Island Folk Tales

Have you ever heard old stories about heroes or magic? Most likely you have, either as a young child or as you got older. These stories are known as folk tales1 and are a part of every culture. Some folk tales from Taiwan are about how famous places were named, shaped, or transformed. Alishan and Sun Moon Lake are the centers of some of the best known stories. Other folk tales are about historical heroes and the good things they did.
　　The purpose of folk tales is to hand down cultural information, which could be about social rules, life lessons, or people''s experiences. For example, Little Frog in the Well teaches us to have a broader view of the world around us. Another story, The Tigress2 Witch3, is about how being clever helped one girl deal with danger and save her own life.
　　Books and websites about Taiwanese folk tales are popping up everywhere. Houston Taiwanese School of Languages and Culture created the book Folk Stories of Taiwan. It is a part of their Taiwanese Tradition Series, which also includes a book about festivals in Taiwan. It provides English translations4 of folk tales by people who want to share their cultural heritage5.
　　It is often said that if you want to understand a culture, you should listen to their folk tales. Don''t be fooled into thinking they are outdated. There is always something new to learn or discover through Taiwanese folk tales.