Kishu-An Literary Forest Introduction
The Taipei City Government's Department of Cultural Affairs has established the "Kishu An New Pavilion" at the bottom of Tong'an Street as Taipei's first dedicated literary and artistic space, commissioned to be managed by the Taiwan Literature Development Foundation since June 2011. Named the "Kishu An Literary Forest," the pavilion combines with the Southern City Literary Park to provide readers with a comfortable and pleasant environment where literary friends can read, write, drink tea, sip coffee, and chat with like-minded individuals indoors or outdoors. Readers and book lovers can also unexpectedly encounter their favorite writers, critics, and publishers here. The Kishu An historical building was a Japanese-style dining establishment during the colonial period, later transformed into a residential space for public education personnel after the war. Located in the Southern City, it radiates out to the nearby Tong'an Street, Xiamen Street, Kinmen Street, and Guling Street, extending as far as the National Taiwan University and National Taiwan Normal University districts, making it a significant venue in Taiwan's post-war literary development history. It served as the origin for groups like the "Blue Star Poetry Society," and magazines such as "Literary Journal," "Modern Literature," "Grassland," and "University," as well as literary institutions like the "Chinese Literary Association" and "National Language Daily," along with publishers such as Pure Literature, Hongfan, Erya, and Yuanliu, where authors like Lin Haiyin, Lin Liang, Yu Guangzhong, Wang Wenching, and Yin Di expanded their literary ideals. Therefore, in the future, it is anticipated that the "Kishu An" and "Kishu An New Pavilion" will serve as the core and starting point for revitalizing the historical context and treasures of literature.
