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Convergence of Nature and Culture: Seeing Tamsui through Artists’ Eyes

Publication date: 09 Oct 2018
Author: Jao Tsu-hsien |Staff member of the Archives of Institute of Taiwan History

Surrounded by mountains and a river, Tamsui, which used to be called “Hobe”, has always attracted senior artists in Taiwan. Exotic and traditional buildings left by the Dutch, Qing Dynasty, and Japanese feature in its historic characteristics, attracting wandering literati. Artists are also inspired by this historic town. The paintings of Tamsui are a spectacular page of Taiwan’s art history. By following in the steps of Taiwanese artists Chen Zhi-qi, Chen Cheng-po, and Yen Shui-long, let us start a journey through Tamsui across time and space!

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I. Lin’s Footsteps in the United Kingdom

Lin Xian-tang arrived in London on June 27 and started to visit places near London. On July 23, he went to London Zoo seeing many animals that he rarely saw, such as apes, parrots, insects, qilins and rhinos. What impressed him the most was that lions and tigers in one cage could live peacefully (see figure 1). On July 28, they visited the zoo again and went to see reptiles first this time. They not just saw many kinds of snakes that they had never seen before and even saw one big snake shedding its skin. They also saw many kinds of fishes like glowing eels, and other species such as birds, cats, and fur seals. In addition to seeing animals, Lin Xian-tang and his sons spent some money riding elephants and camels (see figure 2&3). Even though they ended up encountering sudden heavy rain, getting wet in the rain, and getting separated from others who went to the zoo together, they still had a memorable journey.

Figure1: The Diary of Mr. Guan-yuan on July 23, 1927.
(Source:The Diary of Mr. Guan-yuan, the digital archives of the Archives of Institution of Taiwan History)

Figure2: The Diary of Mr. Guan-yuan on July 28, 1927.
(Source:The Diary of Mr. Guan-yuan, the digital archives of the Archives of Institution of Taiwan History)

Figure3: Elephants in London Zoo in the 1920s.
(Source:Travel in a New World, the digital archives of the Archives of Institution of Taiwan History)


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