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...