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An epic spanning more than half a century of Taiwan's history, this breathtaking historical novel traces the fortunes of the Pengs, a family of Hakka Chinese settlers, across three generations from the 1890s, just before Taiwan was ceded to Japan as a result of the Sino-Japanese war, through World War II. Li Qiao brilliantly re-creates the dramatic world of these pioneers -- and the colonization of Taiwan itself -- exploring their relationships with the aboriginal peoples of Taiwan and their struggle to establish their own ethnic and political identities.
This carefully researched work of fiction draws upon Li's own experiences and family history, as well as oral and written histories of the era. Originally published in Chinese as a trilogy, this newly translated edition is an abridgement for English-speaking readers and marks the work's first appearance in the English-speaking world. It was well-received in Taiwan as an honest -- and influential -- recreation of Taiwan's history before the relocation of the Republic of China from the mainland to Taiwan.
Because Li's saga is so deeply imbued with the unique culture and complex history of Taiwan, an introduction explaining the cultural and historical background of the novel is included to help orient the reader to this amazingly rich cultural context. This informative introduction and the sweeping saga of the novel itself together provide an important view of Taiwan's little known colonial experience.
List of contents
Translator's IntroductionPart 1Wintry Night1
The Peng Family Make Their Way to Fanzai Wood2
Days on Guard3
Planting Potatoes, Making Potash, Death4
The Unexpected5
Love6
Death and Disaster7
Change8
The Japanese Arrive9
Endless Wintry NightPart 2The Lone Lamp1
The Sound of Weeping2
Good-bye3
Ten Thousand Miles of Sea and Sky4
The Clouds and the Moon5
Misfortune6
Good-byes on the Grass7
Misty Spring Days8
Sacrificial Rites9
Women of the Mountains10
The Journey of the Salmon11
The Eternal Lamp
About the author
Li Qiao. Translated by Taotao Liu and John Balcom
Summary
Spanning over half a century, this historical novel traces the fortunes of the Peng family, Hakka Chinese pioneers whose story is entwined with that of their new country. Their struggle for identity mirrors Taiwan's fate after its post Sino-Japanese War colonization.
