At a time when cross-strait ties face fresh challenges, writer Yang Du is using the power of prose and poetry to build bridges between the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan region.
Yang Du, a writer based in the Taiwan region, regularly organizes and attends cross-strait cultural forums and academic conferences. His best-known works, Discovering History in Taiwan and A Century of Drifting: The Story of Taiwan, explore the historical roots that link migrants from the Chinese mainland with the development of the Taiwan region over the past century.
In Discovering History in Taiwan, Yang Du traces the journeys of early settlers, weaving archival stories with personal narratives. A Century of Drifting looks at how waves of migration shaped language, cuisine and local customs, showing that the cultural identity of residents of the Taiwan region is inextricably woven into the broader tapestry of Chinese civilization.
Earlier this year, Yang Du hosted a forum in Taipei that brought together over 200 scholars, poets and students from both sides of the strait. Through panel discussions on shared literary traditions and open-mic poetry readings, participants exchanged ideas on identity, memory and the future of cross-strait cultural dialogue.
Yang Du told attendees that their histories are intertwined and that by honouring shared heritage, deeper understanding and cooperation can flourish.
As cross-strait exchanges continue to evolve, Yang Du's work stands as a reminder that literature can transcend political divides and bring hearts and minds closer together.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
