Symboliczne wymiary tajwańskiego nacjonalizmu
The Symbolic Dimension of Taiwanese Nationalism

Summary/Abstract: A great majority of Taiwanese people declare themselves to be Taiwanese only(61% in 2022) or Taiwanese and also Chinese (additional 31%), which gives animpression of ethnic and national unity. However, the divisive factors of (sub)ethnic grouping, language diversity and historical consciousness are still present.Taiwanese nationalism, which in its civilian form is organized around present stateof Republic of China (ROC) as opposed to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).However, ROC, although de facto an independent state is not de iure a Taiwanesestate, as can be seen in its national symbolism. The paper analyses this enthosymbolicaldimension of Taiwanese national identity, discussing four main symbolicalspheres: the memory of the 2-28 Incident; memory and idealization of theJapanese colonial period; strong presence of local languages, used alongside the officialnorthern mandarin standard; and finally, the presence of the Aborigine peopleand their cultures. All these spheres are important in Taiwan symbolical space,and their importance is further strengthened by the actions of the state (publiccommemorations, protecting the cultural relicts of Japanese period, removing theones connected with authoritarian regime of Chiang Kai-shek etc.). However, theauthor remains doubtful if they have enough emotional and symbolical power tounite Taiwanese in the face of the Chinese threat. Closely related question is the futureeffect of the recommendations of the report of the Commision of TransitionalJustice about the monuments of the KMT period, whose fate is a strongly contestedissue, and which needs further research.

• Details
• Contents