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| >> NEWS |
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 Worlds Awaken: A Word from the Curator of the 2025 Taiwan Writers Festival
ByHung Hung (鴻鴻)
Translated byGregory Laslo (樓克己) The widespread international attention which Taiwan literature has received in recent years has highlighted the pressing need for a platform to facilitate international exchange. More importantly, such a platform should also be able to bring together artists of all different disciplines and showcase the creative potential of Taiwan literature as a source for new works and adaptations. The Taiwan Writers Festival aims to be that platform...
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|  This November, Worlds Awaken: The 2025 Taiwan Writers Festival
ByYeh I-Hsin (葉奕昕)
Translated byGregory Laslo (樓克己) This November, NMTL will debut an entirely new literature event: the Taiwan Writers Festival. Centered on writers and translators, this large-scale activity uses literary texts as a bridge to connect with creators across different artistic disciplines. The event will bring together more than 80 artists, participating in an array of more than 30 events, ranging from dialogues and performances to translation workshops and forums. The Festival also includes unique activities such as "Nightcaps and Conversations" and connections with UNESCO Cities of Literature... |
|  NMTL Celebrates 22nd Anniversary with Special Events
ByJamie Chan (詹絜閔), Lin Chieh-Chi (林潔琪), Huang Yu-Chia (黃俞嘉), Lee Hao-Tsun (李浩存)
Translated byMelanie A. Leng (冷艾玟)
NMTL celebrated its 22nd anniversary this October with the "Let's Fall in Literature" Market (Bûn-ha̍k tshàng-tshiu ji̍t), held on October 18-19. The event featured nearly 100 booths set up by curated brands, food vendors, live music, and talks, along with a special Czech Pavilion, offering a vibrant experience of local and international culture. NMTL's two Taipei branches – the Taiwan Literature Base and Taiwan Literature Hub – also held a series of activities under the theme "Literature in Effect," which invited the public to experience the comfort and healing brought about by literature. The events included plays, parent-child reading, and creative workshops... | Read more
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|  We TAIWAN Exhibition Shows Off Taiwan Literature in OsakaByChien Hung-Yi (簡弘毅)
Translated byGregory Laslo (樓克己)
For the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo in Japan, Taiwan's Ministry of Culture organized the "We TAIWAN: 2025 Taiwan Culture" series of events, showcasing the unique charm of Taiwan culture through movies, plays, music, children's books, and more. As part of this program, NMTL organized the exhibition The Enchanted Page: Folktales and Magical Realism in Taiwan Literature, at the Osaka City Central Public Hall, bringing together works of literature, artistic creativity, and multimedia digital art installations in a powerful display of the depth of Taiwan literature. The event ran for eleven days, from August 10 to August 20, and attracted over 7,000 visitors from Japan and around the world... | Read more
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|  Taiwan Shines as Guest of Honor at the 2025 Seoul International Book Fair
ByChen Yuchen (陳昱成)
Translated byMelanie A. Leng (冷艾玟)
The Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF) has been held for more than 70 years, and is considered South Korea's largest, as well as one of the most influential literary events in Asia. This year marked Taiwan's first invitation as its Guest of Honor. NMTL participated in the Taiwan Pavilion by showcasing the rich diversity of Taiwan literature to readers in South Korea. The Taiwan Pavilion, themed "Taiwan Sensibility" (대만감성), presented a national literary lineup almost 300 strong...
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|  Trending Keyword: Literature? – Preserving Words in a Changing WorldByLin Chiao-Mei (林巧湄)
Translated byMelanie A. Leng (冷艾玟) This year's theme for International Museum Day, "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities," highlights how museums, as spaces for learning and innovation, can continue to adapt amid shifting environments, evolving knowledge, and changing audiences. In line with this vision, NMTL has launched an online exhibition titled Trending Keyword: Literature?. Using open data as its curatorial starting point, the exhibition is more than just a public release of images and texts – it poses a question for the future... | Read more
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| >> EVENTS |
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Writing is a Lucid Dream: An Exhibition of Writing-in-Residence at the Taiwan Literature Base 
In coordination with the inaugural Taiwan Writers Festival, the exhibition Writing Is a Lucid Dream: An Exhibition of Writing-in-Residence at the Taiwan Literature Base will open at the Taiwan Literature Base in November. Come along to explore Muse Garden, the most mysterious corner of TLB, trace the footsteps of past resident writers and translators. See how these creatives from all around the world experienced the increased awareness that comes with living in a dedicated space for writing in Taiwan.
Exhibition Period: November 1, 2025 - March 1, 2026
Location: Exhibition Hall, Taiwan Literature Base | | More information |
| A Symphony of Island and Literature: 2025 International Forum on Taiwan Literature Translation and Publishing 
On November 11, NMTL will host"A Symphony of Island and Literature: 2025 International Forum on Taiwan Literature Translation and Publishing." Centered on translation, copyright, and publishing, the forum will feature three main sessions: "The Working Landscape of Contemporary Translators," "Trends in Publishing and Copyright in the New Era," and "Next Steps: Ways to Continue Your Literary Translation Journey." These discussions will explore the trends and relationships between literature, translators, and publishers in each of their lines of work. Held in conjunction with the Taiwan Writers Festival, the Forum will invite experts from Taiwan and abroad to serve as moderators and panelists for shared dialogue and exchange.
Date: November 11
Location: B1 International Conference Hall, NMTL | | More information |
| Discovering the Future Value of Literature: Workshops & Forums 
The Taiwan Writers Festival invites those who dream of working with literature to step into the field and broaden their view of literature's future and value. In its first year, the festival will present a series of themed workshops and forums: the Curatorial Workshop, led by curator Hung Hung, offers small-group discussions to foster cross-disciplinary curatorial talent; "A Symphony of Island and Literature: 2025 Workshop for Translating Taiwan Literature" brings together international translators, publishers, and emerging translators for professional exchange; and the "Adaptation Workshop ft. AI" responds to the rise of AI by turning challenges into opportunities that will carry literature into the future.
Event Schedule
Curatorial Workshop
November 5｜19:00-21:00
Literary Sandbox, Taiwan Literature Hub
English Translation Workshop
November 9-14｜09:00-18:00
NMTL; Just arts House, Taitung
Adaptation Workshop
November 21｜19:00-21:00
Literary Sandbox, Taiwan Literature Hub | | More information |
| Behind the Pages: Nightcaps and Conversations 
When the weekend programs wrap up, the Taiwan Literature Hub transforms into a lively bar, where writers and publishers share behind-the-scenes stories from the world of literature. Publishers and authors will talk about the books they most wish to publish or are currently working on, while cross-disciplinary creators will share about the warmth and creative spark of Taiwan's literary community. The first event, "The Book I Most Want to Publish (and the Manuscript I Most Wanted to Reject)," hosted by Kevin Chen, features candid conversations with publishers and translators about the mysteries of translation and publishing. The second session, "The Book I'm Writing," invites authors to reveal the works they're currently creating. The final event, "No Boundaries, No Limits: Literature in Motion," brings together creators to discuss the sharp edges and unexpected delights of adapting literature across various media.
Event Schedule
The Book I Most Want to Publish (and the One I'd Most Like to Return)
November 16｜19:30-21:30
Location: CrossLit Studio, Taiwan Literature Hub
The Book I'm Writing
November 22｜19:00-21:00
Location: CrossLit Studio, Taiwan Literature Hub
No Boundaries, No Limits: Literature in Motion
November 29｜19:00-21:00
Location: Literary Sandbox, Taiwan Literature Hub | | More information |
| Writers and Translators Connect Across Disciplines: Literary Lectures 
The conversation events planned for the Writers Festival reflect this year's theme of "Worlds Awaken," bringing together writers, translators, and cross-disciplinary creators from Taiwan and abroad. Writers will share their literary journeys and explorations into self-conception, gender, place, environment, history, and more. Translators will spotlight how language can express the unique qualities of Taiwan, and exchange ideas with editors and publishers on how translation and publishing can work together to promote cross-cultural understanding. Meanwhile, creatives in theater and visual art will discuss how they breathe new life into works of literature through adaptation.
Dates: November 8-29
Location: Various; please check the details of the individual lecture you wish to attend | | More information |
| Immersive Literary Adaptations: Literature on Stage 
This year's Taiwan Writers Festival transforms literature into tangible, sensory experiences through theater, music, film, installations, and immersive multimedia. The theater group Our Theatre will present an adaptation of Kevin Chen's The Good People Upstairs, while Flying Group Theatre reimagines Wu Ming-Yi's latest picture book, The Three-legged Mongoose and the Giant (Tru Pasu Mruga Tshna Mdawi). In addition, three groups of emerging creators will experiment with adaptations through theater, sound, space, and movement, with even more performances to come!
Dates: November 7 - December 14
Location: Various; please check the details of the individual lecture you wish to attend | | More information |
| VR Adaptation of Wu Ming-Yi's "The Clouds are 2000 Meters Up" Grabs Award at 82nd Venice International Film Festival 
Competing against 29 other works from around the world, the VR adaptation of Wu Ming-Yi's "The Clouds are 2000 Meters Up" made a standout appearance at the Venice International Film Festival, winning the Festival's Venice Immersive Grand Prize. This is film director Singing Chen's second time receiving this award. The immersive VR adaptation reinterprets the novel's tragedy, memory, and love, presenting the uniqueness of Taiwan's culture while guiding the audience on an emotional journey of loss and connection. "The Clouds are 2000 Meters Up" is part of Wu Ming-Yi's short story collection The Land of Little Rain. Thanks to this translation and adaptation, it can continue to transmit its deep cultural vision in a completely different linguistic and cultural environment, not just bringing Taiwan literature to the world, but bringing the world deeper into Taiwan. | | More information |
| Wandering Words, Free Spirits: A Travel Literature Exhibition Opens November 13
A special exhibition on Taiwan travel literature will open on November 13, inviting the public to explore the many facets of Taiwan literature through the theme of travel writing. Designed to make literature more accessible to a wider audience, the exhibition blends interactive installations and artistic presentations that capture both the spirit of travel and the beauty of language, offering visitors a light yet inspiring experience.
Exhibition Period: November 13, 2025 - August 9, 2026
Location: 1F Exhibition Room C, NMTL
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| Beyond Paper Plane: Contemporary Cross-disciplinary Czech Children's Book Exhibition 
Beyond Paper Plane is a traveling exhibition project which has already visited Tokyo, Seoul, Paris, and Cairo, and is now arriving in Taiwan for the first time. The exhibition focuses on the work of contemporary Czech illustrators and artists in the field of children's books that combine three-dimensional objects with independent artworks to create a heightened sense of space and a more tactile experience. The exhibition in Taiwan, organized by the Czech Center Taipei and the Czech Economic and Cultural Office, with NMTL as a co-organizer, is currently held in the Literary Wonderland on B1 of the museum. We hope that the exhibition will showcase the interactivity and educational potential of contemporary children's books and allow children to immerse themselves in reading and play in a space filled with picture books.
Exhibition Period: October 1 - December 14
Location: B1 Literary Wonderland, NTML | | More information |
| Reading Taiwan Literature Exhibition Being Held in Ann Arbor, Michigan
With support from the Ministry of Culture, the National Museum of Taiwan Literature and the Taipei Cultural Center in New York have partnered with Ann Arbor District Library and the Michigan Taiwanese American Organization to present the exhibition Taiwan Literature Exhibition: Reading Taiwan. The exhibition, which opened on September 22, will run until January 9, 2026 at the Ann Arbor District Library in Michigan. The exhibition features three seminars, all hosted by writers and scholars of Taiwan, giving American readers a deep dive into the diverse manifestations of Taiwan literature.
Exhibition Period: September 22, 2025 - January 9, 2026
Location: Ann Arbor District Library, 343 South Fifth Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 | | More information |
| The Literary Way Exhibition Opens November 28 
The path of literature is not only a journey of formal education and examinations; it is also a way of life and a system of values. In the exhibition The Literary Way, visitors can catch a glimpse of how the world of intellectuals once operated: from family traditions of learning and mentorship to interactions in poetry societies and the practice of writing in everyday life. The everyday objects and original prose, poetry, and letter manuscripts donated and displayed in this exhibition reveal the trajectories and cultural character of these writers, bearing witness to how classical Taiwan literature was once an important part of daily life.
Exhibition Period: November 28, 2025 - June 7, 2026
Location: 2F Exhibition Room E, NMTL |
| Taiwan Sign Language Edition of Unexpected to be Released 
The NMTL is releasing its first-ever Taiwan Sign Language digital picture book: an animated retelling of Unexpected from the Taiwan Children's Literature Series. In this edition, a deaf teacher brings the story to life through expressive signing, reinterpreting the real-life story of writer and historian Yang Yun-Pin. The video also includes sign vocabulary lessons, featuring 10 key words and 3 interactive questions to encourage parents and children to read together and reflect on the story's deeper meaning.
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| >> BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS |
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| Portraits in White (English edition of 《白色畫像》)
Author: Kaori Lai (賴香吟)
Translators: Sylvia Li-chun Lin (林麗君), Howard Goldblatt | After the Chinese Civil War, the Kuomintang (KMT) imposed authoritarian rule on Taiwan in the name of anti-communism, ushering in a time of uncertainty and fear now known as the White Terror era, the impacts of which are still visible to this day. In Portrait in White, Kaori Lai's portrayals of daily life show how the violence of martial law infiltrated even the most ordinary moments of people's lives, wearing away at the fabric of their everyday existence. This book was published as part of the Promote Taiwan Literature to America Project by NMTL.
| Purchase the book
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| | Eyes of the Ocean (English edition of 《大海之眼》)
Author: Syaman Rapongan (夏曼．藍波安)
Translator: Darryl Sterk
| Written as an autobiography, Eyes of the Ocean tells the story of author Syaman Rapongan's life from childhood to adulthood. Rapongan experienced exploitation and discrimination as a low-wage laborer in eastern Taiwan and ultimately returned to Orchid Island (Pongso no Tao) to reconnect with the ocean and his Tao (Yami) roots. On this journey of self-discovery, the ocean becomes a force which heals trauma and restores dignity. This book was published as part of the Promote Taiwan Literature to America Project by NMTL.
| Purchase the book
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| | Im Meer aufwachen: Gedichte aus Taiwan I Want to Wake up in the Sea (German edition of《我想欲踮海內面醒過來／子與母最初的詩》)
Authors: Tsai Wan-Shuen (蔡宛璇), A-meng (阿萌)
Translator: Alice Grünfelder | This work records the daily conversations between Tsai Wan-Shuen and her daughter, A-meng, in the form of poems written in Taigi (Taiwanese) and French. The interwoven perspectives of mother and daughter take readers to an island of verses. Through delicate reflections on nature, life, and family, the poems reveal the genuine and tender emotions found in everyday life.
| Purchase the book
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| | Dunkle Gewässer The River Darkens (German edition of《黑水》)
Author: Ping Lu (平路)
Translator: Monika Li | Ping Lu's novel draws inspiration from real Taiwanese crime stories, using elements of detective fiction to probe the complexities of human nature. Alternating between the perspectives of a female suspect and a victim, Ping traces the paths of their emotional entanglement and inner struggles as their lives converge in the heart of a criminal case. The work also includes inserts of media reports and public commentary to expose the witch-hunt mentality surrounding the case and offer a sharp critique of collective moral judgment.
| Purchase the book
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| | 『房思琪の初恋の楽園』 Fang Si-Chi's First Love Paradise (Japanese edition of《房思琪的初戀樂園》)
Author: Lin Yi-Han (林奕含)
Translator: Kyoka Izumi (泉京鹿) | A young girl named Fan Si-Chi endures prolonged violent, sexual coercion under imbalanced power dynamics and mistakes her pain as her "first love," ultimately resulting in the death of her mind and body. In this novel, author Lin Yi-Han exposes the violence hidden in structures of uneven power, condemns the complicity and indifference of society, and lays bare the evils in the real world. Its publication sparked widespread discussion in Taiwan on sexual abuse of power and prompted legal reform.
| Purchase the book
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| | 네 아이는 네 아이가 아니다 On Children (Korean edition of《你的孩子不是你的孩子》)
Author: Wu Xiaole (吳曉樂)
Translator: Jo Eun (조은) | The debut work of Wu Xiaole, On Children is based on Wu's experience as a private tutor, offering deep glimpses into Taiwan's exam-driven society and how the pressure to succeed academically and the expectations that Taiwanese parents place on their children lead to strained, distorted relationships. The novel was adapted into a television series by the PTS Foundation in 2018, which explored the impact of today's education system on family ethics and parent-child relationships.
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| | Shtegtimi i derrave të egër Wild Boars Cross the River (Albanian edition of《野豬渡河》)
Author: Zhang Guixing (張貴興) | Zhang Guixing blends magical realism with history, myth, and nature in this work on the fate of the Chinese Malays in a village in Sarawak, Borneo, that resisted Japanese forces during World War II. Opening with the protagonist's suicide, the story traces a century of collective memories through scenes of massacre, resistance, and the rampage of wild boars. When the Japanese forces retreat and British colonial rule returns, the village once again falls into turmoil, reflecting the fatal entanglement of war, colonialism, and nature.
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| | Çfarë është për ju një leopard bore? Taming the Blue Sheep (Albanian edition of《馴羊記》)
Author: Hsu Chen-Fu (徐振輔) | This novel unfolds through two storylines. One centers on a Taiwanese traveler who overcomes all obstacles to reach the Tibetan Plateau to search for snow leopards. Upon his return to Taiwan, he realizes his heart remained in the plateau, moving him to make repeated journeys between the two places. The other storyline follows a Japanese monk who illegally enters Tibet to obtain a deeper understanding of Buddhist teachings. Author Hsu Chen-Fu weaves together layers of Tibetan history to depict the turbulent realities of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, from the ceaseless upheavals and hardships faced by the Tibetan people to the repeated suffering inflicted upon its natural environment.
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Chief Editor Chen Ying-Fang | Executive Editor Peng Chien-Sen |
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Editors | Chen Yu-Cheng
| Hou Wei-Chia
| Lin Pei-Jung
| Wang Ya-Shan
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Chin Tzu-Chun
| Huang Wei-Chih
| Lo Tsai-Hsiang
| Yeh I-Hsin
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Gregory Laslo
| Lin Chiao-Mei
| Melanie A. Leng
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ABOUT NMTL
| Founded in 2003, NMTL is Taiwan's first national-level museum dedicated to the literary arts.
NMTL records, organizes and interprets Taiwan's literary heritage, from indigenous Austronesian
cultures and the Dutch, Koxinga, Qing, and Japanese colonial periods, through to the present day.
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