Wu Chin-fa

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Wu Chin-fa
吳錦發
Wu in 2023
Vice Chairman of the Council for Cultural Affairs
In office
8 June 2004 – 19 May 2008
MinisterChen Chi-nan
Chiu Kun-liang
Wong Chin-chu
Wang Tuoh
Preceded byWu Mi-cha
Succeeded byChang Yui-tan
Personal details
Born (1954-09-14) 14 September 1954 (age 69)
Meinong, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
NationalityRepublic of China
Alma materNational Chung Hsing University
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese吴錦發
Simplified Chinese吳锦发

Wu Chin-fa (born 14 September 1954) is a Taiwanese writer of Hakka and indigenous descent. He was vice chairman of the Council of Cultural Affairs from 2004 to 2008, and later served as director of the Cultural Affairs Department within Pingtung County Government.

Early life and career[edit]

Wu was born on 14 September 1954, in Meinong, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.[1] He is of Hakka and indigenous descent.[2][3] Wu earned his bachelor's degree in sociology at National Chung Hsing University.[1] He was an editorial writer for Taiwan Daily and hosted a talk show.[1][4]

Wu's writing often explores ethnic conflict on Taiwan from the perspective of youths. His books include Street of Crying Swallows (1985); The Autumn Chrysanthemum (1988); Spring and Autumn Tea House (1988); and A Boyhood Trilogy (2005). The Autumn Chrysanthemum became the basis of the film Youth Without Regret.[1][3]

Political career[edit]

Wu contested the Sanmin District seat on the Kaohsiung City Council during the 2002 municipal elections, representing the Taiwan Solidarity Union. He and another TSU candidate, Chen Ying-tsan, split the vote, and neither were elected.[5] In November 2003, legislator Chiu Yi accused Chang Hsia [zh], Shieh Jhy-wey, Lin Kuei-you [zh], and Wu of writing for Special Report,[6] a series ridiculing active politicians produced by Bi-sheng Broadcasting.[7] The parties involved exchanged lawsuits.[8][9] In December 2003, Chiang, Lin, Shieh, and Wu founded the online television channel F4.[4]

On 8 June 2004, Wu was sworn in as vice chairman of the Council of Cultural Affairs (CCA), succeeding Wu Mi-cha.[10] While in office, Wu Chin-fa spoke at several domestic cultural commemoration events, among them the 2004 Joint Outdoor Puppet Performance and Contest for Promising Young Leading Performers,[11] for the Tsou leader Uyongu Yata'uyungana [zh] and Puyuma musician BaLiwakes [zh],[12][13] and at the Green Island Human Rights Arts Festival in 2008.[14] As vice chair of the CCA, Wu also participated in international cultural outreach.[15][16][17] He worked to preserve Losheng Sanatorium,[18][19] and founded culture.tw, an English language web portal financed by the Council for Cultural Affairs and operated by the Central News Agency.[20][21]

After leaving the Council for Cultural Affairs, Wu was sought for political commentary.[22][23] He later became director of Pingtung County Government's Cultural Affairs Department. In this position, he supported the preservation of Makatao culture via financial help from the local government.[24] As cultural director, Wu visited sites in Pingtung dating back to Taiwan's Qing and Japanese eras.[25][26] In 2017, Wu worked with the Ministry of Culture to exhibit letters written by political prisoners during the White Terror at Pingtung County's cultural affairs office.[27]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Mo, Yan-chih; Wang, Hsiao-wen (10 April 2005). "The many shades of cultural identity". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  2. ^ Chen, Wen-chan (13 November 2006). "Premier wants increased resources for Hakka council". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  3. ^ a b Mo, Yan-chih (10 April 2005). "Wu Ching-fa strives for cultural diversity within unity". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b Yiu, Cody (16 December 2003). "Online TV channel launched". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  5. ^ Chang, Yun-ping (8 December 2002). "Mixed results for celebrity hopefuls in Kaohsiung City". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  6. ^ Lu, Fiona (17 November 2003). "VCD reveals public's discontent". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  7. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (26 November 2003). "Defenders of 'Special Report' speak out". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  8. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (20 November 2003). "Lawsuits fly in dispute over VCD series". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  9. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (12 December 2003). "Cartoonist and lawmaker remain at odds over VCDs". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  10. ^ Lin, Chieh-yu (9 June 2004). "Chen swears in Wu, other new top officials". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  11. ^ Huang, Jewel (18 August 2004). "Puppet troupes descend on a responsive Tamsui". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  12. ^ Loa, Iok-sin (4 January 2007). "Murdered Aboriginal icon remembered in new book". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  13. ^ "BaLiwakes remembered". Taipei Times. 8 November 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  14. ^ Loa, Iok-sin (10 May 2008). "Prison museums offer valuable lessons: panel". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Lu pledges Taiwan aid to restore two Guatemalan sites". Taipei Times. 21 March 2005. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  16. ^ Ko, Shu-ling (2 May 2006). "Self-determination inhibited by history, Korean author says". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  17. ^ "Taiwan Quick Take: Museum conference to open". Taipei Times. 1 November 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  18. ^ Wang, Hsiao-wen (19 February 2005). "Lo Sheng Sanatorium may be saved". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  19. ^ Mo, Yan-chih (23 February 2005). "Wrangling on targeted leprosarium continues". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  20. ^ Brownlow, Ron (11 October 2007). "A new window on Taiwan". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  21. ^ Loa, Iok-sin (9 November 2007). "CCA Web site in English promotes Taiwanese culture". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  22. ^ Chang, Rich (20 April 2009). "Jackie Chan receives verbal beating". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  23. ^ Wang, Chris (11 November 2011). "2012 ELECTIONS: Tsai wraps up visit to Hakka constituencies". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  24. ^ Pan, Jason (4 December 2017). "Makatao village celebrates yearly night festival". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  25. ^ "Descendants of Hengchun's historic Chang mansion seek its preservation". Taipei Times. Translated by Lear, Clare. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  26. ^ Chiu, Chi-jou; Tsai, Tsung-hsien; Chung, Jake (3 October 2017). "Pingtung investigates Japanese bunkers". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  27. ^ Lo, Hsin-chen (25 September 2017). "Exhibition in Pingtung shows farewell letters of White Terror era prisoners". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
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