Candidates Embrace Local Culture at Taiwanese Hokkien Picture Book Party

In a colorful and engaging event, two political candidates in Yilan, Taiwan, embraced local culture by transforming into an apple and a sweet potato for a Taiwanese Hokkien (Holo) language picture book party. Lin Kuo-chang, a candidate for Magistrate, and Mayor candidate Han Ying, appeared as 'Uncle Lin Go' and 'Sister Han Ji' respectively, delighting attendees.

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The more local, the more international.

The event, led by picture book teacher Chen A-yue, featured the reading of 'Where is My Bed?' (眠床佇佗位). The party kicked off with the candidates and teacher playing traditional trumpets crafted from pandanus leaves, their playful 'ba ba' sounds instantly bringing laughter from the audience. Lin Kuo-chang stressed the importance of local culture, stating, 'The more local, the more international.' He hopes that by using local stories, children can build a sense of Taiwanese Hokkien cultural identity from a young age.

Han Ying, sporting whimsical pandanus leaf glasses, highlighted the significance of the event as the first in a series of picture book tours in Yilan City. She expressed a desire to create more diverse and quality parent-child leisure spaces in Yilan and pledged to enhance childcare welfare and increase parent-child interaction facilities if elected.

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Yilan needs more diverse, quality parent-child leisure spaces. In the future, if I enter the city hall, I will be committed to improving childcare welfare and increasing parent-child interaction facilities.

Han Ying also emphasized the importance of preserving the Hokkien language, admitting her own fluency needs improvement but vowing to learn alongside children. She believes that through the power of picture books, the Hokkien language can take root in every family, fostering a happy environment for raising children. Lin Kuo-chang added that Hokkien boasts rich tones and melodies, making classical poetry sound more profound than in Mandarin. He urged parents to speak Hokkien with their children to pass on this beautiful culture, citing the importance of local stories like those from Su'ao's Da Keng Gu to build cultural identity.

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Hokkien has rich 'seven tones and eight melodies,' making it more flavorful to recite Tang and Song poetry than Mandarin. As modern children gradually lose the opportunity to speak their mother tongue, I hope that through the picturization of local stories like those from Su'ao Da Keng Gu, children can establish cultural identity from a young age.