Welcome to Island Folklore! When this project launched in 2016, there were virtually no English-language websites dedicated to Taiwanese tales and traditions. For tourists, visitors and curious minds, this project was created to fix just that!
Island Folklore is an online repository of Taiwan’s folktales, history, legends, myths and traditions. Our coverage ranges from indigenous Austronesian tales to the stories of Sinitic settlers; from customs imported by Japonic colonists to faiths introduced by Indo-European missionaries.
Taiwan isn’t a big place—barely bigger than Kyushu and Vancouver Island. But geography exposes it to a myriad of influences. Located between the Philippines, China and Japan, East and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean and the continent, Taiwan is both a frontier zone and the centre of crossroads where wildly different cultures meet and mix. In this setting, Taiwanese folklore evolved to be endlessly rich and fascinating!
So, Where to Start?
Let’s start at the beginning. Explore Taiwan’s names and history, as well as its many ethnic groups and languages. The following tabs will take you on a tour of Taiwan’s past to help you get started on this folkloric journey through the Ilha Formosa. Enjoy!
Island Folklore’s Partners
A BIG thank you to our kind partners, whose generosity makes Island Folklore possible! Interested in supporting the project? Head to islandfolklore.com/donate.
