Before delving into the profound layers of Taiwanese poetry, let us first revisit the historical context of Taiwan. The period of Japanese rule in Taiwan, which spanned from 1895 to 1945, was a time governed by the Japanese Empire. As the 19th century drew to a close, Japan, as the last nation to join the ranks of new imperialism, expanded in a manner distinctly different from the Western powers. Taiwan, this island, was seen as a pillar of Japanese industry and also a stepping stone for its southward expansion policy. Under Japanese rule, Taiwan underwent a baptism of modernization, yet its external economic relations were tightly bound to Japan. At that time, Taiwan became a testing ground for the standardization of the Japanese language, and the seeds of literary modernization quietly sprouted here. The local customs and culture of Taiwan became popular subjects in Japanese colonial literature, with works like Haruo Sato’s «Travelogue of Sun Moon Lake» and «Wushe» not only implying criticism of Japanese ruling policies but also enriching the Japanese imagination of this land. Natsume Sōseki’s «I Am a Cat» occasionally mentioned the indigenous people of Taiwan, and the poet Hakushū Kitahara personally set foot on this land, promoting his love for folk songs. Against such a backdrop, modern Taiwanese literature was first born as a product of post-war colonial literature.

Den doble trusselen: Global oppvarming og ny kald krig 

Mens temperaturene stiger verden over, synker vi hjelpeløst inn i en nedkjøling av det politiske klimaet. I tillegg til de opphetede krigene i Ukraina og Midtøsten, snakker analytikere både i øst og vest om «en ny kald krig». I motsetning til de varme krigene, som er regionale, er den kalde krigen en verdenstilstand som vi bare kjenner altfor godt: en konstant og fastlåst spenning, som en lammende global krampe. 

Eskalering virker like fatalt som en deeskalering virker umulig. Det samme kunne sies om klimakrisen: En deeskalering av olje og gassforbruket virker politisk umulig, bare med den forskjellen at situasjonen eskalerer mens vi – og fordi vi – fatalt nok fortsetter å vente. Og når vi venter, er det kanskje mer enn noe på grunn av den geopolitiske situasjonen, som har tilspisset seg siden invasjonen av Ukraina: Selv der vi ikke hører det i klartekst, melder situasjonen seg som en erkjennelse av at realpolitiske forhold og maktstrategiske posisjoneringer gjennomgående trumfer alle klimahensyn. 

Er geopolitikken i ferd med å bli selve akilleshælen for kampen mot klimaendringene, for omsetningen av klimaforståelse i handling? 

/ Photo: Fana Feng

Part I: Eon

She wakes up thirsty, as usual, but this time it’s harder, as if there is sand in her throat. She sits up straight in her bed and strokes her throat, trying to transfer saliva from her palate so that it won’t hurt to swallow. Then she moves the same two fingers to her arm, halfway between her left elbow and shoulder, and touches a tiny nodule under the skin. There’s no money here, is the thought that crosses her mind. I have nothing. This piece of Silicon-Titanium might as well be used as a toothpick. Then she recalls what Dagi told her.