Tateishi Tetsuomi (1905-1980) 佐榮寫真館  https://www.youtube.com/@fototaiwan Recent conversations with  王佐榮  (a cultural historian and prolific writer of in particular Taiwan under Japanese Rule 1895-1945) allow me to confirm there are (at least) two types of instant noodles made and served in Taiwan  as early as between 1910 and 1930.  Both 雞絲 麵   Jī-sī     mī    and 鍋燒 意麵  Guō shāo  ì-mī,   in my opinion, indicate strong Japanese impact. ‘These are NOT 小吃 xiaochi but 點心  tiám-sim （Holo） / deem ^  sim  (Hakka) as the former is traditionally under Chinese street food and when these noodles were made and enjoyed in Taiwan there was no such known Chinese  Xiaochi’ - 王 specifically pointed out on 【 有圖有真相】古早台北的美食聖地！ 雞絲 麵   Jī-sī     mī    (Shredded-chicken-breast-flavor noodle) 立石鐵臣  Tateishi Tetsuomi  in his illustrated explanations : 廣萬昌 a shop/manufacture...

ZAITUN Erythrina variegata    刺桐  - Old Name of Quanzhou  泉州  刺桐 From the 9 th  to the 15 th  century AD, Quanzhou was China’s major seaport for international trade. China entertained extensive relations with the Muslim world, and many Islamic monuments can still be found in Quanzhou.  The first time I was brought to ZAITUN fascinations was Rachel Laudan 's map of Stuffed boiled dumplings. Clearly marked Zaitun also known as Quanzhou between 1200-1350. ZAITUN  - Olive  橄欖 @  Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London ZAITUN  Erythrina variegata   刺桐   - Indigenous Taiwanese Symbolism  New Year  Beginning of a Year - when  Erythrina variegata blossoms   (Earliest record - 17th century) Kavalan 噶瑪蘭 word  N apas 番社采風圖  Kingdom of Tungning  1661–1683 番社采風圖  Kingdom of Tungning  1661–1683 ZAITUN   Erythrina variegata   莿桐   - Tainan and Yunlin  Temporary old na...

  USR Tamkang (U niversity Social Responsibility)  As part of the University Social Responsibility (USR) project, launched by the Ministry of Education (MOE), TKU faculty and students have worked together to care for the community, strengthen local cooperation, and assist in solving regional problems. Through such efforts, TKU continues to realize its educational vision. (Source HERE)   The FIRST Tamkang USR Culinary Explore which I was invited to and subsequently published an article "A  gastronomic recounting of the Sino-French War at Tamsui"  was a huge success which inspired several other Food-Tells-History programs in other parts of Taiwan since 2020. Ten Course -Ten Taoyuan Story My second Tamkang USR experience did not disappoint - it is a visual and culinary feast. Delightfully entertained and educated dining with established (and some country's best) historians in northern Taiwan, managers of iconic restaurants, owners and directors of national mus...

  I am in fact taking this opportunity to post about a very dark wood  commonly known as 烏木 ( wū mù) and the significant role it played in Taiwanese culture. Its fruit  'velvet persimmon' 毛柿 in several indigenous language is kamaya -  possibly a loan word from the Philippines (Tagalog). Its timber precious 'Ebony'  used for making most expensive furniture. During an Eastern Taiwan trip in 2021 - a local Taiwanese friend shouted out "That's  wū mù! The darker the wood the more expensive!" - I, of course, immediately took a photo. To add - the tree was very tall and it wasn't fruiting season.  I have also seen it  on a number of occasions in different parts of Taiwan. A major scene in TV drama "Seqalu: Formosa 1867", Paljalim (who triggered The Rover Incident ) shouted out (in claiming leadership/territory, from my recollection) "WHERE is my 烏木  wū mù!?"   PUPPET FLOWER (A novel of1867 Formosa) -  " A gripping work of historica...