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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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The Food Taster
Folktale Mythology SiniticApril 26, 2018February 28, 2020

The Food Taster

The story of a chieftain who died to give his people lifesaving knowledge.

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Fire and Water
Folktale Mythology SiniticApril 12, 2018February 28, 2020

Fire and Water

A catastrophic battle between two elements forces the Mother Goddess to take action.

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The Mother Goddess
Folktale Mythology SiniticMarch 29, 2018February 28, 2020

The Mother Goddess

The story of the mother goddess who created the first humans.

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In the Beginning
Folktale Mythology SiniticMarch 15, 2018February 28, 2020

In the Beginning

The tale of the giant born at the beginning of time and subsequently shaped the world.

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The Great Race
Folktale Mythology Sinitic TraditionMarch 1, 2018February 28, 2020

The Great Race

A race that determined the 12 signs of the zodiac and forever pitted cats against mice.

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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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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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Seventh Eve
Folktale Mythology Sinitic TraditionJune 15, 2017August 21, 2020

Seventh Eve

A love story—once each year, two stars cross the “Silver River” for a long-awaited reunion.

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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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