臺灣文學虛擬博物館

Taiwanese from all walks of life and diverse gender identities have steadfastly walked a long, thorny, difficult path to reach today's garden of light and ever-blooming plum trees.

Only in a world of strong and positive gender awareness will we be able to wear our most comfortable clothes and embrace our gender and uniqueness.

Literature has led Taiwanese society to treat gender-related topics with sensitivity and empathy. From one's own room, an open closet, to streets with flying flags, Taiwan today is close to achieving true gender equality. We have our first female president and laws that recognize and accept same-sex marriage. Taiwan is undoubtedly one of the world's more-advanced countries in terms of gender awareness.

Continuous writings and dialogues have helped Taiwan endure the dark clouds and withstand the storms in order to now be able to bask in today's beautiful, rainbow-framed sunlight.

Cherish the feelings of writing and believe in the power of literature. Gender awareness lives not only on paper, but in daily life as well.

    Chronology

▸ Event
⦿ Gendered Literature／Art and Literary Works

1880s ——

1884 ▸ Mackay founds the first girls' school in Taiwan: Tamsui Girls' School.
1887 ▸ Xin Lou Girls' School: The first modern Westernized girls' school in southern Taiwan is founded.

1890s ——
1895 ▸ Japan takes over Taiwan.
1896 ▸ Licensed prostitution is introduced.
1897 ▸ Taiwan's first public girls' school, First Girls' Affiliated Japanese School, is founded.

1900s ——
1900 ▸ Taipei Natural Feet Society is founded.
1904 ▸ The Taiwan branch of The Japanese Patriotic Women's Association is founded.

1910s ——
1911 ▸ The 1911 Revolution in China successfully overthrows the Qing Dynasty.
1917 ▸ The October Revolution takes place in Russia; the communist system is established.
1918 ▸ World War I ends; a wave of self-determination rises.
1919 ▸ Changhua Public Girls' High School is established (today's Changhua Girls' Senior High School).

1920s ——
1921 ▸ Taiwan Cultural Association is founded.
         ⦿ Iwao Kataoka publishes TAIWAN FUZOKUSHI.
1922 ⦿ Hsieh Chun-mu releases "Where can she go?"
1923 ▸ TAIWAN MINGPAO is founded.
1925 ▸ Taiwan's first women's organization, Changhua Women's Association, is established.
         ⦿ Haruo Sato's "Strange Tale of the Precepts for Women's Fan" is published.
1926 ▸ The "Free Love Incident" takes place in Changhua.
         ▸ Taiwan Farmers' Union is established.
1927 ▸ Yeh Tao joins Taiwan Farmers' Union as Director of the women's department.
         ▸ Tsai Ah-hsin founds Chin Hsin Hospital Midwife Training Center.
         ▸ Sing-song girl Chen Jin-kuai and her lover die by suicide in a canal in Tainan.
1928 ▸ Revolutionist Xie Xue-hong founds the Taiwan Communist Party.
         ▸ A strike organized by female workers at Changhua Shōwa Sugar Company takes place.
         ▸ Taiwan's first all-female theatrical troupe, Jiaxin Female Performers' Group, is established.

1930s ——
1930 ▸ The first female poetry society, Yun Hsiang Poetry Society, is established in Tainan.
         ⦿ Huang Chinchuan's CHINCHUAN POETRY COLLECTION is published.
         ⦿ 369 TABLOID is founded.
1931 ▸ Zhang Yu-lan, Xie Xue-hong, and Jian Er are arrested after holding a speech celebrating International Women's Day.
         ▸ Taiwan Communist Party is shut down by the government.
         ▸ Japan takes over Northeast China.
         ⦿ Lao Ho's "Sad That She's Dead" is published.
         ⦿ Yang Shou-yu publishes "Beggar Woman."
         ⦿ Black and white silent film LOVE AND DUTY, directed by Bu Wan-cang, is released in Shanghai.
1932 ▸ Yixin Society is established in Wufeng.
         ⦿ Lin Hau becomes a contracted female singer of Columbia Records.
         ⦿ Bu Wan-cang's black and white silent film THE PEACH GIRL is released in Taiwan.
         ⦿ Chun Chun "The Peach Girl" and "Dancing Era" lead to a rise in modern female roles and free love.
1934 ▸ Taiwan Literature and Art Alliance is formed.
         ⦿ Popular magazine TAIWANESE WOMEN is founded.
         ⦿ Taiwan Literature and Art Alliance founds TAIWAN LITERATURE magazine.
1935 ⦿ Yang Kui founds TAIWAN NEW LITERATURE magazine.
         ⦿ Lu He-ruo's "Ox Cart" is published.
1936 ⦿ Huang Pao-tao's "Hometown" is published.
         ⦿ Yeh Tao's "A Labor of Love" is published
         ⦿ Wu Chuo-lio's "Gold Carp in Mud" is published
1937 ▸ The Second Sino-Japanese War breaks out.
         ⦿ Weng Na's "A Love Story Before Sunrise" is published.

1940s ——
1940 ⦿ Huang Feng-tzu's BIRTHDAY OF THE SEVEN STAR GODDESS and QIYE BAYE are published.
1941 ▸ The Pacific War breaks out.
         ⦿ Yang Chien-he joins TAIWAN DAILY NEWS as the first female journalist in Taiwan.
​​​​​​1942 ⦿ Zhang Wen-huan's "The Capon" is published.
         ⦿ Yang Chien-he's "The Time When Flowers Blossom" is published.
         ⦿ Long Yin-zong's "Unknown Happiness" is published.
         ⦿ Gu Yan Bi-xia's FLOW is published.
​​​​​​1943 ⦿ Lin Tuan-chiu transcribes "The Capon" as a stage play.
         ⦿ Huang Feng-tzu's TAIWANESE GIRL is published.
1945 ▸ Japan surrenders, ending the Second World War.
1946 ▸ The first provincial women's organization, Taiwan Women's Society, is founded.
1947 ▸ The February 28th Incident breaks out.
         ▸ Hsieh Er is elected as a Legislator.
1949 ▸ The Nationalist government retreats to Taiwan.
         ▸ Martial law comes into effect in Taiwan.

1950s ——
1950 ▸ Song Mei-ling establishes the National Women's League, Republic of China.
         ▸ The Korean War breaks out.
1951 ▸ Lu Jin-hua initiates the movement Protecting Adopted Daughters in Taiwan.
1952 ⦿ Pan Ren-mu's COUSIN LIANYI is published
1953 ⦿ Lin Hai-yin acts as Editor in Chief for UNITED DAILY NEWS.
         ⦿ Zhang Shu-han edits and publishes PETREL COLLECTION.
1954 ⦿ Xie Bing-ying's RED BEANS is published.
         ⦿ Chi Chun's QIN XIN is published.
1955 ▸ "Taiwan Women's Writing Association" is founded.
1956 ⦿ Women's Writing Association publishes A COLLECTION OF WOMEN'S WRITINGS.
1959 ⦿ Dong Zhen's "The Woman Who Traveled Across the Wildness" is published.

1960s ——
1960 ▸ The first Miss China beauty pageant is held.
         ⦿ Chen Fen-lan records "Orphan's Wishes."
1961 ▸ Lin Su-tuan, an artist's model, holds a public solo exhibition.
1962 ▸ Taiwan Television begins broadcasting. Fu Pei-mei's cooking show is broadcast.
         ⦿ Kuo Liang-hui's HEART LOCK is published.
1963 ⦿ Lin Hai-yin's "Candle" is published.
         ⦿ Kuo Liang-hui's HEART LOCK is listed as a banned book.
         ⦿ Chiung Yao publishes her first work OUTSIDE THE WINDOW.
1964 ▸ Executive Yuan promotes population control, encouraging women to insert the Lippes Loop IUD.
         ⦿ Yue Chai-jun starts "Lady ViVi's Column" in the UNITEDDAILY NEWS.
1965 ▸ A Chiung Yao novel is made into a movie for the first time.
         ⦿ Lin Tuan-chiu directs and releases MAY 13TH NIGHT OF SORROW: WOMEN'S CONDITIONS.
1966 ▸ Kaohsiung Export Processing Zone is established.
         ⦿ Du Pan Feng-ge publishes her first poem "Spring."
         ⦿ Huang Chun-ming's "Those Days Watching the Sea" is published.
         ⦿ Yang Qing-chu's "Climbing Turtle and Falling Water" is published.
1967 ⦿ Lin Hai-yin founds the Pure Literature magazine.
1968 ⦿ Lin Hwai-min publishes THE METAMORPHOSES OF RAINBOW, featuring "The Winter of Andre Gide."
         ⦿ Wang Ling-xian's "How Nice It Is That He's Not Home" is published.
1969 ⦿ Lin Hwai-min's "Cicadas" is published.
         ⦿ Pai Hsien-yung's TAIPEI PEOPLE is published.

1970s ——
1970 ⦿ Nieh Hua-ling begins writing a long serial novel for UNITED DAILY NEWS entitled MULBERRY AND PEACH, which is ultimately placed on the banned reading list.
1971 ▸ Chen Hsiu-hsi serves as Director of Li Poetry Society.
         ⦿ Ouyang Tzu's AUTUMN LEAVES is published.
1972 ▸ A major industrial accident at an American-owned Philco plant in Taiwan results in the deaths of many female workers.
1973 ▸ 25 female workers are killed during the capsizing of a ship from Qijing.
         ⦿ Xia Zu-li edits THEIR WORLD, which is published by Pure Literature.
         ⦿ Shi Zhong-ying's poetry collection, YUNXIANG STUDY POETRY COLLECTION, is published.
         ⦿ Zhang Xiu-ya translates A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN. It is published by Pure Literature.
1974 ⦿ Sanmao begins writing stories about the Sahara for UNITEDDAILY NEWS.
         ⦿ Lu Hsiu-lien's NEW FEMINISM is published.
1975 ⦿ Chen Hsiu-hsi's "Thorns and Thistles" is published.
1976 ▸ Lu Hsiu-lien founds Pioneer Publishing House.
         ⦿ Yang Qing-chu begins writing factory stories for various big newspapers.
         ⦿ Sanmao's STORIES OF THE SAHARA is published.
1977 ⦿ Pai Hsien-yung's "Crystal Boys" is published in installments in MODERN LITERATURE.
         ⦿ Hsiao Li-hung's OSMANTHUS ALLEY is published.
         ⦿ Tsai Chih-chan's CHIH-CHA'S POETRY AND PAINTINGS is published.
         ⦿ Liu Hsia's SONG OF LIFE is published.
1978 ⦿ Kuo Liang-hui's OTHER THAN THESE TWO KINDS is published.
         ⦿ Yang Qing-chu's FACTORY WOMEN is published.
1979 ▸ The Formosa Incident breaks out.
         ⦿ FLY UP WITH LOVE directed by Chang Shu-shang plays in cinemas.

1980s ——
1980 ⦿ Yuan Chiung-chiung's "A Place of One's Own" is the first-prize winner of the United Daily News Short Novel Award. It is published the next year.
         ⦿ Chen Hsiu-hsi's poetry collection STOVE is published
         ⦿ Hsiao Li-hung's "A Thousand Moons on a Thousand Rivers" is the first-prize winner of the United Daily News Long Novel Award. It is published the next year.
         ⦿ Hsiao Sa's "Xia Fei's Home" is the second-prize winner of the United Daily News Award for Short Novel. It is published the next year.
1982 ▸ Li Yuan-zheng and others found AWAKENING Magazine.
         ▸ Chinese Women Writing Association, Ministry of Culture and CENTRAL DAILY NEWS jointly hold "An Exhibition of Female Writers' Writings: Looking Back on Women's Literature Over the Past 30 Years and Its Future"
         ⦿ Liao Hui-ying's "Rapeseed" is the first-prize winner of the China Times Novel Award. It is published the next year.
1983 ⦿ Li Ang's "The Butcher's Wife" is the second-prize winner of the United Daily News Award for Medium Length Novel. It is published the next year.
         ⦿ Pai Hsien-yung's CRYSTAL BOYS is published.
1984 ⦿ Adapted from Liao Hui-ying's novel RAPESEED, AH FEI premiers in cinemas and wins the Golden Horse Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
1985 ⦿ XIA FEI'S HOME is made into a movie KUEI-MEI, A WOMAN; the movie wins the Golden Horse Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
1986 ⦿ Hsiao Sa's "A Letter to My Ex-husband" is published.
         ⦿ Taiwan's first queer motion picture, which is adapted from a novel of the same name, CRYSTAL BOYS, is released in theaters.
1987 ▸ Martial law is lifted in Taiwan.
         ▸ Female workers in Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall are forced to sign an agreement prohibiting their pregnancy and marriage.
         ▸ Taiwan's first women's environmental protectional organization, Housewife Co., is founded.
         ⦿ OSMANTHUS ALLEY, adapted from a novel of the same name, is released in theaters.
         ⦿ Liu Chun-cheng's PUT-KIAT-A is published.
1988 ▸ The Huaxi Street Protest against child prostitution is held.
         ▸ "Women's Forever Home", Warm Life, is founded.
         ⦿ Tian Qi-yuan's theatre play LOVE HOMOSEXUALS is published.
         ⦿ Nieh Hua-ling's MULBERRY AND PEACH is published for the first time after being banned.
1989 ▸ Homemakers United Foundation is officially established.
         ▸ Hsu Hsiao-tan runs for the Legislative Yuan in Kaohsiung City under the slogan "Breasts Against Fists."
         ⦿ Malieyafusi Monaneng publishes "When the Bell Tolls: For Those Indigenous Child Prostitutes."
         ⦿ Jade Y. Chen publishes "Mr. Right Wanted" for three consecutive days in INDEPENDENCE EVENING POST, UNITED DAILYNEWS, and CHINA TIMES.

1990s ——
1990 ▸ The first lesbian organization, Between Us, is founded.
         ⦿ Ling Yan's A THRUSH WHICH LOST ITS VOICE is published.
         ⦿ Chen Ye's LONELINESS AND YOUTH ALWAYS SLEEP ONTHE SAME BED is published.
1991 ▸ The first women's union group, Female Workers Alliance, is established.
         ⦿ Tsao Li-chun's DANCE OF A MAIDEN is published.
         ⦿ A THRUSH WHICH LOST ITS VOICE, adapted from a novel of the same name, is released in theaters.
1992 ▸ Women's Rescue Foundation holds a press conference on Taiwanese Comfort Women's Public Statement.
         ▸ Female workers of a garment manufacturing factory in Chiayi hold a protest against the factory shutdown.
         ⦿ Jade Y. Chen's MR. RIGHT WANTED is published.
         ⦿ Xu You-sheng's REWARD FOR ROMANCE is published.
1993 ▸ Deng Ru-wen is put on trial for murdering her husband.
         ▸ Women Make Waves, a film festival in Taiwan, begins.
         ▸ Taiwanese Feminist Scholars Association is founded.
1994 ▸ The "Women Against Sexual Harassment" protest is held.
         ▸ Two students from Taipei First Girls' High School commit suicide in Yilan for love.
         ▸ Female Workers' Alliance is founded.
         ▸ Fembooks, a feminist bookstore, is established.
         ⦿ Qiu Miao-jin's NOTES OF A CROCODILE is published.
         ⦿ GIRLFRIEND and THE EDGE OF THE ISLAND magazines are founded.
         ⦿ Liglav A-wu's "Who's Gonna Wear the Beautiful Clothes I've Woven?" is published.
         ⦿ Chu Tien-wen's NOTES OF A DESOLATE MAN is published; it wins first prize in the first China Times Million-Dollar Novel Awards.
         ⦿ Su Wei-zhen's SILENT ISLAND is published.
1995 ▸ The Child and Youth Sexual Transaction Prevention Act is passed into law.
         ▸ The protest against the prohibition of marriage and pregnancy in employment contracts takes place.
         ⦿ Ping Lu's A LOVE STORY OF SUN YAT-SEN AND SOONGCHING-LING is published.
         ⦿ Chen Xue's BOOK OF WICKED WOMEN is published.
         ⦿ Chen Ko-hua's THE CONTROVERSIAL POEMS is published.
         ⦿ Rimui's "The Sound of Flute in The Wilderness" is published.
1996 ▸ The second amendment to Civil Law, Part Ⅳ Family is approved.
         ▸ Peng Wan-ru, a female politician, is murdered.
         ▸ Female pastor Yang Ya-hui founds the first church for homosexuals, Tong-Kwang Church.
         ▸ Writer Xu You-sheng holds the first same-sex wedding in Taiwan with his partner.
         ▸ The protest for street safety at night for women is held.
         ▸ TransAsia Sisters Association is founded.
         ▸ Female university students initiate a movement advocating for new female toilets.
         ⦿ Chuang Tzu-i and Two Fish released the album SUMMER 1996.
         ⦿ Du Xiu-lan's UNFILIAL DAUGHTER is published.
         ⦿ Ji Da-wei's MEMBRANE is published.
         ⦿ Qiu Miao-jin's LAST WORDS FROM MONTMARTRE is published.
1997 ▸ Taipei City abolishes public prostitution.
         ▸ Sexual Assault Crime Prevention Act is passed into law.
         ▸ Ministry of Education founds Gender Equality Committee.
         ▸ Executive Yuan Gender Equality Committee is convened.
         ⦿ Director Mickey Chen and Chen Min-xiu work together on the filming of NOT JUST A WEDDING to record writer Xu You-sheng's wedding with his same-sex partner.
         ⦿ Li Ang's BEIGANG INCENSE BURNER OF LUST is published, featuring "Bloody Sacrifice of The Makeup Face."
         ⦿ Shen Liang-fan's girls' love manga ALWAYS BE WITH YOU is published.
         ⦿ Director Chien Wei-ssu's documentary LOOKING BACK:WOMEN IN POLITICS is released.
         ⦿ Chen Ying-shu's HUMANS SHOULD NOT FLY is published.
         ⦿ Taiwan Colors Music releases the first pop compilation album TOUCH with homosexuality as its theme.
1998 ▸ Domestic Violence Prevention Act is passed into law.
         ▸ Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline Association is founded.
         ⦿ "Female Whale Poetry Society" is founded.
         ⦿ Director Yang Chia-yun's documentary STORIES OF TAIWANESE COMFORT WOMEN: GRANDMA'S SECRETS is released.
         ⦿ Wu Ji-wen's THE CHAOTIC GALAXY is published.
         ⦿ Amy Chiang's MEN'S NIPPLES is published.
         ⦿ MR. RIGHT WANTED, adapted from a novel of the same name, is released in theaters.
         ⦿ Taiwan Colors Music produces and releases "EMBRACE"(Taiwanese Queer Music 2)
1999 ▸ GinGin Books is founded.
         ▸ Collective of Sex Workers and Supporters is founded.

2000s ——
2000 ▸ Director Mickey Chen and the Awakening Foundation jointly make ROSE WAR, the first documentary on the fight against sexual harassment.
         ▸ Teenager Yeh Yung-chih is found in a pool of blood in a bathroom at school after long being bullied for his feminine traits.
         ▸ Lu Hsiu-lien is elected as the first female Vice President of Taiwan.
2002 ▸ Act of Gender Equality in Employment is enacted.
         ⦿ Chthonic (heavy metal band) releases album RELENTLESSRECURRENCE, which is based on the story of Sister Lintou, a legendary female ghost.
2003 ▸ The first "Taiwan Pride" is held in Taipei.
         ⦿ Shi Shu-qing's THE FIRST BOOK OF TAIWAN TRILOGY is published.
         ⦿ DANCING ERA, directed by Chien Wei-ssu and Kuo Chen-ti, is released in theaters.
2004 ▸ Gender Equity Education Act is enacted.
         ⦿ The first indigenous lesbian prose collection, GOODBYE,EAGLE, is published.
         ⦿ Li Ang's VISIBLE GHOST is published.
         ⦿ Director Zero Chou's SPLENDID FLOAT, Taiwan's first drag queen movie, is released in theaters.
2005 ▸ Sexual Harassment Prevention Act is enacted.
         ⦿ Zhang Ya-han's UNCLE'S SECRET LOVER is published.
         ⦿ Performance Workshop's LET WOMEN PERFORM ASTANDUP FOR US TONIGHT debuts.
2006 ▸ Building Technical Regulations are amended, increasing the required ratio of public toilets for females.
         ⦿ Based on Hsu Cheng-ping's short novel LIGHT YEAR,ETERNAL SUMMER, a film directed by Leste Chen, is released in theaters.
         ⦿ Hu Shu-wen's CHILDHOOD WITH SORROW AND DAZZLE is published.
         ⦿ LAMANEWS, dedicated to lesbian mothers, is founded.
2007 ▸ Ministry of Education shoots the documentary ROSE BOY.
         ⦿ Ling Yan's ZHU-JI AND AH-QIU is published.
         ⦿ Badai's SORCERESS DIGUWAN is published.
2008 ⦿ Mickey Chen writes "Disqualified Humans" based on the Ye Yongzhi incident and wins the first prize in the China Times Literature Awards (Documentary Literature).

2010s ——
2010 ▸ The Act of Breast Feeding in Public is enacted.
         ▸ White Rose Movement takes place.
         ⦿ Ke Wan-ching's documentary THEIR STORIES: FACES OF FACTORY FEMALE WORKERS is released.
2011 ▸ The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women is passed.
         ▸ Sexual abuse at Tainan Hearing Impaired School is made public.
         ⦿ Mickey Chen's TAIPEI DAD, NEW YORK MOM is published.
         ⦿ Zhang Yi-xuan's MEMOIR OF DAYS IN NANTES AND PARIS is published.
2012 ⦿ Theatrical play TAIPEI DAD, NEW YORK MOM, adapted from a novel of the same name, debuts.
2015 ▸ A male teacher of Taichung Municipal Taichung First Senior High School undergoes sex reassignment surgery.
         ⦿ Zhang Yi-xuan's FAREWELL BOOK: WHEN I'M GONE is published.
2016 ▸ Taiwan Comfort Women Memorial Museum opens.
         ▸ Tsai Yin-wen is elected as Taiwan's first female president.
         ⦿ Chien Li-ying's stage play DRESS IN CODE debuts.
         ⦿ Lee Pin-yao's PLANTS GROWING TOWARDS THE SUN is published.
2017 ▸ The Global #MeToo Movement starts.
         ⦿ Yang Shuang-tsu's WHEN THE FLOWERS BLOSSOM is published.
         ⦿ ALIFU, THE PRINCE/SS, the first movie about indigenous people and gender issues, directed by Wang Yu-lin, is released in theaters.
         ⦿ DAILY CONVERSATION, directed by Huang Hui-chen, is released in theaters.
         ⦿ Lin Yi-han's FANG SI-QI'S FIRST LOVE PARADISE is published.
         ⦿ Drechi's poetry collection SCAB is published.
         ⦿ Chi Ta-wei's HISTORY OF QUEER LITERATURE:INVENTIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
2018 ⦿ Jolin Tsai and Mayday release song "Womxnly."
2019 ▸ Same-sex marriage is legalized.
         ⦿ Hsing Chia-hui's picture book BUTTERFLY DUODUO is published.
         ⦿ Xiaonownow's SHOUNIANG: FIRST VOLUME is published.
         ⦿ UNDER THE SAME ROOF: QUEER POETRY COLLECTIONis published.
         ⦿ Chang Yi-xuan's HISTORY OF SEXUALITY FOR GIRLS is published.
         ⦿ Lee Pin-yao's TAIPEI FAMILY, ATYPICAL GIRL is published.
         ⦿ Kevin Chen's DESERTED PLACE is published.

2020s ——
2020 ▸ The Constitutional Court declares the criminalization of adultery to be unconstitutional.
         ▸ The first same-sex couple attend a collective wedding ceremony held by Taiwan's armed forces.
         ⦿ Hao Yu-xiang's WASH is published.
         ⦿ Liu Chih-yu's THE GODDESS BUFFET is published.
2021 ▸ Ili Cheng, a female celebrity, comes forward with her sexual harassment allegations.