Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract/Objectives
Yang Kui (1906–1985) was a Taiwanese novelist and social activist during the Japanese colonial period. In 1927, he joined various organizations, including the Taiwan Peasant Union, the Taiwan Cultural Association, and the Taiwan Literary League, actively engaging in both social and literary movements. His short story The Newspaper Boy won second prize (with no first prize awarded) in a literary competition held by Literary Review magazine in Tokyo in 1934. Beyond his creative writing, he also served as the editor of Taiwan New Literature, making him a key figure in proletarian literature during the Japanese colonial era. This course examines Yang Kui’s literary works, covering his fiction from the Japanese period as well as his post-war critiques, plays, and Letters from Green Island. Throughout his life, he upheld socialist ideals, participated in farmers’ movements, and remained committed to hands-on labor and social contribution. In the 1970s, his influence extended to the campus folk song movement, marking him as the first pre-war writer to make a significant return to the literary scene.
Results/Contributions

This course explores the life and literary contributions of Yang Kui, delving into core issues of social justice, historical memory, and cultural sustainability. Yang Kui’s commitment to writing, labor, and resistance as intertwined forms of social reform serves as the guiding principle of this course. Emphasizing a contextualized understanding of history, the course encourages students to move beyond simplistic dichotomies and reflect on how individuals shape their identities within broader societal transformations.


Furthermore, this course fosters critical awareness of historical injustices and prompts discussions on the contemporary relevance of transitional justice. By examining the impact of White Terror on individuals and families, students gain a deeper understanding of the challenges in achieving justice and fairness in democratic development. Through textual analysis and discussions on historical events, the course cultivates diverse perspectives and independent thinking.


In terms of cultural sustainability, this course highlights not only Yang Kui’s literary achievements but also his efforts in promoting culture and linguistic diversity, including his practice of writing in Taiwanese vernacular. Students engage in discussions on literature and history to inherit and preserve Taiwan’s cultural memory while contemplating their own roles and responsibilities in cultural sustainability.


Keywords
Yang Kui, The Newsman, taiwan literature, pro literature, colonial literature
Contact Information
臺灣研究教師在職進修碩士學位班，蘇淑芬
gpts@my.nthu.edu.tw