Taipei People
Encyclopedia
Taipei People is a collection of 14 short stories
written by Pai Hsien-yung
in the 1960s, published in 1971
. The length and art of each story is different, but all these short stories are about people who came from Mainland China
to Taiwan
in the 1950s, and about their life in Taipei
. Some of the stories were also published in Wandering in the Garden, Waking from a Dream (1968
).
("mainlanders") who fled to Taiwan following the War of Resistance against Japan and the Chinese Civil War
and founding of the People's Republic of China
in 1949.
, and (sexual) patronage; mahjong
; the Kuomintang
military, especially the officer corps; China's diverse regions; fashion, especially the chipao (qipao); traditional Chinese interior furnishings; Buddhism
; Peking opera; separation; and many others.
and other languages. The stories have been also reworked to dramas in Hong Kong
and Taiwan
, and a movie in Taiwan.
Brief synopses are provided below. (Based on the English translation by the author and Patia Yasin, published as "Wandering in the Garden, Waking from a Dream.")
soirees she arranges at her Taipei home.
The story touches on the KMT-related New Life Movement
as an element of continuity in the social life of mainland loyalists in the pre- and post-war eras.
An important "character" in the story is the fiery Kaoliang
liquor, famous in Taiwan for its power.
group. In the story, she reflects on her choices, especially the insurmountable contradictions between wealth/security vs. love vs. freedom.
The story leans heavily on the use of the azalea as a symbol of homesickness and exile in Chinese culture.
The story falls in a genre that explores the equivalence of the "mansion" and the "family," and the interweaving threads in their parallel growth and decline, in (modern) Chinese literature. See, for instance, Ba Jin
's Family and the classic of late imperial Chinese literature, Dream of the Red Chamber
.
The story includes a recounting of events connected to the Wuchang Uprising
, the first event in the 1911 Revolution that gave birth to the Republic of China.
"The Dirge of Liang Fu" refers to specific compositions in classic Chinese literature, and suggests the way in which exile and return have been the subject of Chinese poets such as Tu Fu.
The context of the story is yet another variant of the Chinese "pleasure quarters," the winehouse.
All of the stories in the collection make use of allusions to particular regions in mainland China; this story's allusion to Kweilin is special, since that is the author's home province, Kweilin (Guilin
). Through references to food, landscape, and the unique Kweilin opera, he suggests the particular poignancy of exile from that place.
The story alludes to the use of the chrysanthemum as a symbol of the transience of life -- its brilliant, brief flowering followed by excruciating decline -- in Chinese (and Japanese) culture.
This story alludes to the bright effluorescence of the Shanghai film industry in the '20s and '30s.
The story interweaves abundant allusion to a specific variety of Chinese opera called Kunqu
in general, including its many roles and unique sounds, together with a specific episode from the opera The Peony Pavilion
("Wandering in the Garden, Waking from a Dream"). Moreover, these are interwoven with allusions to the dashing and machismo of the Kuomintang
officer corps and a whole host of allusions to the sensuous pleasures of elite Chinese societies - the shimmer of silk cheongsam, the smell of high quality rosewood
Chinese furniture
, the taste of dishes from Chinese cuisine
specially selected for the event.
Kunqu
is itself native to the area near Nanjing and Suzhou in China, in other words, it refers to the seat of Kuomintang
government and support prior to exile in Taiwan. The story alludes to specific dishes of the Huaiyang cuisine
, another reminder of the Nanjing area.
This story, written about 7 years before the death of Chiang Kai-shek seems to foretell the inevitable consequences of the natural death of the KMT's military leaders.
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
written by Pai Hsien-yung
Pai Hsien-yung
Kenneth Hsien-yung Pai , born July 11, 1937) is a writer who has been described as a "melancholy pioneer." He was born in Guilin, Guangxi, China at the cusp of both the Second Sino-Japanese War and subsequent Chinese Civil War...
in the 1960s, published in 1971
1971 in literature
The year 1971 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*The Destiny Waltz by Gerda Charles wins the UK's first Whitbread Novel of the Year Award.-New books:*Hiroshi Aramata - Teito Monogatari...
. The length and art of each story is different, but all these short stories are about people who came from Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in the 1950s, and about their life in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
. Some of the stories were also published in Wandering in the Garden, Waking from a Dream (1968
1968 in literature
The year 1968 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* Dean R. Koontz's first novel, Star Quest is published....
).
Context
"Taipei People" is the iconic literary work reflecting the experience of people from Mainland ChinaMainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
("mainlanders") who fled to Taiwan following the War of Resistance against Japan and the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
and founding of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 1949.
Structure and Format
The format and topic of this book is often compared to James Joyce's "Dubliners". Both of the books are short story series, and they are all about people in a certain city. Also, another book of Pai Hsien-yung called "New Yorkers" are similar to the two books.Themes
Although these people are called "Taipei People", in their minds they are always reminiscing the scintillating old times in Mainland China, therefore most of them don't really belong to Taipei mentally. Their loss and their sense of insecurity is what this book is depicting.Motifs
The stories are interwoven with a large number of motifs that are very suggestive of the place, the time, and the people. Some of them include dance halls, teahouses, taxi dancerTaxi dancer
A taxi dancer, or taxi for short , is a paid dance partner in a partner dance. For official purposes in the US, their occupation was referred to as "dancer", when they worked in taxi-dance halls that had all the necessary business permits...
, and (sexual) patronage; mahjong
Mahjong
Mahjong, sometimes spelled Mah Jongg, is a game that originated in China, commonly played by four players...
; the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
military, especially the officer corps; China's diverse regions; fashion, especially the chipao (qipao); traditional Chinese interior furnishings; Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
; Peking opera; separation; and many others.
Related works
The collection has been translated into EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and other languages. The stories have been also reworked to dramas in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and a movie in Taiwan.
Short stories synopses
"Taipei People" consists of fourteen stories:- The Eternal Snow Beauty (永遠的尹雪豔)
- A Touch of Green (一把青)
- New Year's Eve (歲除)
- The Last Night of Taipan Chin (金大班的最後一夜)
- A Sea of Blood-red Azaleas (那片血一般紅的杜鵑花)
- Ode to Bygone Days (思舊賦)
- The Dirge of Liang Fu (梁父吟)
- Love's Lone Flower (孤戀花)
- Glory's by Blossom Bridge (花橋榮記)
- Autumn Reveries (秋思)
- A Sky Full of Bright, Twinkling Stars (滿天裏亮晶晶的星星)
- Wandering in the Garden, Waking from a Dream (遊園驚夢)
- Winter Night (冬夜)
- State Funeral (國葬)
Brief synopses are provided below. (Based on the English translation by the author and Patia Yasin, published as "Wandering in the Garden, Waking from a Dream.")
The Eternal Snow Beauty (永遠的尹雪豔)
The aging "Snow Beauty" (Yin Hsueh-yen) looks back on her days as the belle of Shanghai's Paramount ballroom; she is still the center of attention at upscale mahjongMahjong
Mahjong, sometimes spelled Mah Jongg, is a game that originated in China, commonly played by four players...
soirees she arranges at her Taipei home.
A Touch of Green (一把青)
In an extended tale, the (female) narrator observes how an innocent middle school bride (Verdancy Chu) transcends the death of her air force pilot husband during the war years to attain some degree of stability in the post-war Taiwan environment.The story touches on the KMT-related New Life Movement
New Life Movement
The New Life Movement was set up by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong May-ling in February 1934, with the help of the Blue Shirts Society and the CC Clique within the Chinese Nationalist Party...
as an element of continuity in the social life of mainland loyalists in the pre- and post-war eras.
New Year's Eve (歲除)
A visit by a former commanding officer (Brother Lai) for some New Year's Eve dining and drinking provides a contrast between the heroic tales of past military exploits and the limitations of his current situation.An important "character" in the story is the fiery Kaoliang
Kaoliang
Kaoliang jiu is a strong distilled liquor, made from fermented sorghum . It is made and sold in both mainland China and Taiwan, and also popular in Korea, where it is called goryangju...
liquor, famous in Taiwan for its power.
The Last Night of Taipan Chin (金大班的最後一夜)
"Taipan Chin" is actually a woman who commands a taxi dancerTaxi dancer
A taxi dancer, or taxi for short , is a paid dance partner in a partner dance. For official purposes in the US, their occupation was referred to as "dancer", when they worked in taxi-dance halls that had all the necessary business permits...
group. In the story, she reflects on her choices, especially the insurmountable contradictions between wealth/security vs. love vs. freedom.
A Sea of Blood-red Azaleas (那片血一般紅的杜鵑花)
A servant, Wang Hsiung, epitomizes the torment of exile. The story is pervaded with "fish out of water" symbolism.The story leans heavily on the use of the azalea as a symbol of homesickness and exile in Chinese culture.
Ode to Bygone Days (思舊賦)
Two old servants meet and talk about all the changes around them, especially those occurring in the rich family they have served. The story views decay as seen from beneath.The story falls in a genre that explores the equivalence of the "mansion" and the "family," and the interweaving threads in their parallel growth and decline, in (modern) Chinese literature. See, for instance, Ba Jin
Ba Jin
Li Yaotang , courtesy name Feigan , is considered to be one of the most important and widely-read Chinese writers of the 20th century. He wrote under the pen name of Ba Jin , Pa Chin, Li Fei-Kan, Li Pei-Kan, Pa Kin, allegedly taking his pseudonym from Russian anarchists Bakunin and Kropotkin...
's Family and the classic of late imperial Chinese literature, Dream of the Red Chamber
Dream of the Red Chamber
Dream of the Red Chamber , composed by Cao Xueqin, is one of China's Four Great Classical Novels. It was composed in the middle of the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty. It is considered to be a masterpiece of Chinese vernacular literature and is generally acknowledged to be a pinnacle of...
.
The Dirge of Liang Fu (梁父吟)
On the occasion of the funeral of a general, one of his cohorts recounts past exploits. The story conveys the utter resolution of substantial elements of the elite mainlander class to "recover the Mainland," even as age and distance render their desires impossible.The story includes a recounting of events connected to the Wuchang Uprising
Wuchang Uprising
The Wuchang Uprising began with the dissatisfaction of the handling of a railway crisis. The crisis then escalated to an uprising where the revolutionaries went up against Qing government officials. The uprising was then assisted by the New Army in a coup against their own authorities in the city...
, the first event in the 1911 Revolution that gave birth to the Republic of China.
"The Dirge of Liang Fu" refers to specific compositions in classic Chinese literature, and suggests the way in which exile and return have been the subject of Chinese poets such as Tu Fu.
Love's Lone Flower (孤戀花)
"Peach Blossom" is the protege and companion of the female protagonist; both are club escorts. Peach Blossom becomes falls into a deadly and insanity-creating spiral with a thug, Yama.The context of the story is yet another variant of the Chinese "pleasure quarters," the winehouse.
Glory's by Blossom Bridge (花橋榮記)
"Glory's" is a restaurant, and the noodles it serves could stand as a tenuous link between distant Kweilin -- the site of its predecessor -- and Taiwan.All of the stories in the collection make use of allusions to particular regions in mainland China; this story's allusion to Kweilin is special, since that is the author's home province, Kweilin (Guilin
Guilin
Guilin is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of far southern China, sitting on the west bank of the Li River. Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city...
). Through references to food, landscape, and the unique Kweilin opera, he suggests the particular poignancy of exile from that place.
Autumn Reveries (秋思)
Autumn means "aging," and this jewel of a story focuses on the power and fragility of beauty.The story alludes to the use of the chrysanthemum as a symbol of the transience of life -- its brilliant, brief flowering followed by excruciating decline -- in Chinese (and Japanese) culture.
A Sky Full of Bright, Twinkling Stars (滿天裏亮晶晶的星星)
Capturing a "beat" sensibility that finds extended development in much Taiwan literature, this story about (gay) street characters who frequent Taipei's New Park -- The Guru, Ah Hsiung the Primitive, Dark-and-Handsome, Little Jade -- concludes with a potent symbol of how very different people (and peoples) are thrown into each other's arms.This story alludes to the bright effluorescence of the Shanghai film industry in the '20s and '30s.
Wandering in the Garden, Waking from a Dream (遊園驚夢)
The collection's eponymous story is a tour-de-force of Chinese cultural allusion, as it contrasts the pre-Taiwan condition of a group of taxi dancers (Fragrant Cassia, Heavenly Pepper, Red Red Rose) with their current position as wives (or ex-wives or widows) of prominent society figures (Madan Ch'ien . . . Madam Tou . . . Madam Jen . . . . ).The story interweaves abundant allusion to a specific variety of Chinese opera called Kunqu
Kunqu
Kunqu , also known as Kunju , Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the Kunshan melody, and dominated Chinese theatre from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The style originated in the Wu cultural area...
in general, including its many roles and unique sounds, together with a specific episode from the opera The Peony Pavilion
The Peony Pavilion
The Peony Pavilion is a play written by Tang Xianzu in the Ming Dynasty and first performed in 1598 at the Pavilion of Prince Teng. One of Tang's "Four Dreams", it has traditionally been performed as a Kunqu opera, but Chuan and Gan opera versions also exist...
("Wandering in the Garden, Waking from a Dream"). Moreover, these are interwoven with allusions to the dashing and machismo of the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
officer corps and a whole host of allusions to the sensuous pleasures of elite Chinese societies - the shimmer of silk cheongsam, the smell of high quality rosewood
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
Chinese furniture
Chinese furniture
The forms of Chinese furniture evolved along three distinct lineages which dates back to 1000 BC, based on frame and panel, yoke and rack and bamboo construction techniques...
, the taste of dishes from Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...
specially selected for the event.
Kunqu
Kunqu
Kunqu , also known as Kunju , Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the Kunshan melody, and dominated Chinese theatre from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The style originated in the Wu cultural area...
is itself native to the area near Nanjing and Suzhou in China, in other words, it refers to the seat of Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
government and support prior to exile in Taiwan. The story alludes to specific dishes of the Huaiyang cuisine
Huaiyang cuisine
Huaiyang cuisine is a tradition within the cuisine of China derived from the native cooking styles of the region surrounding the lower reaches of the Huai and Yangtze rivers, and centered upon the cities of Huai'an, Yangzhou and Zhenjiang in Jiangsu province...
, another reminder of the Nanjing area.
Winter Night (冬夜)
In a richly ironic tale, two professors talk about their careers, and the contrast between their glorious and idealistic student days -- particularly their role in the student demonstrations that ushered in the May Fourth Movement -- and the feelings of failure, hypocrisy, and desertion that they currently battle.State Funeral (國葬)
This story takes a none-too-subtle parting shot at the Mainlander ethos. At a state funeral for an important general such as his father, the general's old aide is bewildered to confront the old and feeble men who once constituted China's "Steel Army" and "Iron Forces." The only connection to the old Mainland idea seems to be the long line of black limousines, "like a serpent," in the funeral procession.This story, written about 7 years before the death of Chiang Kai-shek seems to foretell the inevitable consequences of the natural death of the KMT's military leaders.