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Island Folklore: Taiwanese Tales & Traditions

An online repository of Taiwan’s folktales, history, legends, myths and traditions.

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Bolivian Silver and Nagasaki Cash
Austronesian History Indo-European SiniticSeptember 5, 2019January 3, 2023

Bolivian Silver and Nagasaki Cash

The fascinating, global story of early Taiwanese money.

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Holy Cow: Taiwan's Bovine Folklore
Austronesian History Mythology Sinitic TraditionJuly 4, 2019August 20, 2020

Holy Cow: Taiwan’s Bovine Folklore

Taiwanese traditions that centre around the island’s cows, oxen and buffalos.

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Stories Behind Taiwan's Place-Names
Austronesian History Japonic SiniticDecember 25, 2018February 28, 2020

Stories Behind Taiwan’s Place-Names

A tongue-in-cheek guide to the bizarre and multifaceted history of Taiwanese toponyms.

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The Old Chieftain
Austronesian History LegendFebruary 1, 2018February 28, 2020

The Old Chieftain

The story of an old Taiwanese chieftain who dared to march against the Empire of Japan.

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The White Stag
Austronesian Folktale Legend MythologyJanuary 18, 2018April 25, 2022

The White Stag

A mysterious, otherworldly guide leads unsuspecting Thao hunters to a new homeland.

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Sun Moon Lake
Austronesian Folktale MythologyJanuary 4, 2018February 28, 2020

Sun Moon Lake

The indigenous folktale on the origin of the name of Taiwan’s beautiful Sun Moon Lake.

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Sundown
Austronesian Folktale MythologyDecember 21, 2017February 28, 2020

Sundown

An ancient Atayal tale that tells of two suns in the sky and the hero who shot one down.

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Red Cloak
Austronesian History Legend SiniticDecember 7, 2017February 28, 2020

Red Cloak

As newcomers settled in Taiwan, they faced the terror of the island’s notorious headhunters.

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In the Shadows
Austronesian Mythology Sinitic TraditionNovember 2, 2017October 7, 2020

In the Shadows

Fairies, genies and demons—Eurasian hinterlands are home to mythical beings, like Taiwan’s “mô-sîn-á.”

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Bear and Leopard
Austronesian Folktale MythologyJune 29, 2017May 4, 2024

Bear and Leopard

Black Bears and Clouded Leopards were not always black and spotted. This is their tale.

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The Great Flood
Austronesian MythologyApril 13, 2017February 28, 2020

The Great Flood

From the Holy Bible to Taiwan’s indigenous Formosan tales, flood myths feature widely in ancient literature.

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Our Lady's Child
Austronesian Folktale History Indo-EuropeanMarch 16, 2017January 3, 2023

Our Lady’s Child?

Take a guess: Is this a German fairy tale? Or is it a Taiwanese folktale? Explore the secret behind stories from opposite sides of the earth.

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