TO TOP

 

The Research Unit for Taiwanese Culture and Literature (TRU) is a platform for scholarly exchange in the field of Taiwan Studies. It houses one of the largest research libraries on the subject of Taiwanese culture and literature in Europe and continuously expands its cooperation with experts and institutions specializing in research and teaching about Taiwan. Its focus includes linguistic, historical, media-related, and political topics. For the history of the Research Unit, see here.

Christine Moll-Murata, Chair Professor for History of China, is the director of the Research Unit. The co-director is Christian Schwermann, Chair Professor for Chinese Language and Literature.


Current Projects

The German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has awarded a grant to four post-doc researchers to conduct the joint research program TAP (Taiwan als Pionier) for a duration of four years.

TAP

Since spring 2019, the Taiwan Ministry of Education generously supports the project "A Teaching Program for History, Culture, and Languages of Taiwan".

Taiwan Teaching Program

News Bulletin

· Summer Term 2023 ·

Courses on Taiwan


BA Exercise: Geographic Information System and Map-Making for East Asian Studies

Teacher: Prof. Dr. Cheng An-hsi 鄭安睎
Time: block seminar starting on Friday, 16 June (please check eCampus)

Course information: This course is a basic course of geographic information system (GIS) digital cartography and metrological history. It mainly uses the free software QGIS and other spatial software OSM (Open Street Map). The QGIS course is taught in four units, including: basic operation of software, statistical mapping, integrated application of GPS tracks and QGIS, GPS trajectory and field survey, etc. Through the training of this course, students will be guided step by step from software operation, data analysis and arrangement. This will induce students' understanding of spatial digital quantification in the humanities and social sciences, and aims to establish a learning attitude of objectively using quantitative data and independent thinking.The course provides a methodological tool for all students of East Asian Studies.
Assignments: Active participation, map-making, presentation: 5 CP

 

BA Seminar: Taiwan’s Ethnic Groups Between Mountains and the Sea: Anthropological Explorations

Teachers: Prof. Dr. Cheng An-hsi 鄭安睎, Prof. Dr. Christine Moll-Murata
Time: Fridays, 1214 h
Room: Uni134, 2.06

Course information: This seminar presents the main ethnic groups living in present-day Taiwan from an anthropological  perspective. We will start with a presentation of prehistorical traces and historical records of these Austronesian peoples and discuss their cooperation and conflicts with early Dutch and Spanish colonialists and Chinese settlers up until the early 20th century.
In the period of Japanese colonial rule, first anthropological research was conducted in Taiwan with the objective of controlling  the indigenous population. The related research will be presented with a special focus on resistance and adaptation of  Taiwan's  indigenous peoples. One main focus of the seminar is on the self-representation of the indigenous groups, Taiwan Aboriginal Rights and their political participation in the recent years.
Students will be asked to give short presentations of particular groups and more general issues. Except written materials, we will also analyze media representations of the concerned groups. The course will be taught in English and Chinese; introductory materials in Chinese will also be presented.

 

BA Exercise: Tutorium für Grundkurs Taiwanisch / Tutorial for Elementary Taiwanese

Teacher: Wu Kuan-Wei 吳冠緯, M.A.
Time:  Wednesdays, 1618 h
Room: GABF 04/409

Course information:  This is a tutorial for Elementary Tâi-gí (Taiwanese Holo Language). It is intended for practice of pronunciation and conversation.
The course will be held in English.