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Rising Dragons, Soaring Bananas International Conference Auckland, New Zealand, 17-19 July 2009. The Politics of Identity Formation: the Case of Koo Chen-fu Clare Tsai-man HO Centre of Asian Studies The University of Hong Kong. Introduction of the Koo family Research Question
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Rising Dragons, Soaring Bananas International Conference Auckland, New Zealand, 17-19 July 2009 The Politics of Identity Formation: the Case of Koo Chen-fu Clare Tsai-man HO Centre of Asian Studies The University of Hong Kong
Introduction of the Koo family Research Question Analytical Framework Putting the figures into historical settings: The eras in which Koo lived up Taiwan under Japanese Rule Taiwan under the Nationalist Government Koo’s episode Koo’s exile in Hong Kong Koo’s return to Taiwan Conclusion The structure of my presentation
The Koo Family in Taiwan Koo Chen-fu Koo Hsien-jung Koo Kwan-min
My Research Question: “In his whole life, my father never speaks Japanese”. “Koo Chen-fu grew up in a traditional Chinese family, accepting the Chinese Education, reading Chinese. “ “I am Chinese; I am Taiwanese” In what conditions do people have to make statements like that?
The dialectical relations of identity formation: a configuration of power The schemes of the governance Significant Networks generate social affiliation and help gaining social recognition I Networks, comprised of Significant Others
The eras in which Koo Chen-fu grew up • Liberal Taishō and Militarism-driven Showa • 2 events in His Childhood • Crown Prince Hirohito visited Taiwan • His transfer to Japanese elementary school
Kōminka movement in Taiwan from 1937 to 1945 • From Japanese to “good” Japanese • Call for ‘total mobilization of national spirit”(國民精神總動員) • Shinto altars displaced ancestral worship • Japanese-style houses usurped local architecture • Japanese surnames replaced Chinese names • National attire(國民服)substituted for Chinese and • Taiwanese-style clothing • Kōminhokokai(皇民奉公會, public service association of • Imperial Subjects) was set up to mobilize this movement. • KCF was assigned in the Kōminhokokai , and carried out lots of tasks.
KCF during Kōminka period Koo Hsien-jung died in 1937. The funeral was processed in Japanese style in order to make example for Taiwanese. Source: KCF’s Biography Around 1940, a letter KCF wrote to his mother from Japan. It’s in Japanese. Source: snapshot from Documentary of KCF on TV
KCF during Kōminka period The wedding was held in Hibiya (日比谷) Hotel, married by GodamaTomoō(兒玉友雄, the third son of previous governor, he was appointed as military Commander in chief in Taiwan from 1938 to 1939),
A Neocolonial regime • Taiwanese— “Incomplete” Chinese • After 228 Incidents, • Anyone could be ‘Communist’ or ‘Traitor’(漢奸) • “I hope that every Taiwanese will fully recognize his duty to • our fatherland and strictly observe discipline ,so as not to • be utilized by treacherous gangs and laughed at by the • Japanese….Thus only can Taiwanese be free from the • debt they owe to the entire nation which has undergone so • many sacrifices and bitter struggles for the last fifty years • in order to recover Taiwan.“ • -- Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, addressing the Weekly Memorial • Services at Nanking, March 10, 1947 • 3. Uprooting Japan; Implanting China
Koo’s exile in Hong Kong :re-adjustment, new social affiliation and social recognition • He married to Yen Cho-yun (Cecilia Koo) • His motive to return to Taiwan • The newly constructed network: • Key person: • Yeh Ming-shun, Cecilia’s brother in law • To solve the political crises • Yeh Ming-Shun Peng Meng-Chi(彭孟緝) • To join the KMT-governed system • Yeh Ming-Shun Huang Shao-gu • (Executive Yuan) • Yeh Ming-Shun Chang Zi-kai • (the Minister of Economic Affair)
Koo’s exile in Hong Kong : re-adjustment, new social affiliation and social recognition The Chinese element: Peking Opera
On the eve of Koo-Wang Talk In DPP’s eyes, He was insufficiently Taiwanese
Conclusion Can we refuse a finalized and holistic affirmation of “Japaneseness”, “Chineseness”, or “Taiwaneseness”? 2. Contradiction between 內地人/本島人; 日本人/台灣人 all dissolved by identification as “komin”(皇民, imperial subject) 3. Contrast between ‘大陸’and ‘台灣’, ‘國民’/colonial subjects, is suppressed in favor of “祖國”(father/motherland) and “中國人”(Chinese) respectively.
Speaking of Peking opera, Koo said: The move and process to step on stage demands discipline. For the new performer’s debut, it is always his teacher who pushes him toward the stage. Once on stage, he can never turn back and has to keep going forward. Palpitating and uneasy is unavoidable. Thus, he has to find his own position on the stage and stand firm as soon as possible. Yet, where to stand is also important. Only in a right position is he able to play the role well.