Compatriots shine light on shared heritage
Professionals fill understanding gap between Taiwan and mainland
Revival through exchange
Despite revisions to history textbooks on the island, cross-Strait cultural ties remain deeply embedded in everyday life in Taiwan, from traditional architecture and craftsmanship to the arts. These intangibles are not so easily erased.
Liang Chih-chung, chairperson of the cultural heritage association in Nantou county, Taiwan, said many traditional arts and crafts on the island were introduced by craftsmen from Quanzhou, Fujian province, during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Craft traditions such as wood carving and painted decoration are integral to Taiwan's historical architecture. Liang said that restoration efforts on the island have faced challenges, as some of these skills have been lost or were not passed down to younger generations.
Having devoted nearly two decades to cross-Strait cultural exchange, Liang said he found the answers he was seeking during visits to the mainland. "In many places on the mainland, especially at heritage sites, traditional architectural techniques are still well documented, and skilled craftsmen are available to carry out restoration," he said.
Technological development cannot replace the sophistication of handicraft, Liang said, adding that exchange between craftsmen on both sides remains essential to preserve the skills.
Beyond helping address restoration challenges, these exchanges have also inspired Taiwan craftsmen and artists. Liang said that artistic creation depends on inspiration, which can be sparked by the mainland's cultural landscape.
During the past two decades, he has led many artists and craftsmen from Taiwan to hold exhibitions on the mainland, where they have also found new markets for their work.
In recent years, a range of cross-Strait cultural exchange activities have been organized on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to promote interaction and mutual learning in Chinese culture.
Most recently, the cultural forum hosted by the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots was held in Beijing from Friday to Saturday as part of the seventh forum of social groups of Taiwan compatriots. Practitioners from Taiwan and the mainland exchanged views on intangible cultural heritage practices, including seal carving art, traditional cross-talk and the revitalization of imperial court techniques.
Zou Zhenqiu, vice-president of the federation, said at the forum that cross-Strait exchanges and mutual learning help revitalize traditional culture, foster deeper emotional bonds between people on both sides of the Strait, and enable Chinese culture to reach the world and the future through preservation and innovation.






















