Editor’s Note
In the winter of 2017, I happened upon an exhibit at the National Museum of Taiwan Literature in Tainan. The exhibit traced the origins and history of Taiwanese nature writing from its emergence in the 1970s and 80s—alongside citizen-led pushes for democratisation and conservation—to its current vibrant incarnation. The exhibit filled two enormous halls—a testament to the liveliness of the genre in the nation’s literary landscape.
I longed, then, to see more of these works translated. As a nature writer drawing on both British and North American traditions, it puzzled me how little I’d read beyond English-language works in the genre, despite distinct traditions of nature writing growing and developing in pockets all around the world: in Taiwan, in Germany, in Korea, and elsewhere. After much conversation with other writers, readers, and editors alike, I sensed that little was known of these international works among English-language readers, and still less translated. This special issue is the outcome of that day at the museum and the intervening years of work assembling, securing rights to, and translating a handful of examples from the Taiwanese context. Included are works from two Indigenous writers—Badai and Syaman Rapongan—as well as one of Taiwan’s most significant female nature writers, Wang Rei-shang, the fisherman and writer Liao Hung-chi, famed for his depictions of life at sea, and the prolific naturalist, writer, and activist Liu Ka-shiang. There are of course many other well-known writers in Taiwan’s nature writing tradition, so consider this special issue merely a toe dipped into the waters of translation.
This special issue would not exist were it not for the support of a few people: Shin Su and Chia-ju Chang for suggesting which pieces to translate and coordinating with the writers, Jeremy Tiang and Darryl Sterk for guidance and advice, Jacqueline Li for elegant translations, and Ora Nui journal for collaborating with us. This issue was funded through the generous support of Arts Council England and a Society of Fellows grant from the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society. And to each of the authors who allowed us to share their works in English: I’m ever grateful for your support in bringing this collection into fruition.