TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan showcased Taiwanese Indigenous literature at a cultural event in Dublin on Wednesday (April 10).

Cohosted by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature (NMTL) and Taipei Representative Office in Ireland, the exhibition was titled “Sing with a Pen: The Heavenly Voice of Taiwan’s Indigenous Literature.” It introduced Indigenous literature by showing samples of literary works from select authors and explained the history of Indigenous literature, per CNA.

Irish Senator Gerry Horkan said that this was Ireland's first-ever exhibition of Taiwan's Indigenous literature, which promotes Irish awareness of Taiwan's diverse cultures. The senator said he hopes that bilateral relations can open up deeper cultural dialogues.

Director of the Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation at Trinity College Dublin James Hadley said the exhibition was an important piece in Ireland's understanding of Taiwanese literature. 

“Trinity College Dublin has been introducing works of literature in Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Hakka from Taiwan, and with the holding of the Indigenous literature exhibition, Taiwanese literature in Ireland now has a rough profile,” the professor said.

Taiwan Representative to Ireland Yang Tzu-pao (楊子葆) said Taiwan's history is woven from the constant interaction of Indigenous peoples, colonization, and migration. “Understanding Taiwan requires recognition of its Indigenous peoples, and literature is a key path to understanding culture.”

Lin said he hopes Trinity College Dublin will participate in the NMTL’s “Taiwan Literature Translation Project” and that the National Museum of Taiwan Literature can work with Irish schools to help introduce more Irish literary works to Taiwan.