Skip to content
Island Folklore logo

Island Folklore: Taiwanese Tales & Traditions

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

  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate
Press Enter / Return to begin your search.
  • Austronesian
  • Folktale
  • History
  • Indo-European
  • Japonic
  • Legend
  • Mythology
  • Sinitic
  • Tradition
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
Bubbles & Pearls
History SiniticJuly 26, 2018May 6, 2020

Bubbles & Pearls

A modern Taiwanese tea—the bubble tea—innovation that has conquered night markets, teahouses and taken the world by storm!

Read More
Ice Jelly
Folktale History Legend Mythology SiniticJuly 12, 2018February 28, 2020

Ice Jelly

A refreshing treat that brings an icy coolness to Taiwan’s sub-tropical summer heat.

Read More
Old Man's Tea
History Sinitic TraditionJune 28, 2018February 28, 2020

Old Man’s Tea

An age-old tea ceremony that closes gaps and bridges families and friends in Taiwan.

Read More
Rice Dumplings
History Legend Sinitic TraditionJune 14, 2018February 28, 2020

Rice Dumplings

More than just a festival treat, rice dumplings are a tasty snack that the Taiwanese have loved for centuries!

Read More
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.

Read More
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.

Read More
May Snow
History Sinitic TraditionAugust 10, 2017January 10, 2021

May Snow

Under Tung blossoms, a new folk festival spearheads Taiwan’s modern Hakka cultural revival!

Read More
Martyrs
Folktale History Legend SiniticJuly 27, 2017February 28, 2020

Martyrs

Memories of martyrs help a struggling people find their identity in a brave new world.

Read More
Trail of Tears
History Legend SiniticJuly 13, 2017February 28, 2020

Trail of Tears

This “hill song” records memories of the first Hakkas arriving in Taiwan in the 1600s.

Read More

Page navigation

  • Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next

Island Folklore Newsletter

Sign up to stay in the loop!

Explore Topics

Amis animal story Atayal biography Buddhism Bunun children's story Chinese zodiac Christianity colonialism creation story culture Dutch East India Company Dutch Formosa etymology fable festival flood myth folk hero folklore folk religion ghost ghost story giant Hakka headhunting Hokkien Hsinchu Kaohsiung Koxinga language linguistics mythical creature origin myth Paiwan Puyuma Qu Yuan sea goddess Seediq spirit Taiwanese language tea technology Thao TSMC
Island Folklore logo lg

Copyright © 2016 Island Folklore. All rights reserved. | Website by LDWS.

scroll to top