Wu zholiu's orphan of asia and taiwanese students studying in japan Essay

Wu zholiu's orphan of asia and taiwanese students studying in japan - Essay Example This one is a masterpiece that Taiwanese literature shall always cherish. The Taiwanese Literature, as we know it today, developed in 1920s. The writers during that period reflected on Japan’s role as a colonizer, Wu Zhouliu does the same. The Taiwanese literature was as influenced by the culture of Japan, which was forced by Japan, as by the need to voice its identity. The Taiwanese literature was trying to break the image of Taiwan as ‘extended Japan’ while at the same time most of the works were in either Japanese or usually had element of Japanese. Wu Zhouliu, too, was much better in Japanese than in Chinese but his works were rebellious, indicating Japanese as oppressors of Taiwanese. The Taiwanese literature was a means for peaceful rebellion, after the violent methods to drive Japanese out of their land failed, and the task is successfully carried forward by Orphan of Asia. Thus, the work not just adds on to the main reason for evolution of Taiwanese literature-rebellion against their colonizer, but it also takes up the task of representing Taiwan under Japan as it was to the future generations. Taiwan was occupied by Japan from China for fifty years (1895-1945) before it was handed over to China again. As long as Taiwan was the colony of Japan, Taiwanese remained neither Japanese nor Chinese. Their identity as Taiwanese was all too obliterated. This situation of Taiwanese is well depicted in Orphan of Asia, where the protagonist-Tai-ming was confused about his identity. The writer uses the word ‘orphan’ to indicate that with no identity of its own Taiwanese were orphan, they had been separated from their mother-China, and their colonizers never accepted them as one of them. Not just were they separated from their roots (China), but also their roots never accepted them back. Tai-ming believes that his roots are in China and hence is ready to make any sacrifice for his roots but it is ironic that he shall not disclose