Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract/Objectives
Chien Kuo-hsien, a victim of the White Terror and a pioneer of Taiwan’s modern theater movement, witnessed the development of Taiwanese theater before and after World War II. Commissioned by the National Human Rights Museum, National Tsing Hua University is compiling and researching his valuable collection, which includes scripts, manuscripts, letters, and newspaper clippings. This project focuses on organizing and evaluating these materials, particularly transcribing, proofreading, and translating rare manuscripts and correspondence. Upon completion, interpretative data will be compiled following the National Cultural Memory Bank’s standards for digital preservation. Ultimately, the project will be published to promote Chien’s contributions and enhance public understanding of Taiwan’s theatrical and human rights history.
Results/Contributions

This project is dedicated to organizing and digitizing the plays and prison letters of Chien Kuo-hsien (1918-1954), a victim of the White Terror, aligning with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals. Chien's masterpiece "Wall" exposes the human tragedy caused by social inequality, and his works address issues such as poverty elimination (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10), maintaining their profound significance to this day.

 

The project, commissioned by the National Human Rights Museum based on its collection and executed by National Tsing Hua University, combines resources from academia, museums, and civil society, embodying the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships). To date, the project has completed the documentation and initial proofreading of all manuscripts, discovering many precious author manuscripts and historical materials. These results will be preserved through digitization, contributing to the National Cultural Memory Bank and implementing the concept of cultural heritage protection within SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

 

In terms of education (SDG 4 Quality Education), this project provides practical research experience and professional training opportunities by involving graduate students in document organization, field research, database construction, and curriculum integration, nurturing future talents in humanities research.

The project's ultimate goals are to publish "The Collection of Chien Kuo-hsien's Plays and Prison Letters" and to make the museum's collection publicly accessible through digital platforms. This will not only highlight Chien's significant contribution to social equality in Taiwan's literary history but also create a new paradigm for human rights education and historical heritage in Taiwan. We believe that only by facing history and preserving memory can we build a more just and equitable society (SDG 16), which represents the core value of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords
Chien Kuo-hsien, White Terror, Transitional Justice, Sheng Feng Theater Research Society, The Wall (Play)
Contact Information
石婉舜
wsshih@mx.nthu.edu.tw