The National Museum of Taiwanese Literature was opened in 2003 in the southern city of Tainan. The museum is dedicated to researching, preserving, cataloging and exhibiting literary artifacts. The museum thematically traces the history of Taiwan’s literary development. The introduction celebrates Taiwan’s spirit of self-determination, and highlights her struggle as she treads her literary journey.

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The museum is housed in a national historic building, the former Tainan City Hall. Built by the Japanese in 1916, the architecture is in the Mansard style, made popular by the French architect Francois Mansart (1598-1666), and was a commonly used style in European and North American public buildings in the 19th century. The building was badly damaged during the second world war, and was subsequently used as for the Supply Department for the ROC Air Force, before once again becoming the City Hall until 1997.

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The renovated architecture inside is particularly interesting, with lots of internal archways and columns, as well as some beautiful brickwork.

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Inside there are eight exhibition rooms, showcasing the history and development of Taiwanese literary through a range of languages, including Taiwanese, Japanese, Mandarin and Classical Chinese. Subdued lighting sets the mood producing some interesting shadow effects around the displays.

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One of the exhibition rooms is dedicated to Lai He (è³´å’Œ), widely considered the father of Taiwanese new literature. Born in Changhua in 1894, he was a novelist, poet and doctor. Lai He was the leading representative poet throughout the Japanese colonization. As a doctor, he opened a clinic where he saw patients, as well as a reading room where he wrote and kept a large collection of books, newspapers and magazines for friends, students and patients to read. He was also a prominent social activist, discussing current events, Taiwan’s future direction and served as a mentor for young writers. He died in 1943.

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There’s also a children’s section where the young can learn about various writers, read some simple books or try their hand at calligraphy.

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I’ll leave you with a couple more images to close.

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The museum is located at no 1, Zhongzheng Rd, Tainan city (台南市中西區中正路1號)