A Tale of Two Islands: Returning from Treasure Island to Lion Island

★ Fifteen authors who studied and lived in Taiwan after moving from Singapore to Taiwan share their feelings and experiences
★ Sincerely recommended by Gao Jiaqian, Associate Professor of the Department of Chinese at National Taiwan University, and Lin Denan, President of the Singapore Writers Association
★Illustrated with pictures and text, including memorable photos of my stay in Taiwan

This book includes the stories of fifteen authors: Mao Lifei, Huang Shujun, Liang Jinju, Dan Ying, Wang Runhua, Li Qihong, Lu Lishan, Hu Yuebao, Zhang Zilan, Lin Gao, Ke Siren, Cai Shenjiang, Chen Zhirui, Yin Songwei, and Huang Desheng. They share the stories of their study and life from the Lion Island of Singapore to the treasure island of Taiwan, and through this book, they tell the precious memories and deep imprints left on their memories, consciousness and bodies.

Gao Jiaqian wrote the preface and recommended——
"The visible and invisible sides of the islands, like two ends, are their roots and paths, their source and also their starting point for a fresh start. The journey between the two islands is not a one-way journey, but a dual gaze that intersects back and forth. For a time, Taiwan was already the 'hometown of overseas Chinese' in their cultural world, revealing their humanistic concerns at different moments. Each of their written accounts of their Taiwanese experiences, or their personal Taiwanese 'homesickness,' resembles the remittances carried between their hometown and Southeast Asia by early smugglers, in a sense, a preservation of time and memory."

Chen Zhirui

Having studied in both the East and the West, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Chinese Literature from National Taiwan Normal University, a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Leicester, a Master's degree in English Literature from the National University of Singapore, and a PhD in Chinese Studies from the University of Cambridge. He is currently Deputy Director and Associate Professor of the Department of Asian Languages ​​and Cultures at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University. As a scholar, writer, and artist, Tan Chi-rui has initiated the Singapore National Student Literary Award and the Singapore Poetry Festival, and served on the jury for the Southeast Asian Literature Award, the Singapore Cultural Awards, the Golden Pen Award, and the Singapore Book of the Year Award. He has won the Singapore Literature Award, the Golden Pen Award, the Fang Xiu Literary Award, the Young Artist Award, the National Outstanding Youth Award, and the Chen Zhichu Art Award, among others. He has written and edited nearly 30 Chinese creative works and academic monographs in both Chinese and English, and produced the local cultural video "Very Nanyang." His recent works include "Poems of Long Summer" (Taiwan Times, 2022).

Table of contents

Foreword Island Lights ◎ Gao Jiaqian 7
Editor's Preface: A More Wonderful Double Return ◎ Chen Zhirui13

Concubine Mao Lifei <br>My Love Story with the Red Mansion 27
Red Tea House, Those Years 35

Huang Shujun <br>Youth collective exclamation - My days studying in Taiwan 39

Liang Jinju <br>Colorful Pen: Stories from Studying in the Fine Arts Department of National Taiwan Normal University 47

Dan Ying <br>Days in the Fifth Dormitory of National Taiwan University Girls 53
Attached are two poems written in Taiwan 61

Wang Runhua <br>The days of queuing in front of the fifth dormitory of the National Taiwan University girls 65
Constellation 73 of the Mucha Basin

Li Qihong <br>Taiwan Impressions 83
Muzha Impression 97

Lu Lishan <br>Fried Dumplings in May 109

Hu Yuebao <br>If Life Could Only Be Like Our First Meeting113

Zhang Zilan <br>Returning to the island amidst the shock of the end of the century 127

Lin Gao <br>Those who followed me——Walking in Yongkang Park 141
Daily Taipei 149

Ke Siren <br>A Traveler Entering Taipei161
Goodbye Night City 169

Cai Shenjiang <br>Walking Carefully 175
Appendix: A Poem: A Chorus of 100 Absurdities 183

Chen Zhirui <br>Between Rigor and Unruliness——Remembering Nietzsche 197
Remnants of the Inn: Cultural Investigation Team Report 207

Yin Songwei <br>Memo of Memo——"How to Become a Literary Youth" - Cultivation Chapter 221

Huang Desheng <br>Tributary 227
We Are All Poets 233

Year of publication: 237