President Tsai said that Lee Chiao’s oeuvre focuses on resistance. His entire youth was dedicated to Taiwanese literature, building a paradigm for what it means to be Taiwanese and greatly strengthening the cultural framework for Taiwan’s existence as a nation. His work continuously engages in dialogue with different eras, prompting readers to think of life challenges from a local perspective and encouraging the devotion to one’s homeland, equality, and freedom.
Minister Yiong stated that the semiconductor industry is a pillar of the island nation, but Lee Chiao’s literary legacy is equally important as a cultural pillar of Taiwan—a wonderful cultural heritage shared by all Taiwanese. He expressed gratitude to Lee for his lifelong endeavor. The unimaginable amount of time, blood, sweat, and tears he has committed to Taiwanese literature shine a spotlight on Taiwanese culture and literature.
Lee Chiao declared in his speech, “Literary works are the blossoms of culture. I am incredibly grateful for the ability to say what’s in my mind, even at this age.” Moreover, he believes that the rise of the Internet has led to the detriment of paper books. Newspapers and magazines are crucial for a country, so he called on everyone to support literature and culture, and never give up on print media.
Lee Chiao was born Lee Neng-chi at Dahu, Miaoli in 1934. He graduated from Hsinchu Teachers College. Engaging in diverse forms of creation, his works express strong emotions towards one’s homeland, people, and society. Resistance is manifested lovingly in response to social issues and hardship. His books have been translated into many languages and adapted into movies, TV shows, and plays, leaving a lasting mark on Taiwanese culture.
After three years of painstaking work, 45 books were compiled into the six volumes of Lee Chiao Complete Works. The editing team was led by Professor Huang Meei-er of the Institute of Taiwan Literature, National Taiwan University, a collaboration between HAC and the National Museum of Taiwan Literature. It is hoped that Hakka literature will demonstrate to people around the world the diversity of Taiwanese literature.