The Beauty of Taiwan's Culture

Taiwan is a multicultural country. From a cultural anthropology perspective, Taiwan’s aboriginal people share a common heritage with those of the South Pacific islands. They flourished in the mountains and along the plains bordering the ocean, developing a mountain/oceanic culture. Over the past several hundred years, Han Chinese culture was added to the mix, as Chinese immigrated to Taiwan from the Chinese mainland. At various intervals, the Dutch, Spanish and Japanese have colonized Taiwan, bringing with them their own cultural influences.

After World War II when Taiwan emerged from Japanese colonial rule, the Nationalists lost the Chinese civil war and retreated to Taiwan in 1949. Soon after, the Korean War erupted and Taiwan became a key link in the line of defense against socialism in the Western Pacific during the Cold War. Up until the mid-1960s, Taiwan received military and economic assistance from the United States. This was a period of Americanization inTaiwan. Western art, culture and architecture were introduced to Taiwan during this period of U.S. assistance.

After the 1970s, the Cold War began came to an end. The Republic of China was forced out of the United Nations and Japan, the US and other nations severed diplomatic relations. At this time, there was criticism that Taiwan had become overly westernized and a policy focusing on local culture should be implemented. Thereafter, various degrees of compromise were reached between local and foreign culture. Especially after the mid 1980s, the advancement of democracy, freedom and internationalism have made the integration of these cultures all the more vibrant and diverse.

Major Cultural and Art Institutes:

• National Council for Cultural Affairs: http://www.cca.gov.tw

• National Cultural and Arts Foundation R.O.C.: http://www.ncafroc.org.tw

• National Palace Museum: http://www.npm.gov.tw

• National Museum of History: http://www.nmh.gov.tw

• National Museum of Art: http://www.tmoa.gov.tw

• National Central Library: http://www.ncl.edu.tw

• Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts: http://www.kmfa.gov.tw

• National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra: http://www.ntso.gov.tw

• National Science and Technology Museum: http://www.nstm.gov.tw

• National Museum of Prehistory: http://www.nmp.gov.tw

• National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium: http://www.nmmba.gov.tw