Power corrupts, they say. But it also condenses, congeals around influential families whoâwhether by simple advantage of their privileged positions or by more nefarious meansâperpetuate lineages of influence and wealth. They exist in many guises…
The summer is officially coming to an end, with the end of summer holidays and the kids going back to school. Not that itâs cooling off much as yet with another sweltering week in prospect….
Have you ever heard anyone talk about the ethnic groups of Taiwan and wondered what they meant? Do you know your Yuanzhumin from your Waishengren? This is a brief guide to understanding the terms Taiwanese…
Sitting as Taiwan does somewhere along the transition from a traditional agricultural society to a modern technologically-developed nation, the superstitions of older times still hold a surprising amount of sway. From the harmless (not giving…
John Ross is the author of Formosan Odyssey, a classic of Taiwan travel and history writing, first published in 2002. In this afterword written for the 2014 second edition, he looks at how Taiwan has…
If youâre only going to learn one of Taiwanâs languages, then learn Mandarin. But if you fancy a challenge, learning Taiwanese will push your limits and open new doors. Taiwanese is spoken by around two…
Of the many festivals and worship days in the lunar calendar, Ghost Month is one of the most visible to visitors and long-term residents in Taiwan not directly involved with local traditions and beliefs. Ghost…
When it comes to sport in Taiwan, the famous names that spring to mind are probably Yani Tseng, the LPGA golfer with five majors under her belt, or Wang Chien-ming, a pitcher formerly with the…
Image by ayustety. Like Taipei 101, Sun Moon Lake, and the National Palace Museum, Taiwan Beer is a national icon. Unlike the others, TĂĄiwÄn PĂjÇu (Taipi for short) represents a side of Taiwan that doesnât…
This is part two of Kathleen Purvisâs tale of her fatherâs time in Taiwan in 1972. If you havenât read part one, go and do that first. Of course, Taiwan in 1972 was considerably…