With support from the Ministry of Culture (MOC), “Island at the Crossroads: Literary Map of Taiwan (Ostrov na rozcestí. Literární mapa Tchaj-wanu),” edited by Táňa Dluhošová, director of the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, was presented on Oct. 27 at the Inspiration Forum of the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival.
The book features 30 literary works by Taiwanese authors who participated in the 2024 Authors’ Reading Month in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, showcasing the richness of Taiwanese literature and its potential to foster cultural dialogue with Eastern European audiences.
The title “Island at the Crossroads” symbolizes the many intersections that define contemporary Taiwanese society—between memory and imagination, the local and the global, tradition and innovation. Dluhošová emphasized that the collection serves as a “cultural map” co-created by 30 Taiwanese writers, inviting Czech readers to explore the multifaceted identity of the island through literature.
She further noted that the book includes works by Indigenous and new immigrant writers, reflecting the diversity and inclusiveness of Taiwan’s culture. “Taiwanese literature weaves together Taigi, Hakka, Austronesian, and Southeast Asian languages,” she said.
Additionally, Germany-based writer Kevin Chen (陳思宏) attended the book presentation and shared his reflections on the role of Taiwanese literature in a free society. He described Taiwan as “an island of freedom,” where people enjoy the liberty to express themselves without restraint.
The MOC stated that “Island at the Crossroads: Literary Map of Taiwan” is the first anthology of contemporary Taiwanese literature published in Czechia, offering Czech readers a new window into Taiwan’s culture, history, and society, as cultural exchanges between the two nations continue to deepen.