a significant drug problem among expatriate teens far beyond anything they ever imagined and for which there was not adequate resources in the community. Members of the business, religious and U.S. Embassy communities came together to look for a solution and to raise funds. With assistance from the Office of Medical Services of the Department of State, they connected with the Community Services Association of Cairo, an expatriate mental health program in Egypt that we had started and were directing at that time. This resulted in the two of us being invited to conduct a mental health needs assessment for the Taipei expat community and to make recommendations on how to address the issues identified.

The consultation ended with a job offer which brought us from Egypt to Taiwan in August, 1987. In September, the Center began operations. With strong support from the business community, T.A.S., and the Taiwan Adventist Hospital, additional funds were raised that provided sufficient resources for an initial year of operations. We each worked half time at T.A.S., teaching an elective class in Human Relations and working out of the high school counseling department with at-risk teens, while developing prevention programs such as peer counseling, parent education and a school-based drug testing program. As

a key service, the Counseling program was begun at the Center, serving expatriates of all ages for a variety of concerns and staffed by professional counselors and psychologists from the community.

Within a year, as the drug crisis abated, it became increasingly clear that there were mental health concerns beyond youth and drugs for which there were limited resources in Taipei. In addition to counseling services, a range of preventative services were put in place to help expatriates adjust and thrive in Taipei. This included a wide-ranging adult education program that offered more than fifty courses a term, focusing on Chinese language and culture, parenting and stress management as well as arts and hobbies. This was followed in quick order by the addition of orientation programs for newcomers, a pamphlet series on topical issues, regular radio segments on ICRT on adjustment, parenting and cross-cultural concerns and eventually the publication of Taipei Living.

The Center succeeded because of the need for such a service, the willingness of the business community to support the service and the commitment of some key individuals and institutions including Dr. Guy Lott of Taipei American School, John Brantingham, and Fred Voigtmann as well as the Taiwan Adventist Hospital, all of whom helped “birth” the organization. Many volunteers helped in many ways, and, of course, the efforts of the professional staff that provided critical counseling services, preventive mental programs and other activities to the Taipei community all contributed to the initial success of the Center.

The Center: How It All Began TEXT: JOEL WALLACH AND GALE A. METCALF IMAGES: WEB AND THE CENTER

COMMUNITY

This year, the Community Services Center is celebrating 33 years of serving and working closely with the international and local community in Taipei (and throughout Taiwan). During the past few weeks, several people have asked how the Center began. As a result of these requests, we are including an article written by Joel Wallach and Gale A. Metcalf, our Center’s first co-directors, explaining the Center’s early beginnings.

Dr. Guy Lot

John Brantingham

Fred Voigtmann

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FINE DETAILSUp for auction on October 23rd, this striking General

is mounted on a well-balanced, fully caparisoned horse, standing foursquare on a rectangular stand glazed in light brown. His hands are positioned as if holding either a banner or reins, now lost to the ages. Judging from his hat and decorative clothing, this General was also of a higher ranking and likely produced as a funerary burial piece for an aristocrat or wealthy merchant. Both horse and equestrian are glazed in yellow, green, and amber, while the removeable head is painted in black on a white clay base.

T his year's Community Services Center’s annual Auction, titled Blue Moon Monster Ball, will feature an exquisite General on Horseback sancai (三彩) ceramic from Bai Win Antiques. Sancai or “three-colored” ceramics were developed and became popular during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) up until the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). They feature the previously unavailable colors of green and amber, created by mixing metal oxides with a lead glaze. Together with a clear, cream glaze these three basic colors are iconic of sancai ceramics. Another characterization is the smooth bleeding of bright colors, which gives sancai earthenware a dynamic and exuberant look and feel.

FINE DETAILSUp for auction on October 23rd, this striking General

is mounted on a well-balanced, fully caparisoned horse, standing foursquare on a rectangular stand glazed in light brown. His hands are positioned as if holding either a banner or reins, now lost to the ages. Judging from his hat and decorative clothing, this General was also of a higher ranking and likely produced as a funerary burial piece for an aristocrat

T his year's Community Services CenterMonster Ball, will feature an exquisite General on Horseback 彩) ceramic from Bai Win Antiques. Sancai or were developed and became popular during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) up until the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). They feature the previously unavailable colors of green and amber, created by mixing metal oxides with a lead glaze. Together with a clear, cream glaze these three basic colors are iconic of sancai ceramics. Another characterization is the smooth bleeding of bright colors, which gives sancai earthenware a dynamic and exuberant look and feel.

COMMUNITY


Explore The Alluring Charm

of Sancai or “Three-

Colored” Pottery

TEXT: FAYE ANGEVINE, MORGAN LOOSLI, JOY MEGLASSON

IMAGES: MORGAN LOOSLI

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WORLDLY Horses and camels were a common animal depicted in sancai ceramics due to their

importance to the people of the Tang Dynasty, a period of stability and opulence which was considered the golden age of cosmopolitan culture. Found along the Silk Road, sancai ceramics intricately portrayed lifelike animals and people with characteristics varying from Middle Eastern to Central and East Asian. Later sancai influenced Syrian, Cypriot, and Italian pottery as well as Japanese and other East Asian ceramic arts.

TIMELESS AND ENDURINGFigures such as the General on Horseback are made of molded earthenware, and

represent a development of earlier traditions of elaborately glazed figures more prevalent in northern China. Faces and headgear often faded or did not survive the ages; however the sancai ceramic glaze painted freely on the bodies, generally lasted well and has remained as brilliant as at the time of its creation. Rare today, these figurines are seen more often at auction or in private collections.

An example of fine craftsmanship, the General on Horseback is a handsome investment piece that will enhance any home or office.

COMMUNITY

This year’s Community Services Center Auction Gala will feature several items procured and curated by the unparalleled Faye Angevine of Bai Win Antiques. Ms. Angevine is a long-time advocate for the Center, and a person known in the international community for her ability to make things happen against the odds. As a Platinum Donor, Bai Win Antiques’ support of the Center’s programs has provided the funding for many hours of mental health care and other needed support services. The incredible range of items that will be available for purchase at the Center’s Auction Gala is testament to the experience of Ms. Angevine. Apart from The General on Horseback highlighted here, you have a rare opportunity to own a range of other fantastic pieces by attending the Blue Moon Monster Ball on Friday, October 23rd, 2020.

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COMMUNITY

C an you share a l i t t le b i t about yourself and your background?

Sure, I'm a Taiwanese-American painter and illustrator who specializes in portraying East Asian themes and stories through a traditional Chinese painting style called (工筆). My husband and I moved to Taipei two years ago for the love of the language and culture, and as a way to experience it more fully with our young son as well.

Have you always been interested in Chinese painting and history?

Actually, no. While I've always been into creative arts and graphic design as a professional marketer, I didn't get into Chinese painting until I moved here. Growing up in the US, I've been more influenced by Western masters in art and historical literature, and you'd probably catch me reading more Jane Austen fan fiction before bed than anything else! But, I'd say that with

painting, I found a medium that has allowed me to explore Chinese culture in a way that is more engaging than just consuming it passively.

How so?Well, before, I used to do Western-

style portraiture of female figures out of Chinese history. It felt a little bit like holding a mirror to the subject matter. Now that I've been taking classes locally, I learn a lot about Chinese art history, especially from the Song and Tang Dynasties, because students are required to replicate famous works of

from that era. We talk about different masters, traditions, styles, and techniques. But even when we replicate works, we're expected to improve on them with our modern understanding of light, color, and perspective, and add our own artistic style. I feel like I'm

not only immersing myself in a part of Chinese culture, I'm actually adding to it and helping it grow or evolve, instead of observing it as a passive bystander. It's actually drastically changed my own illustration style and subject matter, like the painting for the Center's 2020 Auction called .

Can you talk more about that?Sure. When exploring a theme for

this year's Auction, it was discovered that the Mid-Autumn Festival full moon fell on October 1st, while a second full moon – the Blue Moon – would fall on Halloween. Though Halloween is a Western holiday, the idea of tapping into local Taiwanese folklore for the event was an idea that I found so appealing, because it's not something that we as foreigners are able to appreciate as much, due to not having grown up with the same fairy tales, rituals, or beliefs.

Taiwanese traditions have long held that our universe is made of different realms beyond the one we know, realms involving h (妖鬼神怪), literally “spirits, ghosts, deities and monsters.” And as mainstream as you might think they are, often being featured in many legends that have since been turned into movies and miniseries, there is also a level of taboo for everyday people to talk about them. And there's been a sort of

declining interest in keeping specifically Taiwanese folk customs alive. According to local historians and folklorists, they were considered uneducated and vulgar, and suppressed during the Japanese occupation and by the KMT. Since then, it's been easier to import readily accessible folk stories from abroad – stories like Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs, so on and so forth – than to drum up interest in local folklore.

So, I wanted to create an illustration that showcased aspects of Taiwanese folklore in a fun but spooky way that would suit the Halloween theme for the Auction, using Chinese painting methods that have been passed down for thousands of years.

What are the elements we can find in the painting you ultimately created?

You see three characters in the painting: a spirit called Sister Lintou (林投姐), a monster called Aligagay (阿里嘎該), and Taiwanese water spirits (水鬼). I wanted to go for an eerie mood, sinister but non-threatening, a hint of suddenly realizing you're being observed by something otherworldly the moment before anything actually happens. The story of Sister Lintou provided a really solid setting for that. She was a widow during the Qing Dynasty who, betrayed by her lover, strangles her children out of

Blue Moon Risingwith Regina Linke

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desperation and anger, and then hangs herself from a screw pine tree. Her spirit is said to have haunted screw pine trees near the southern Taiwanese coast ever since.

That seems really dark.It is, as many folktales are, when you

really think about them. This story in particular is actually pretty universal, and follows closely other stories like La Llorona or Medea. But it was also very rich with elements specific to Taiwan, like I loved incorporating the dense fauna found in local nature, which then allowed me to insert other spirits into the composition. Aligagai is a giant monster out of Amis folklore who is said to indiscriminately destroy houses, eat children, and harass women. It appears lurking over Sister Lintou's spirit, peeking out of the background of trees. You can also see the eyes of Taiwanese water ghosts that haunt the shallows under giant taro leaves, looking to trap someone to replace them.

Finding the right source material to portray was a long process. While it was really interesting to just read so many stories, it took a while to decide what could be combined into a single work. Some, like Sister Lintou, were dark but had a lot of meat to them, while others were kind of random or difficult to illustrate in a single panel. There were numerous dead ends.

If someone wanted to learn more about Taiwanese folklore, where should they look?

Unfortunately, most of the books and materials I've found are in Mandarin, but for those who are interested and able to dive into the material, there are a number of illustrated series geared for children, which are sort of encyclopedic in nature, but graphic in presentation. Yuan Liou (遠流) published a series in the 1990s called Children's Taiwan (兒童的台灣) that is dedicated not just to Taiwanese history, but specifically folktales and folk customs.

More recently, I think there has been a revival of interest in Taiwanese folk customs. A Taiwan Monsters board game (台灣妖怪鬪陣), where you battle to become the overlord of monsters, blew its crowdfunding goal out of the water a few years ago. Taiwanese author Ho Ching-yao (何

敬堯) more recently documented Taiwan's supernatural history with over two hundred stories and characters from indigenous and Han Chinese lore and historical texts in Yaoguai Taiwan (妖怪台灣), which also spun off a board game, where each player is a village elder tasked with making their village as prosperous as possible through the happy coexistence with local deities and monsters. You can also look for a fantasy series called 妖怪人間 or “Monstrous Me” in English, that came out just this last year as well.

What is something you've learned or taken away from the process of creating the painting for this year's Auction?

I think mostly I've learned that there will always be a sort of curiosity for the supernatural, whether it's something

we've grown up hearing or stumbled upon through our environment or just talking to someone. And the beauty of historical folklore, folklore that has stood the test of time and continued to intrigue and be passed on, is that they can be shared and enjoyed by anyone, because there's often some lesson, piece of wisdom, or insight into that culture that is worth learning.

COMMUNITY

R e g i n a L i n k e i s a Taiwanese-American contemporary gongbi p a i n t e r c u r r e n t l y l iving in Taipei with h e r h u s b a n d a n d young son . Learn more a t w w w.bluechinashop.com.

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https://www.bluechinashop.com/


COMMUNITY

TEXT: SUE BABCOCK IMAGES: SENA TABUCHI

T hroughout the ages, fishermen all over the world have reported seeing strange creatures from the sea. Their terrifying tales of giant sea monsters and serpents have become global legends. However, in Asia just off the coast of Japan lived a gentle sea creature called amabie (ah-mah-bee-ey).

19TH CENTURY JAPANThe amabie was first sighted in 1846 during the Edo

period, in Higo Province (Kumanmoto Prefecture) by a government official who saw a strange light coming from the sea. Curious, he went down to the seashore to investigate. As he stood looking out at the sea, a little creature emerged. It was the amabie, a legendary mermaid or merman with three fin-like legs, the head and beak of a bird, human hair and the scaly body of a fish.

The amabie spoke to the government official in a human language, giving him two predictions. “Your town will have a good harvest which will last for six years, but in the following year there will be wide-spread sickness. When this happens quickly draw a picture of me and show my picture to all, especially to those who have become ill. They will live and have my protection.” Then, the amabie disappeared back into the sea.

The villagers followed the amabie’s advice and were protected. News of the amabie’s prophesy and its ability to offer people protection against plagues reached nearby towns. Woodblock news sheets called kawaraban were made depicting the little amabie’s image and distributed throughout Japan. People seeking solace began to purchase these news sheets for good luck and protection against illness.

21ST CENTURY JAPANThis year, as COVID-19 continues to spread across the

world, people in Japan remembered the little amabie. Creative images spontaneously began to appear on social media. It soon became obvious that the little 19th century icon had become a pop-cultural phenomenon.

Japanese Folklore: The Amabie – A Protector Against Illness

Sena Tabuchi is a senior at Fu-Hsin Trade and Arts School. Inspired by his Japanese heritage, this high school student introduces Amabie, a historical, mythical protector of challenging times.

Sena Tabuchi(Sheng-ruei Tang)

This original artwork of the Amabie by Sena Tabuchi will be printed, framed and auctioned on October 23rd at the Community Services Center's Blue Moon Monster Ball

These contemporary images of the amabie and his prophesy of committed protection against illness continue to bring comfort and collective strength in the face of adversity. It has become an international good luck charm in the hope of warding off COVID-19.

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Whisky VaultProtect your rare whisky collection in style! Own a one-of-a-kindhandcrafted steel and teak Whisky Vault designed and engineeredby Todd Lawrence. Whisky Vault accommodates 42 bottles and ashelf for glasses and features steel plate construction, vault doorwith locking bolts, machined tri-spoke handle, electronic lockingsystem, bulletproof window, leveling casters, and laser engravednumber plate. Whisky Vault sports a sleek design and handcraftedairbrushed artwork by a Taiwan-based award-winning artist.www.whiskyvault.tw

Bencotto at the Mandarin Oriental, TaipeiEnjoy an unparalleled, private culinary set menu experience for 10people at Bencotto, the Mandarin Oriental, Taipei’s Michelin-recommended Italian restaurant, and the only one awarded twoforks in Taiwan by Gambero Rosso. Led by Chef de Cuisine IacopoFrassi, Bencotto is committed to showcasing authentic Italian cuisinein Taipei and providing diners an array of sophisticated creations. www.mandarinoriental.com/taipei

Camp TaiwanExplore Taiwan’s beautiful nature during a weekend of camping andadventure for 40 guests! During April 17-18, 2021, Camp Taiwan willprepare a full day of outdoor activities on Saturday, ending the daywith a campfire program, which includes s’mores. After breakfaston Sunday, your group will enjoy an additional half-day of funcamp activities. Your stay concludes after a delicious lunchoverlooking the lush green hills of Wanli. It is the perfect team-building or family fun weekend! www.camptaiwan.com.tw

T O B I D O N T H E S E E X C I T I N G L I V E A U C T I O N I T E M S A N D M O R E !

B U Y T I C K E T S T O T H E C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I C E S C E N T E R ' S

BLUE MOON MONSTER BALL

See more sneak peeks at www.bit.ly/csc_sneakpeek

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OUTLOOK

Saying Goodbye to Toxic Relationships

I wish that I was brave enough to be able to sign my name to this article. But, I feel that if I do, that I will open myself up to more emotional pain than I can handle at the moment. You see, I am still recovering from a healthy choice that I made four years ago.

Eh? You may be thinking that this is a strange thing to say. Well, it is true. Four years ago, I made the decision, after much reflection, counseling, painful memories and recognition of having been a family scapegoat ever since I can remember, that it was time for me to walk away from my natural birth family because they were harmful to my health. They were toxic.

I occasionally get asked, by people who know my story, “What was it that finally did it for you?” Quite simply, it was when my parents died within months of each other and I saw family members fighting over who would get what, which was my ‘defining’ moment. It all suddenly came together.

I think that the most important thing is to recognize the toxic person and their behaviors. Many toxic people have had their lives shaped by family norms, which include decades of indoctrination about secrecy; don’t talk about the family or you will be bullied or even worse ostracized from the family unit; being a family victim or a bully, targeted or targeting specific family members with gossip and lies.

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.Is there a family member or multiple family members that

consistently tell lies about you or another family member? Is this person making up stories about you or another member that is harmful to their character, makes you/them seem like a liar, someone who cheats others, is uncaring and of no moral character?

WHY DO THESE PEOPLE DO THIS?This is a complicated issue. When scapegoating or bullying

is going on during childhood, it is a behavior that has the support of those in authority. The sad part about this childhood family experience is that it usually continues into and throughout adulthood. Scapegoating or bullying is a form of behavior which hides the problems that the family has and can’t face. Often it is a sister or brother, who is a parental favorite that actively targets a sibling who is less favored by one or both parents. This secures a spot of ‘safety’ for them with their parent(s). The children who perpetuate bully or

scapegoat tactics often escalate family situations in order to remain in favor with their parents.

However, in terms of everyone’s ability to have good mental health, no one wins. Those targeted individuals suffer emotional and sometimes physical damage, which many times lasts a lifetime. Often, the bullies or those employing scapegoat behaviors, do not recognize that they are toxic individuals.

ARE YOU A TOXIC INDIVIDUAL?Signs you are toxic include:• You have a lot of friends and family members that are

distancing themselves from you.• People seem unhappy to be around you.• You feel like a victim in life and you talk about it.• You have to be in control of everything that happens.• You find yourself saying cruel things about and to other

people.• You need to be validated by other people.• You have an addiction problem.• You are constantly thinking negative thoughts about

yourself and life.• You take everything very personally and find ways to

make other people pay for it.• You gossip about others and put them down.If you recognize these behaviors in yourself, then you will

have to admit that you may be the problem. If you take time to think honestly about yourself and how your presence contributes in a negative way to other people’s lives, you will be able to find ways to constructively work on yourself. You may also find that your relationship with others becomes more rewarding and accepting of you.

FOR THOSE ON THE RECEIVING END OF TOXIC ABUSEIf you have set boundaries, which are ignored and their

behavior (manipulation, drama, neediness, criticism, jealousy) threatens your own health; if you have written down what they are doing and honestly study it asking yourself how you feel about them and what would be the benefits of ending this toxic relationship, then it may be time to say “goodbye.”

Ending a toxic relationship is not a harmful decision. You are choosing ways to take care of yourself and your health when someone or others are not willing to treat you with love, kindness and respect. You are choosing to live life happily.

TEXT: ANONYMOUS IMAGES: WEB

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HEALTH

What’s Beyond Organic?

TEXT: DANIEL CUNNINGHAM IMAGES: YESHEALTH GROUP

F ew would believe this 5,000m2 warehouse, at a grey industrial park near Taoyuan Airport, h o u s e s a s tate-o f-t h e-a r t vertical farm. The YesHealth iFarm is Taiwan’s largest, most advanced vertical farm, and a model for many of the latest vertical farms popping up all across Asia and Europe. It showcases homegrown technologies that are leading the evolution of agriculture t o w a r d s a h e a l t h i e r a n d m o r e sustainable future.

The YesHealth iFarm, which was

first unveiled in 2017, has received m u c h a p p l a u s e f o r i t s b i o t e c h innovations. YesHealth Group is part of the movement that’s pioneering a new agricultural standard known as Beyond Organic, meaning products that contain zero pesticides, heavy metals, parasitic ovum, and E. coli, along with low quantities of nitrates and bacteria. Legislation may be lagging behind the technology, but thanks to companies l ike YesHealth Group, the Beyond Organic standard is being set.

INSIDE YESHEALTH IFARMBeyond Organic is only achievable

in a l aborator y-sty le, contro l led environment. At the YesHealth iFarm, a wall of glass separates visitors from the vertical farm where leafy greens grow in racks, stacked over ten stories high, yielding up to 1,500kg of leafy greens per day. Upon entering the vertical farm, visitors are presented with a short documentary video that introduces YesHealth Group, followed by a room that exhibits all its key technologies, then the vertical farm itself.

Classical music resonates throughout the vertical farm, promoting healthy

Discover what’s beyond organic at the YesHealth iFarm

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HEALTH

plant psychology, and a soft breeze blows through the leaves, stimulating the growth of strong plant fibers. The plants’ roots are suspended in a liquid microbial nutrient solution, formulated from ingredients such as soy milk and oyster shells. LED lighting simulates the precise wavelengths of light required by each speci f ic p lant species at different stages of its growth cycle, and data points from the vertical farm are monitored in real time using artificial intelligence.

You might be wondering why we need all this technology. The short answer is that agriculture has become seriously unsustainable. Pesticides are killing bees and destroying food chains, nutrient runoff is contaminating lakes and oceans, and agriculture as a whole is responsible for 70% of all water consumption worldwide. That’s where vertical farming comes in — eliminating pesticides, nutrient runoff, and other forms of po l lut ion, a l l the whi le consuming up to 90% less water.

After more than a decade of research and development, YesHealth Group’s technology has become so advanced that it has begun supplying vertical farming operations all across Europe

and Asia. Later this year, YesHealth Group will unveil a new partnership project in Copenhagen, which will be one of the world’s largest and most efficient vertical farms. And they also just announced another partnership project in Rome next year for the Vatican’s initiative to support refugees living in the city.

EXPERIENCE BEYOND ORGANICFrom Taipei, the YesHealth iFarm

is only a thirty-minute drive away. The tour takes about twenty minutes and finishes at the iFarm restaurant, where you can taste the goods. You can also find YesHealth iFarm products in branches of Carrefour and Jasons all over Taiwan, or get them delivered directly to your home.

Daniel Cunningham i s I n t e r n a t i o n a l P r o j e c t P R & Marketing Manager a t D D G T a i p e i , h e l p i n g T a i w a n d e s i g n e r s a n d disruptors go global. He currently represents YesHealth Group and Taipei Computer Associat ion’s AI NE X T program.

Telephone: (03) 222-9755Address: 1658, Zhongzheng North Road, Luzhu District, Taoyuan City, 338Open daily (except Mondays) from 9.30 am to 6 pm.

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CULTURE

Indigenous Bridges Taiwan

In order to prepare for the harvest festivalAll age groups of the tribe often gather To discuss the preparation of the harvest festival togetherThe venue layout and work assignments are distributed before the festivalHarvest FestivalIs a time to celebrate the harvestTo thank God for His favorSo that we can have good weatherHave a good land and a healthy bodySo we can come to farmWe are very content with what we have We are also a very hospitable ethnic groupBut because of the cultural heritage of each tribeThere may be some differences influenced by foreign culture And tourists have different experiences that they come into contact withBut as long as you maintain a friendly and respectful attitudeWe are still willingTo share our culture

Yang Shaoen (楊邵恩), Fengbin Village (豐濱豐富村), Hualien

Experiencing the Sacred Ami Harvest Festival

TEXT & IMAGES: CHLOE J. HSIA

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CULTURE


“ Maola kako kisuwanan!” cheers the crowd in Amis, the native language of the Amis tribe. The phrase means “I like you,” and is the crowd’s first introduction to the tribe’s rich culture at the Joint Indigenous Harvest Festival, held from August 21st to 23rd, 2020 in Hualien. The festival plays an important part in preserving the tribe’s culture, as many young tribe members have left their communities to live and work in larger cities. Although the Hualien Joint Indigenous Harvest Festival differs in format from the tribe’s traditional harvest festival, it’s still an invaluable way for visitors to learn more about Taiwan’s indigenous culture while enjoying local f lavors, supporting indigenous artisans, and celebrating the new season with meaningful song and dance.

Out of Taiwan’s sixteen officially recognized indigenous tribes, the Amis, which is distributed along the eastern coast of Taiwan from Hualien to Taitung, i s the most populous

with 213,514 members as of January 2020 (according to the Counci l of Indigenous Peoples). Of these, less than 10,000 consider Amis to be their first language. In the Amis language, amis means “north,” and members refer to themselves as “Pangcah,” meaning people or kinsmen. The origin stories of the Pangcah people can be distinguished in part by geographic location: the northern Amis believe they are descendants of deities, while the southern Amis believe their earliest ancestor was born from a stone.

During the summer months each year between July and August, the Amis come together for one of their most important festivals, to celebrate the abundant harvest and to thank ancestors for their blessings upon the tribe. The harvest festival is traditionally celebrated after the end of the millet season, but as rice has slowly replaced it as the staple grain, the festival has been pushed back in recent years until after the rice is harvested. Two stories tell of the origins of the festival. The

first tells of how, after the destruction of the tribe’s crops, the Amis took steps to transform the souls of their enemies into spirits, and began praying to them for successful harvests. The second describes the festival as a homecoming celebration for the young men who had protected the crops year-round: a joyous occasion when sacrifices would be offered to the ancestral spirits.

The harvest fest ival is a sacred and holy event, and holds incredible importance for the tribe beyond thanks for a bountiful harvest. It’s also a time for families to reunite, a time to connect with gods and ancestors, and to unite the village. The festival has three different parts: the welcoming of the spirits, the hosting of a feast for the spirits to enjoy, and the sending- off of the spirits. Traditionally, welcoming the spirits may only be done by the male tribe members, while sending the spirits off is only done by female members, although in recent years, these gender restrictions have been l i fted. Amis society is considered

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CULTURE

matrilineal, with women being the head of the household and children taking the mother’s surname. Once a man marries into a household, they are considered a son of the wife’s family and move into their household. Women usually handle household affairs, while men, based on age, handle the public affairs of the tribe.

Kao Hui-Ju (高慧如 ) of the Makala Makerahay Amis Tribe in Taitung says: “The process of holding the harvest festival reflects how the Amis society is working. It presents the core values of the tribe, telling us how to respect animism, elders, and how to help others. For me, the harvest festival is the best way to learn about Amis traditional culture, and to understand the importance of our indigenous self-identity.

“Holding the festival is all about teamwork. Every age group is assigned wo r k a n d h a s t h e i r o w n d u t i e s, for instance fishing, preparing the ingredients, cooking, and cleaning. I enjoy preparing ingredients, because the elder women teach me about the tribe’s traditional food and vegetables. It’s also a good way to learn more about my tribe’s natural environment and to help me to respect it more.”

Harvest festival dances are usually based on age-group, with formations beginning with the oldest members and ending with the youngest ones, which also indicates the societal ranking of Amis males. Women usually move in a counterclockwise direction, while men move clockwise. Younger members are also given the chance to search for their partner in marriage during this time.

Males wear a bag over their shoulder, called an alufu or lover’s bag. Single women of the village will place a betel nut into the alufu bag of the man they admire, and the man will accept the gift if the interest is mutual. This bag is also considered a protective talisman and may carry important, small objects on a regular basis.

Amis tribe members don beautiful, colorful clothing that represents the region they come from. The colors woven through their costumes are chosen to represent their inseparable relationship with the environment and natural resources. Vibrant red and tassels are more commonly associated with Hualien Amis, while Taitung Amis often choose black, white and peach, and wear colorful pants. Red may also represent the sun and the tribe’s matrilineal society. Each age group wears a different style of headdress, while the village chiefs wear ornate, feathered headwear symbol iz ing leadership and wisdom.

The Amis people believe that how they live in this life will impact their afterlife. If they experience joy while singing and dancing during this life, they will experience a similar joy in the next. Singing and dancing well can lead the village to experience a bountiful harvest and favorable weather in the upcoming year. Shouting at the end of a song symbolizes the group’s unity and the community spirit of the entire tribe. Besides aesthetic enjoyment and emotional expression, performing music among the tribal community is also a means to carry on cultural traditions and to signify solidarity between members. It is also offered up to deities and ancestors to celebrate joyous occasions and to mark the beginning of a new one in the afterlife.

C h l o e H s i a i s a Taiwanese-American wi th a pass ion for indigenous tourism, foraging and farming. She is thrilled to be working with the ATAYAL team as their PR Coordinator and Video Journalist for Indigenous Bridges, a non-profit organization that builds connections between indigenous communities.

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#14 Tienmu E. Road | Telephone 2871-1515 | [email protected]

CSC BUSINESS CLASSIFIED

TWO BOOKS BY LOCAL AUTHORS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE CENTER

The Imperial Alchemist – a novel by A.H. WangThe Imperial Alchemist is an archaeological adventure/thriller set in modern-day Taiwan and is an exciting tale of mystery, interwoven with rich historical and cultural facts.A.H. Wang is a contemporary visual artist and author with a deep fascination for ancient history and a passion for adventure.

Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, her travels have taken her across five continents and dozens of countries. Throughout her journey, she became fascinated by the local cultures and the lore of ancient civilizations.

Taiwanese Feet : My walk around Taiwan by John GrootThis is a book recording John Groot's account of an epic walk around the ent i re 1200 mi le coastl ine of Taiwan. A special edition of five hundred superior-quality books with color plates, signed and personally dedicated by

the author, will be available only in Taiwan at the same price as the regular paperback edition. All details can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Taiwanese.Feet/ or send an inquiry to [email protected]

Taiwan 101: Essential Sights, Hikes and Experiences on Ilha Formosa by Richard Saunders

Taiwan is a perfect illustration of the saying that good things come in small packages. In comparison with more popular tourist destinations in the Far East, Taiwan is very modest in size, but despite its diminutive scale, the island has an astonishing amount to offer the curious explorer. The two volumes that make up Taiwan 101 are the perfect guide for exploring the very best of

Taiwan: not only the island’s finest hikes, but also its best historic towns and cities, brightest traditional festivals, unique Chinese and aboriginal cultural riches, and its little-known natural wonders such as eternal flames, mud volcanoes and badlands. Together, Taiwan 101 Volumes 1 and 2 present Taiwan’s finest attractions to anyone who wishes to get to know this island of kaleidoscopic charms, and comes with detailed information on getting around by public transport, and accurate GPS coordinates of nearly 800 fascinating places.

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Neil Wade Neil owns and operates a hiking guide company called Taiwan Adventures. He loves exploring the island on his motorcycle or in hiking boots.

PHOTO GALLERY

Yushan

Nenggao Qilai East Ridge

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Tony Coolidge

Tony Coolidge is the Executor Director of the ATAYAL Organization which fosters connections with the

indigenous tribes of Taiwan and the Native Americans and Austronesian Tribes through sustainable programs

known as Indigenous Bridges. As an advocate of Taiwan's indigenous people, Tony Coolidge has dedicated his life

to cultural exchange and preservation for his sons and future generations.

Throughout Taiwan emphasis is being placed on the right of all indigenous children to learn their native languages. They participate in indigenous language speech contests every year as an incentive to learn and practice their native languages. On Saturday, September 19, 2020, Jaden Coolidge, representing the Sediq Tribe, joined other students at the Tainan City Municipal Indigenous Language Speech Contest.

Jaden Coolidge (Sediq Tribe), left, waits with his friends for the contest to begin.

A sister and brother representing the Sakizaya Tribe share some of their indigenous languages with each other after the competition.

A 6th grader from the Paiwan Tribe shares some of her indigenous language after the competition.

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FOOD

Made withLoveNow that the heat of summer has stopped bearing down on Taiwan (when temperatures reached 35 degrees C or even higher) and fall has arrived, people are more interested in eating pasta. This month’s choice can feed hungry teenagers, like me. It is nutritious, easy to fix, yummy and is one of my Uncle Dieter’s favorite pasta salads.

TEXT: TARANA WIENRICH IMAGES: ULLI WIENRICH

Pasta SaladIngredients• 1 French baguette• 250 grams (1.24 cups) farfalle pasta• 200 grams (1 cup) cherry tomatoes• 1 medium romaine lettuce• 40 grams (3 tablespoons) pitted black olives

Dressing• 10 tablespoons olive oil• 8 tablespoons balsamic vinegar• 4 teaspoons capers• 90 grams (7 tablespoons) finely chopped onions• Fresh basil and thyme• Salt, black pepper and sugar to taste• 3 cloves garlic

Garnish (optional)• Fresh parsley• Parmesan cheese

Preparation1. Cook the farfalle pasta or any bow-tie pasta

in boiling water until al dente. Strain and place into a bowl. Prepare the salad dressing by placing the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and finely chopped onions into a bowl.

2. Add the chopped garlic, thyme, basil, and capers, and the black pepper, salt and sugar. Mix well. Note that you will need a substantial amount of this salad dressing because the farfalle pasta will soak up a lot, so feel free to increase the salad dressing amounts.

3. Mix the pasta and salad dressing together. Place the mixture into the refrigerator for four to six hours. Check it occasionally and stir to make sure that it has soaked up the balsamic vinegar dressing.

Before serving, place freshly-washed romaine lettuce and the chopped cherry tomatoes on plates and add the pasta salad. Top with some parsley sprigs if you like. You can also add slices of parmesan cheese.

Enjoy with a French baguette.

Tarana Wienrich is a student at TES.


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COFFEE MORNING10.30 am. - 12 pm.

SAVE THE DATENOVEMBER, 12

No. 25, Lane 290 Zhong Shan North Rd., Sec. 6. 290 25

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https://bit.ly/csc_coffee


TRAVEL

A part from his official residence at Shilin in Taipei, Former ROC President Chiang Kai-shek and his wife owned property all around the island, both in the big cities and in far-flung reaches of his empire, such as Kenting and Penghu. Built to order or using already existing structures, the residences were designed to accommodate the couple not only during holidays and during state visits by foreign VIPS, but also while visiting various parts of the island on inspection tours, which were a way of emphasizing the Generalissimo’s iron grip over the whole of Taiwan.

These relics, most dating from Taiwan’s “White Terror” period, make for fascinating visits. The majority of them remain just as they did when Kai-shek and Madame Chiang occupied them, and are interesting throwbacks to a repressive past that is only a few decades old, yet seems remote from the lively democracy that Taiwan enjoys today.

Zhongxing Guesthouse, renamed Yangmingshuwu (陽明書屋) after Kai-shek’s death, was the last and by far the largest and most luxurious of the former President’s 27 residences. It was built 1969-70, just

RICHARD SAUNDERS EXPLORES TAIWAN'S LESS-TRODDEN PATHS

Yangmingshuwu TEXT & IMAGES: RICHARD SAUNDERS

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over five years before Kai-shek’s death in May 1975, to entertain guests and serve as (yet another) summer retreat. The building, designed by the architect also responsible for the National Palace Museum, was painted green (like a number of the residences) to make it less conspicuous (and therefore less of a target) in its forest setting. Underneath the house are a series of emergency tunnels (a short stretch of which are open to the public).

Escape tunnels and emergency bunkers are a feature of a number of residences and other places connected with the presidential family. The most famous of these underground passages are the two eighty-meter-long escape tunnels (built in 1973) connecting the Grand Hotel in Taipei with a park beside the busy road junction below the hotel; one is famously equipped with an emergency slide for quick evacuation. Much larger complexes of tunnels also exist in the area, such as the Caoshan Air-raid Tunnels (草山防空洞) burrowing four stories deep underneath Mount Shamao (close to the 260 bus terminus, just a short bus ride from Yangmingshuwu) and capable of sheltering about six hundred people.

TRAVEL

Richard Saunders is a trained classical musician and writer who lived in Taipei from 1993 to 2018. He has written several hiking and guide books (available at the Center and in bookshops around Taipei) covering the whole of Taiwan, and its offshore islands.

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centered...2020/10/10 · regina’s stunning original artwork, blue moon rising, will be showcased...

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