Published annually, “The Best Taiwanese Poetry” anthology serves as an important benchmark in the literary world, and it celebrates its 40^th anniversary in 2022. As a Kaohsiung native, the poet Lin Da-yang, who is the editor-in-chief of “The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2021”, held the book launch in Kaohsiung for the first time on Dec. 11 at the Main Library of Kaohsiung Public Library. The event was attended by Ling Hsing-chieh, the editor-in-chief of “The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2018”,  Sun Tzu-ping, the editor-in-chief of “The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2019”, Chen Chun-hong, Ren Ming-xin, the selected poets, and many new poets from Kaohsiung. On behalf of Mayor Chen Chih-Mai, Deputy Director of the Kaohsiung City Government's Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Chien Mei-ling, was present to give a greeting to the audience, and Lin Da-yang presented “The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2021” to thank the city government for its long-term support and dedication to literary creation and promotion.

“Kaohsiung is a city rich in literary talents. The Bureau of Cultural Affairs will continue to hold the Takao Fengyi Literature Award, the Kaohsiung Youth Literary Award, and the Akongtiam River Literature Award, and will also accept the applications for the ‘Writing Kaohsiung’ creative writing and publishing grant every year to encourage local writers to create quality literary works through diverse support measures," said Chien Mei-ling, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs.

The annual poetry anthology has been published since 1982, collecting outstanding works of the most famous poets in Taiwan every year and documenting the growth of poets. Since 2003, the poetry anthology has been named "The Best Taiwanese Poetry" and has been published by different publishers which shared the same genealogy, such as Elite books, Modern Poetry, Epoch Poetry Society, Taiwan Poetry, and Fish & Fish. Among the poets selected for “The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2021”, at least 15 of them come from, live in, or have lived in Kaohsiung, accounting for one-fifth of the 75 poets in the book, covering different generations and demonstrating the rich artistic and literary energy of Kaohsiung. This event was held in conjunction with editor-in-chief Lin Da-yang's long-running "Setting off Fireworks Literary Project", a series of three consecutive talks. In the first talk, the editors-in-chief of the annual poetry anthology who also come from Kaohsiung were invited to share their views on the editors' viewpoints on poetry selection: writer Ling Hsing-chieh, who teaches at Taipei Municipal Jianguo Senior High School Chien-Chung, and writer Sun Tsz-Ping, who is the editor-in-chief of the Liberty Times Supplement.  The second talk featured Kaohsiung poets whose works were selected in “The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2021”, including Chen Chun-hong, who teaches at Kaohsiung Girls' Senior High School, and Ren Ming-xin, a well-known best-selling poet, who discussed their creative writing process and feelings. In the third talk, several award-winning young poets were invited to read and share their poems from “The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2021”, including Lu Ming, Cheng Chieh, Liu Tian-hao, and Tseng Chia-ming.

"Setting off Fireworks Literary Project" is a long-term literary promotion and creative cultivation project in Kaohsiung planned by poet and writer Lin Da-yang, with the cultural sponsorship of Chen Chi-chuan Cultural Foundation.  Lectures, creative camps, and literary trips in Kaohsiung have been held since 2020. It is hoped that people who love literature are allowed to create a freer and richer life through words and ideas.

“The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2021”, held the book launch in Kaohsiung for the first time on Dec. 11 at the Main Library of Kaohsiung Public Library.

The poet Lin Da-yang, who is the editor-in-chief of “The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2021”.

Deputy Director of the Kaohsiung City Government's Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Chien Mei-ling, was present to give a greeting to the audience, and Lin Da-yang presented “The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2021” to thank the city government for its long-term support and dedication to literary creation and promotion.

A grand book launch of “The Best Taiwanese Poetry 2021” was held at the Main Library today. From right, poets Chen Chun-hong and Lin Da-yang, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs Chien Mei-ling, writer Ling Hsing-chieh, Sun Tzu-pin, Ren Ming-xin, and Acting Director of the Kaohsiung Public Library Lin Yi-cheng.