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Wandering Words, Free Spirits: A Travel Literature Exhibition
Worldviews
Worldviews
There’s a popular saying online: “Traveling is going from the place you’re tired of living in to the place someone else is tired of living in.” Though meant as a joke, it does hold some truth—people often travel not just for the sights, but the experience of culture clashes and the rediscovery of the purpose of their lives.
Today, international travel has become easier and more affordable than ever. Moving between countries no longer feels like a distant dream. As a result, differences between cultures have evolved from simple exotic backdrops to opportunities to shift perspectives and the way we view our lives.
Writers with a keen eye for human nature and subtle observation capture the contrasts between cultures during their many trips abroad. By shifting their own perspectives, they bring readers first-hand accounts from unfamiliar lands. Records of their reflections reveal the nuances of cross-cultural encounters, while the many small stories born of these exchanges go on to fascinate and delight readers.
We can even see Taiwan in a new light through the works of foreign writers. Their glimpses of the warmth, atmosphere, and subtle charm that together form a uniquely “Taiwanese sensibility” are a quiet counterpart within Taiwan’s travel literature. When the world and our worldviews change, so too does our state of mind. Perhaps this is what truly compels people to travel in the first place.
#ForeignFlair #WhenWorldsMeet #ForeignersInTaiwan #Cultural Exchange
Cultural Crossings
In the early days, it was difficult for people in Taiwan to travel abroad. Their perceptions of foreign lands often came from newspapers, magazines, and written observations. Over time, these words shaped how readers have imagined other cultures.
Even today, it is through the words of writers that we encounter different ways of life across the world. Cross-border love stories, the bittersweet realities of living abroad, and observations of cultural exchange—such themes form some of the most page-turning chapters of travel literature. They reflect how the people of Taiwan perceive cultural differences and commonalities, as well as how they have rediscovered themselves amid moments of conflict and connection.
（由左至右）
Chung Mei-yin's To Paris, for Fun
Chung Mei-yin's travelogue of Paris for children introduces the sights, sounds, and customs of the city in a lighthearted tone, with illustrations by Shiy De-jinn. Published in 1968 by the Taiwan Provincial Government Department of Education.
Coin of British India
A 1918 coin from British India from writer Sanmao's collection, bearing witness to the breadth of her travels.
Suede Water Bottle
This is Sanmao's suede water bottle. With its camel-colored exterior and strap, it carries an air of the exotic.
( From left to right)
Chung Mei-yin's Travels by Sea and Sky
Chung Mei-yin traveled to 25 cities in 13 different countries with her husband, Yu Bo-chi. Her written account of her experiences was serialized in the supplement of Central Daily News, and in 1966 was published as a standalone book.
"A Highly Educational Journey": Newspaper Report on Hsu Chung-pei's Trip to Six Central American Countries
。Although Hsu Chung-pei went abroad as the wife of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, she took the perspective of an author and a veteran journalist.
Manuscript of Sima Zhongyuan's "A Visit to the Philippines"
In his capacity as head of the delegation representing Literary Monthly, Sima Zhongyuan visited the Philippines in March of 1982 to speak at a meeting of the Chinese Writers Association. This manuscript records his experience traveling there.
Through the Eyes of Others
Though Taiwan is a small island nation in East Asia, it has often garnered the world’s attention. For over a century, visitors from world over have traveled across Taiwan in various ways and left behind valuable records of their journeys.
The experiences of foreigner travelers and residents in Taiwan offer unique perspectives among the Taiwan’s body of travel literature. Seeing Taiwan through their eyes allows us to rediscover the distinctive charm of this land and understand their cultural insights. Between the lines, their words reveal a range of emotions and leave behind an honest record of Taiwan as they experienced it.
( From left to right)
Swallow's Nest No. 404: Special Issue on Taiwan Travel Haiku
Swallow's Nest was a poetry journal founded by Japanese haiku poet Haneda Gakusui. This issue is a collection of haiku written by poetry society members inspired by their experiences of traveling around Taiwan.
Beautiful Taiwan
Korean businessman Gong Seong-hak and others visited Taiwan in 1928 for tourism and research. Their travelogue, presented from a Korean perspective, offers a glimpse into the local customs and culture of Taiwan, and is a rare example of travel writings by a Korean merchant-scholar in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial era.
Provided by Chen Qing-zhi, Associate Professor, Department of Korean Language and Culture, NCCU
Manuscript of Wu Yong-fu's "America On Foot"
This is Wu Yong-fu's written reflections on his and Lee Kuei-shien's 1985 trip to various places around the United States,
participating in Taiwanese Association of America events and giving speeches.
Manuscript of Dupan Fangge's "Travel Diary"
Dupan Fangge's travel diary of his 1980s trip to Iowa, USA is written entirely in Japanese, on paper provided by a hotel in Kyoto.
Yamasaki Tetsuya's "Tainan Traffic Circle"
A watercolor painting of the traffic circle right in front of NMTL. Japanese painter Yamasaki Tetsuya and his sister Yamasaki Hanako have visited Taiwan many times, and their love for Taiwan has led them to publish many illustrated books on Taiwan's cuisine and streets under the name "Yamasaki Siblings."
Provided by Yamasaki Tetsuya.
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