Kishu-an Literary Forest Introduction
The Taipei City Government's Cultural Affairs Bureau has established the "Kishu-An New Hall" at the end of Tong'an Street as Taipei's first dedicated literary space, which has been managed by the Taiwan Literature Development Foundation since June 2011. Known as the "Kishu-An Literary Forest," it combines with the Southern City Literary Park to provide readers with a comfortable and pleasant environment for reading, writing, enjoying tea or coffee, and engaging in conversations with fellow enthusiasts both indoors and outdoors. Readers and literature lovers can also unexpectedly encounter their favorite authors, critics, and publishers here. The historical building of "Kishu-An" was a Japanese-style teahouse during the Japanese occupation and later became a residential area for public servants after the war. Located in the Southern City, it encompasses nearby Tong'an Street, Xiamen Street, Kinmen Street, and Guling Street, extending to the National Taiwan University and National Normal University areas, making it a significant venue in the history of post-war literary development in Taiwan. It is the birthplace of literary organizations such as the "Blue Star Poetry Society", "Literary Magazine", "Modern Literature", "Prairie", and "University Magazine", as well as cultural institutions like the "Chinese Literary Association" and "Guoyu Daily", and includes publishers such as Junwen, Hongfan, Erya, and Yuanliu. Notable writers like Lin Haiyin, Lin Liang, Yu Guangzhong, Wang Wenxing, and Yindi have also developed their literary dreams here. Therefore, in the future, it is hoped that "Kishu-An" and "Kishu-An New Hall" will serve as the core and starting point for recreating the historical context and treasures of literature.
