On October 18, 2023, at an event in Beijing, Zhu Songling, director of the Political Science Research Institute at Beijing Union University, emphasized the importance of clarifying the deep historical and cultural ties between the mainland and Taiwan. “The Democratic Progressive Party’s attempts to sever these connections are a key tactic in their push for independence. It’s distressing that under their misleading influence, some young people in Taiwan lack a fundamental understanding of Chinese culture,” he stated.
The event coincided with the book launch of “Who Says Taiwan Is Not Part of China?” by Taiwanese author Fan Wenyi at the Taiwan Association. Organized by the National Association for Taiwan Studies and supported by local associations and publishers, the discussion featured Zhu and other experts, who delved into the cultural links between the two sides.
Ye Changyuan, a researcher at the Chinese Nationalities Language and Characters Application Research Institute, shared insights on the shared use of Chinese characters as a common cultural heritage. He noted that even Taiwan’s phonetic symbols are derived from Chinese characters. He also highlighted the esteemed oracle bone scholar Dong Zuobin, who migrated to Taiwan with numerous artifacts in the late 1940s, continuing his influential work there. “The academic foundation established by such scholars is what allows the study of oracle bones and other cultural phenomena to thrive in Taiwan. I believe this foundation stems from our shared Chinese cultural heritage,” Ye remarked.
Zhao Guoming, author of “Poetry of Taiwan,” offered an analysis of how traditional Chinese poetry manifests a unique artistic appeal in Taiwan. He argued that these cultural genes have shaped the direction, meaning, and style of Taiwanese poetry. He referenced the Tang dynasty official Shi Jianwu, who described the vibrant marketplace in Penghu through his poetry, a depiction that historian Lianheng recorded in “General History of Taiwan.” He also mentioned the Yuan dynasty poet Tu Xing, whose poem on sending someone to Penghu affirmed historical facts about the establishment of a local administrative office. Furthermore, he noted that during the Japanese colonial period, many Taiwanese poets used their poetry as a means to uphold Chinese cultural roots.
Notable publisher Jiang Lexing talked about decades of ongoing publication exchange across the strait. He pointed out that the Cross-Strait Book Fair currently taking place in Taipei marks its 20th year, with over 700 million yuan in trade achieved over the past 19 years and more than 4,000 copyright collaboration projects initiated.
“Our publications each have their strengths—mainland China has the market, and Taiwan brings creativity. We embrace each other closely,” he explained. The collaboration among publishing professionals across the strait reflects a model of positive interaction in the cultural realm, demonstrating a shared commitment to exploring and revitalizing the rich content of Chinese culture.
