緣起
國立政治大學外國語文學院的治學目標之一，就是要促進對世界各地文化的了解，並透過交流與溝通，令對方也認識我國文化。所謂知己知彼，除了可消弭不必要的誤會，更能增進互相的情誼，我們從事的是一種綿密細緻的交心活動。
再者，政大同學出國交換的比率極高，每當與外國友人交流，談到本國文化時，往往會詞窮，或手邊缺少現成的外語資料，造成溝通上的不順暢，實在太可惜，因此也曾提議是否能出一本類似教材的文化叢書。這個具體想法來自斯拉夫語文學系劉心華教授，與同仁們開會討論後定案。
又，透過各種交流活動，我們發現太多外國師生來臺後都想繼續留下來，不然就是臨別依依不捨，日後總找機會續前緣，再度來臺，甚至呼朋引伴，攜家帶眷，樂不思蜀。當然，有些人學習有成，可直接閱讀中文；但也有些人仍需依靠其母語，才能明白內容。為了讓更多人認識寶島、了解臺灣，我們於是興起編纂雙語的《用外語說臺灣文化》的念頭。
而舉凡國內教授最多語種的高等教育學府，就屬國立政治大學外國語文學院，且在研究各國民情風俗上，翻譯與跨文化中心耕耘頗深，舉辦過的文康、藝文、學術活動更不勝枚舉。然而，若缺乏系統性整理，難以突顯同仁們努力的成果，於是我們藉由「教育部高教深耕計畫」，結合院內各語種本國師與外師的力量，著手九冊（英、德、法、西、俄、韓、日、土、阿）不同語言的《用外語說臺灣文化》，以外文為主，中文為輔，提供對大中華區文化，尤其是臺灣文化有興趣的愛好者參閱。
我們團隊花了一、兩年的時間，將累積的資料大大梳理一番，各自選出約十章精華。並透過彼此不斷地切磋、增刪、審校，終於完成這圖文並茂的系列書。也要感謝幕後無懼辛勞的瑞蘭國際出版編輯群，才令本套書更加增色。其中內容深入淺出，目的就是希望讀者易懂、易吸收，因此割愛除去某些細節，但願專家先進不吝指正，同時內文亦能博君一粲。
阮若缺
國立政治大學外國語文學院
歐洲語文學系教授
於指南山麓
Foreword
Upon knowing the opportunity to work with my colleagues to publish a series of books in nine different languages, introducing our homeland to foreign expatriates and visitors in Taiwan, I was truly excited about the project! The book series would serve our outbound exchange students or professionals relocated to foreign countries when they introduce Taiwan to their new friends on foreign soil.
As I began collecting materials for my book, I realized that there had been zillions of books written in English introducing Taiwan, let alone those glamourous YouTubers introducing Taiwan’s pop culture and tourist spots on a daily basis. How would my book even begin to compete with those predecessors on the market? I couldn’t help but wonder what approach I should take to yield a different perspective than what’s already available.
I thought about the panic and uncertainty I felt when going abroad for my graduate studies in my early 20s. Those memories of cross-cultural encounters, some hilarious, some embarrassing, came flashing through my mind. I also thought about the “reverse” culture shock that I experienced when I re-entered my own culture after spending many years abroad. Not until then did I know that I was ready to talk about entering a foreign culture. Thanks to the multiple brainstorming sessions with the project faculty, I began to revisit many Taiwanese cultural practices with which I grew up.
The more topics I explored, the more ignorant I realized I had been about my homeland. The more I wrote, the more I rediscovered this place I call home. As if I were given a chance to re-live those moments in history, where the country experienced social and political turmoil, the entire writing process has been a journey for me to re-connect with my roots. Because of the reconnection, I was able to better understand and appreciate the beauty and sophistication behind many cultural practices I once took for granted.
The book is organized into nine chapters as follows:
Chapter 1 Natural Landscapes
Chapter 2 History & Population
Chapter 3 Industry & Innovations
Chapter 4 Religious Mural
Chapter 5 Holidays & Festivals
Chapter 6 Culinary Delights
Chapter 7 Social Pulse
Chapter 8 Folk Practices
Chapter 9 Arts & Entertainment
Within each chapter, there are several short articles surrounding the chapter’s theme, each offering a more in-depth view. Each piece comes with a bilingual text. The Chinese version is usually more condensed and in no way a verbatim translation of the English version. In some cases, the two versions in the same article may differ a great deal. The purpose is to provide the most relevant information under the proper bilingual contexts. Also, some historical events were described without precise citations despite painstaking efforts to double-check for accuracy. Apologies for any undetected errors or omissions, as this is not the intention. The standard pinyin Romanization with tone is used for most of the Chinese words throughout the book except for proper names of cities and places commonly known to the West, such as Taipei, Keelung, Hsinchu, which use the old Wade-Giles spelling.
Heartfelt thanks go to David Yu (游輝弘) for his generosity in granting the book to use his award-winning photographs. These photographs, taken by Mr. Yu in his prime time as a professional photographer, captured many moments in which the people of Taiwan embraced and celebrated life despite political and social unrest. These images have reminded me of the spirit and soul of the Taiwanese people that I take so much pride in. I’m deeply indebted to David for his kindness.
I also want to express gratitude to my proofreader, Ruth Hsu (徐鏴), born and raised in the States, who wouldn’t mind my countless questions for the tedious English problems. Because of her bilingual background, she was able to understand my perspectives perfectly. Her suggestions have worked wonders for which I’m truly grateful.
Finally, if I had written this book long ago, I would have shared it with my grandmother, who didn’t have a chance to visit Taiwan during her lifetime. Granny (親婆), this book is for you!
Cynthia Tsui
Mucha, Taipei
December, 2021
編著者序
很榮幸參與了教育部深耕計畫「用外語說台灣文化」的團隊，分別以九個語種(英、法、德、西、俄、土、阿、日、韓語)書寫介紹台灣文化的套書。我負責的語種是英文，當我知道這個計畫的內容時，心裡躊躇著：介紹台灣的英文書籍簡直汗牛充棟，再加上現在國內國外的網紅名人，每天都有推陳出新介紹台灣的英文影音資料，我的這本書究竟會有甚麼賣點？
經過團隊多次的腦力激盪，我們慢慢地看到這套書籍的定位，是給目前已在台灣或欲前往台灣工作或定居的外籍人士，一套能夠瞭解台灣文化底蘊的書籍，不是一般的旅遊叢書，而是從社會、歷史、民俗、族群等角度切入的文化觀察。另一群鎖定的讀者則是台灣本地人欲出國深造或工作，可以藉由這套書籍，將台灣的豐富文化介紹給不同國家的朋友。這套書的定位確定後，多元語種將會是最重要的特點之一，如果因為市面上已經充滿介紹台灣的英文書籍，而獨缺了英文的版本，那麼這套書的國際性就會因此打折扣，畢竟英文仍然是目前國際的通用語言。但是我既沒有史詩級的文筆，也沒有網紅級的風采，僅僅本著作為最佳綠葉的陪襯角色，我開始了我的書寫過程。
從蒐集資料、篩選主題、閱讀撰寫的過程中，我才驚覺我對我生長的這塊土地竟是如此無知? 可能在歷史社會課本中讀過的反清復明鄭成功、荷蘭日據時代、原住民的遷徙等，背後有太多的先民血淚與社會動盪，都不曾在我年輕時的腦海中駐足，而是要到了步入中年的我，在經過了許多年異鄉求學的洗禮，再回到家鄉後，才能看到家鄉的斑斕過去，也才知道多年來家鄉早已脫胎換骨，擺脫了滄桑的過往，開創了全新的局面。
本書共囊括了九個章節如下：
第一章 地理景觀
第二章 歷史與人口
第三章 商業科技脈動
第四章 宗教信仰
第五章 節慶與祭典
第六章 飲食文化
第七章 社會脈動
第八章 民間習俗
第九章 藝術與休閒
每個章節各有數篇短文，圍繞章節的主題發展。每篇文章都有中、英文的敘述，但不是逐句翻譯，英文版是文章主軸，中文版則主精簡，僅提供文章摘要。書中提及的歷史事件，有些沒有列文獻出處，但已盡可能以非歷史學家的身份來考據。文中大部分使用漢語拼音系統(Pinyin)，除了慣用的地名或人名，才會使用韋傑士拼音系統 (Wade-Giles)。
要特別感謝游輝弘先生，慷慨提供他攝影生涯中得獎的多張照片:雲門舞集、媽祖出巡、王船祭典、平溪天燈的影像，捕捉了台灣人民的日常，即便在時代變遷的動盪中，也從不曾停止對生命的禮讚。很感謝這些照片為此書的文字更添光彩。另外要感謝我的潤稿人徐鏴女士，在美國出生、成長、工作，後來回到台灣，因為她的跨文化素養，讓我的文字更洗鍊道地，並精準地傳達了我的想法，她是這本書背後的魔術師!
因為書寫家鄉，讓我重新認識家鄉的蛻變；因為曾是遊子，讓我體會身在台灣的遊子心情。在書寫過程中，許多幼時回憶及異鄉片段湧上心頭，曾經混屯的國家民族認同感，此刻竟了了分明，原來我也在此書的撰寫過程中找到了回家的路。
崔正芳寫於指南山麓
110.12.2
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