The recent trend of southbound policies, such as the government's New Southbound Policy and the Belt and Road Initiative led by China, has sparked extensive interest and reporting. Our goal is to help readers gain a deeper understanding of these regions not just through political and economic lenses but also through rich cultural perspectives. Utilizing our library's extensive collections, we aim to explore the geography, people, history, literature, and religions of South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Through curated thematic collections, exhibitions, and various events organized by the library, we aim to present the diverse and vibrant, as well as the dark and complex, aspects of South Asian and Southeast Asian countries. The exhibition features themed maps, library collect

ions, and informational displays in both 2D and 3D formats, showcasing each country's unique characteristics on the first floor of the library.

The exhibition is divided into two main themes: "Travel Impressions" and "Reading Excerpts," with two large maps prominently displayed along the main route of the exhibit. The "Travel Impressions" map offers a quick overview of important landmarks and culinary highlights in these regions, while the "Reading Excerpts" map dynamically showcases significant works and writings from each area. The exhibit will continually update and expand, inviting readers to engage in themed activities, participate in interactive displays, and explore the countries of South Asia and Southeast Asia, sparking creative inspiration.

Explore the Exhibition

When it comes to South Asia and Southeast Asia, it is impossible to fully explain a country with just one book or a single collection. These regions encompass the Indochina Peninsula, the Malay Archipelago, and the Indian Subcontinent. Therefore, our library has made every effort to collect relevant materials and present various perspectives to help readers gain a deeper understanding of the countries associated with the New Southbound Policy. This is the primary reason for curating this exhibition, presenting Southeast Asia from multiple viewpoints.

Extending the duration of the exhibition not only provides richer information but also allows readers more time to engage. Since the displayed books are available for borrowing, we have also compiled and provided themed book lists and summaries. Borrowed books can still be discovered and reserved through these lists. As our library's primary focus includes hospitality-related books, we possess many travel-related series. However, when planning this exhibition with travel and cultural themes, we deliberately excluded functional guides and manuals, instead featuring travel literature, journalistic writing, and cultural observations to offer a deeper understanding of Southeast Asian countries.

In addition, we have collected historical and geographical series, local literature, and books on migrant worker issues. We have extracted key information from these books to provide readers with diverse perspectives. Through reading and analyzing our collections, we have identified more themes worth showcasing, such as clothing, spices, and religions, offering different angles to interpret South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Exploding with Travel Guides for the Indochina Peninsula! (Find these books on the 4th floor)

With high cost-effectiveness and short flight times, countries in the Indochina Peninsula are popular short-term travel destinations for locals. The thriving tourism industry, coupled with various online information platforms, offers travelers diverse options, whether they prefer group tours or independent travel.
Countries like Thailand and Singapore are popular destinations for independent travelers in Southeast Asia. Thailand is known for its affordable travel costs and diverse travel experiences, ranging from local lifestyle and Buddhist culture to historical sites, trendy shopping, and creative stores. The well-developed tourism industry in Thailand provides convenient services to meet the needs of tourists, with travel guides now focusing on specific cities rather than just the entire country.
Singapore offers advantages such as visa-free entry, efficient public transportation, common language, good security, and concentrated attractions, making it an easy starting point for novice independent travelers. Consequently, numerous Singapore travel guides are regularly published, often featuring different themed routes.
 

No Chinese Travel Guides for the Indian Subcontinent?

Unlike other countries in the Indochina Peninsula, the five countries of the Indian subcontinent rarely have Chinese travel guides. Instead, travelogues, which mix personal reflections with local impressions, dominate the literature. These travelogues often touch lightly on travel routes and attractions, and the content usually spans multiple countries, reflecting travelers' experiences moving across borders due to travel costs or visa restrictions.

Reading these travelogues might reveal why there are fewer travel guides for the South Asian region. The threshold for independent travel in South Asian countries is generally high, which can be daunting for novices. Experienced backpackers often prefer to wander through the complex and mysterious Indian subcontinent beyond the limited routes offered by travel guides.

Additionally, some countries have underdeveloped tourism industries or control tourist numbers. For example, Bangladesh and Pakistan have limited tourism infrastructure; Bangladesh's internal transportation and related industries are not well-developed, and Pakistan does not offer tourist visas, requiring different purposes for entry. Bhutan, on the other hand, controls tourist numbers, mandating group travel with no need for self-planned itineraries.

Moreover, some of these countries might not be suited for typical travel guide use. Nepal and India, for example, both open to tourism to boost national income, attract travelers for reasons beyond typical sightseeing. Iconic sites like the Taj Mahal remain popular, but the way people travel in these countries differs greatly from other destinations. Many travelers seek self-discovery or religious pilgrimages, emphasizing spiritual journeys over material comforts. This often results in travelogues focusing on finding budget accommodations and daily life descriptions, highlighting mundane yet emotionally rich details, making the reading experience uniquely engaging.

Migrant Workers and Immigrants in Taiwan

Immigrants

The New Southbound Policy has been widely promoted, but it wasn't until recent years that the term "foreign brides," with its discriminatory connotation, was replaced by "new residents." Despite this change, immigrant women who marry into Taiwan still face prejudice. Even if they possess professional skills in their home countries, Taiwan's educational certification laws often prevent them from finding work in their fields.

The negative perceptions of human trafficking and arranged marriages create obstacles when they apply for Taiwanese citizenship. These women are often required to renounce their original citizenship upon marriage, while naturalizing as a Taiwanese citizen involves a long seven-year wait. During this period, they become stateless. The nationality law’s stringent scrutiny of marriage authenticity, invasive interviews by immigration officials, and the uncertainty of naturalization applications pose challenges to their human rights and dignity.

If their applications fail, these women could remain stateless indefinitely, losing the protections and rights enjoyed by citizens. While Taiwan is often praised for its warmth and hospitality toward Western "foreigners" with blonde hair and blue eyes, the reality for these new residents is often far more challenging and less welcoming.

Migrant Workers

In the globalized business model, labor moves with capital, leading workers from South Asia and ASEAN to pursue what they believe are better-paying jobs in Taiwan. However, the reality often falls short of their expectations. After deducting high brokerage fees and various miscellaneous expenses, little remains of their earnings. While they might improve their family's situation after several years, the requirement to return to their home countries and reapply at the end of their contracts mainly benefits brokers. For the workers, it means spending their meager savings for another chance to work.

To stay in Taiwan after their contracts expire, some workers resort to overstaying their visas and working illegally. Once their visas expire, they lose any semblance of job security and must rely on the goodwill of their employers. Despite the harsh conditions, why do they continue to seek livelihoods in Taiwan? There is no simple answer. For a deeper understanding, one can read Ku Yu-Ling's book "Going Home," which uses field research to present the life stories of migrant workers and their migratory, bird-like fate.

The flavors of home on the dining table: Southeast Asian cuisine with a Taiwanese twist.

Tastes stir memories, each unique to ethnicity and nationality. Away from home, people often crave the tastes of their roots. For instance, African diaspora in Europe and America uses soul food to remember ancestral history and family flavors. Taiwanese students abroad may cook sesame oil chicken with vodka to evoke the taste of home. Similarly, migrant workers and new immigrants in Taiwan recreate their hometown flavors, bridging Southeast Asian cultures with their life stories through these diverse dishes.
 

Borders: Land and Sea

The countries of South Asia and ASEAN are divided by different borders and straits, appearing independent yet closely connected due to intricate historical and ethnic ties. Political and military tensions, as well as issues involving ethnic groups and refugees, still subtly manifest at these borders. For the local people, the exchange of goods is crucial, but this trade is influenced by the fluctuating economic strength of each country.

The relationship between South Asia, ASEAN, and the ocean is significant. India has long been a focal point of maritime exploration, while Singapore's strategic position at the Strait of Malacca has maintained its prosperity as a city-state. Beyond grand maritime trade, the ocean also supports the livelihoods of minority groups in the Malay Archipelago. These groups, as described by Huang Jinshu in "Earth and Fire," live nomadically, traveling between uninhabited islands on small boats. Their lives adapt with the changing island ecosystems:
"Anyway, they have been migrating between islands for generations. They tie their boats, build thatched huts, live there until they can't anymore, then pack up and set sail again."
This depiction highlights the fluid and adaptive way of life shaped by the maritime environment.

About Clothing

Records of traditional Southeast Asian clothing often appear in travel writings, serving as key indicators of local culture for travelers. While Western clothing has become common daily attire, traditional garments still play a significant role in Southeast Asia. These include the Indian sari, Bhutanese gho and kira, Burmese longyi, and Vietnamese ao dai. Each country's unique history and circumstances have shaped these distinct clothing styles.

The Impact of Religious Syncretism in Different Countries

Religious Fusion in Angkor Wat

Is the serene face of Angkor Wat's Bayon Temple representing Hindu or Buddhist deities? In fact, it is the face of King Jayavarman VII, reflecting a blend of Hindu and Buddhist styles. The ancient Khmer Empire adopted the caste system from Hinduism as a governance foundation, using the divine right of kings to strengthen the dynasty. As Hinduism spread to the Khmer Empire, it evolved to incorporate local characteristics, leading to the "Khmerization" of Hindu deities. Buddhism arrived in the Khmer Empire slightly later and was embraced by the royal family after Jayavarman VII, leading to the gradual decline of Hinduism.

At Angkor Wat, the features of Hinduism and Buddhism are intricately interwoven. Hindu myths coexist with Buddhist statues in the same temples. For example, Angkor Wat itself was originally designed as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu but was later converted to house Buddhist icons. This remarkable syncretism is a testament to the dynamic and adaptive nature of religious and cultural integration in the region.

The Myanmar Government's Ethnic Cleansing Under the Guise of Religion

The Myanmar military has carried out extensive massacres of the Rohingya people. Aung San Suu Kyi, upon her release, avoided addressing the Rohingya issue and faced international condemnation. Calls to revoke her Nobel Peace Prize have surfaced amid repeated international news coverage on Myanmar's related issues. Yet, is this truly a religious conflict between two groups who have coexisted on this land for centuries? Why have conflicts of such scale and frequency erupted only in recent years?
According to the perspective presented in "The Face of Myanmar" by Scott Koenig, this conflict is not simply a religious dispute but a deliberate strategy by the military government. After the Saffron Revolution, the military sought to divert attention and influence away from Buddhist monks, exacerbating tensions between the two ethnic groups. This has culminated in a campaign to Burmanize, ultimately transforming the legal status of the Rohingya within Myanmar from legitimate to illegal, often portraying them as Muslim migrants from Bangladesh.

Literature Inspired by Thai Beliefs and Taboos

Thai people hold deep reverence for Buddhism and fear spirits, adhering to daily customs and taboos that must be followed. They believe in spirits that should not be offended and adhere to rules where wishes must be fulfilled, reflecting a cycle of cause and effect. These aspects uniquely characterize Thai culture and serve as rich sources of inspiration for literature.

Thai writer Patchana uses themes of coexisting with ghosts and spirits in her works, often centered around weekly fortune-telling practices. Her horror novels, structured around the theme of a week, not only evoke fear but also intricately explore the impacts of beliefs on the storyline.

Spices

Spices, once as precious as gold for their roles in preservation, flavoring, and medicinal uses, have also historically sparked wars. While sought after by Europe's upper classes, the cold continent couldn't cultivate them, relying instead on overland and maritime trade routes. The Indian subcontinent remained a hub for spice distribution and trade. With the Age of Exploration, European nations used their military might and navigation skills to conquer the spice islands of Southeast Asia. This history is marked by conflict and turmoil. Spices interact with our taste buds in profound ways. As A. J. Liebling succinctly put it in "Between Meals," "Herbs and spices are the soul of the kitchen, transforming ordinary dishes into extraordinary feasts and masking culinary mistakes." Indian cuisine simmers pots of curries rich with varied aromas, while Thai dishes blend the distinctive flavors of sourness, spiciness, and fragrance, achieved through intricate spice mixing and grinding.