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      • Keelung 基隆
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    • Taiwan Theater Project 台灣的老戲院
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    • Huadong Valley Ride 2018 花東縱谷自行車旅行
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    • Southern Taiwan Ride 2015 南台灣自行車旅行
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The main shrine at Daodong Academy

Ghost Island 鬼島

Collections

Ghost Island (Guǐ Dǎo 鬼島) is a nuanced term that often arises in relation to sociopolitical discussions of Taiwan. The term originated centuries ago, when it was used primarily by Chinese people who saw Taiwan as a forlorn place of exile. More recently the phrase has become self-deprecatory, succinctly expressing the anxieties of a new generation of Taiwanese fatalistic about the nation's grim economic prospects, stifling workplace culture, ambiguous political status, and uncertain future. From my perspective there is also a spiritual reading of the phrase, for Taiwanese folk religion and even secular customs are preoccupied with wandering souls returning from the afterworld to cause mischief and disturb terrestrial affairs. Beneath this banner I shall document the haunted mythologies and obscure customs animating the soul of the nation.

Before Entering Dongxing Theater

Dongxing Theater 東興大戲院

Places / June 26, 2019
Yixin Vocational School 益新工商職業學校

Yixin Vocational High School 益新工商職業學校

Places / September 28, 2017
Yuanlin Hospital in deep afternoon

Yuanlin Hospital 員林醫院

Places / March 30, 2017
Silly tiger at Daodong Academy

Daodong Academy 道東書院

Places / June 3, 2016
A remnant of Taipei Prison

The Remains of Taipei Prison 臺北監獄圍牆遺蹟

Places / March 29, 2016
Keelung Ghost House 基隆鬼屋

Keelung Ghost House 基隆鬼屋

Places / May 27, 2015
The doctor is in

Xinglin General Hospital 杏林綜合醫院

Places / May 6, 2015
Remains of a mountaintop temple in Changhua

Dayeh Futian Temple 大葉福天宮

Places / December 15, 2014
Wrapped around the window of the Minxiong ghost house

Minxiong Liu Family Mansion 民雄劉家洋樓

Places / June 3, 2014
Apparitions in the overgrowth

Encore Garden 亞哥花園

Places / October 31, 2013

Recent Posts

  • Beigou Forbidden City Vault 北溝故宮文物典藏山洞
  • Jinxing Theater 金星大戲院
  • Bang Sue Railway Cemetery
  • Postcards From Yuanlin 員林明信片
  • Caotun Cide Temple 草屯慈德宮
  • RSEA Marble Factory 榮民大理石工廠
  • Yeliu Signal Station 野柳信號臺
  • Huadong Valley Ride 2018: Fenglin to Yuli
  • Nantou Road Trip 2015: Sun Moon Lake to Taichung
  • Jiji Wuchang Temple 集集武昌宫
  • Huadong Valley Ride 2018: Hualien City to Fenglin
  • Guanmiao Zhongyang Theater 關廟中央戲院
  • Changhua Bus Terminal 台汽客運彰化總站
  • Sanqing Sanyuan Temple 三清三元宮
  • Dongxing Theater 東興大戲院
  • Xiluo Theater 西螺大戲院
  • Postcards From Zhushan 竹山明信片
  • Huadong Valley Ride 2018: Hualien City
  • Guanshan Zhonghua Theater 中華大戲院
  • Taiwan Motor Transport Maintenance Depot 台灣汽車客運公司機料廠

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