Hakka writer Li Neng-chi (李能棋), who is better known by the nom de plume Li Qiao (李喬, also credited as "Lee Chiao"), and Taiwanese opera actress Tang Mei-yun (唐美雲) were honored as the laureates of the 38th National Cultural Award in a Taipei ceremony presided by Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) on May 9.
Li and Tang were chosen for their superlative contributions to the worlds of literature and traditional arts, respectively, with which they have helped strengthen the culture of Taiwan and earned the respect and admiration of the nation.
At the May 9 ceremony in Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Premier Su shared his thoughts from reading Li's works and memories of watching outdoor Taiwanese opera shows with his mother as a child. He stressed that the government is sparing no effort to preserve and perpetuate Taiwan's traditional arts and cultural heritage, as evident in the annual increase of the Ministry of Culture's yearly budget.
The Ministry's 2019 budget for the field of intangible cultural heritage is triple of what was approved in 2018, Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chiun added. She then thanked Li for his role in the blossoming revitalization of the Hakka language, and Tang for mentoring a new generation of Taiwanese opera artists and aficionados.
In their dedication speeches, Li described himself as a self-taught cultivator farming the fields of literature, and joked that his door will always be open to those who are still interested in utilizing an "old resource" like himself. Tang thanked her parents for passing on their passion and flame for Taiwanese opera, and concluded that she is happily married to her trade.
Li was born in Miaoli in 1934 and has gone on to become one of the most influential Taiwanese writers of his generation and a major figure in Hakka literature. His writings are known for their realistic depictions of human frailty, most often portraying the lives of the ordinary people and helping their voices be heard.
Tang was born in Tainan in 1965 and grew up in a Taiwanese opera family. A specialist in masculine roles, she has become well known for both her skilled acting and distinctive singing voice, having trained not only in Taiwanese opera, but also in Peking opera. She has also helped expand the range of modern Taiwanese opera by integrating elements of Western symphonic music, creating a fusion of East and West that brings out the best of both cultures.
The National Cultural Award is Taiwan's highest national honor for the cultural scene, given in recognition of Taiwanese lives of outstanding achievement in the arts. They are presented by the premier in person, who awards recipients with a certificate, medal, and cash prize at a grand ceremony held in their honor.