Formosa (magazine)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Formosa (Chinese: 福尔摩沙, Japanese: フォルモサ) was a Japanese-language literary magazine published in Taiwan during the period of Japanese rule. It was produced by the Taiwan Art Research Society, a group formed by Taiwanese students in Tokyo on March 20, 1932, with the aim of promoting Taiwanese literature and art. Its predecessor was the left-wing Taiwanese Cultural Association.

In 1932, Lin Dui and Wang Baiyuan, among others, discussed forming a broad front with left-wing and communist groups in Taiwan and Japan to oppose imperialism and feudalism. They established the Taiwanese Cultural Association as a first step toward this plan. However, on September 1, 1932, a member was reported for anti-imperialist activities, and Japanese authorities arrested several leaders. The association dissolved.

Despite the crackdown, Wang Baiyuan and his collaborators continued their work and, in March 1933, formally formed the Taiwan Art Research Society in Tokyo. They published Formosa, with Su Weixiong as editor-in-chief and Zhang Wenhuan as editor, and Shi Xuexue as publisher. The magazine, issued starting July 15, 1933, focused on Taiwan’s folk art and literary traditions and sought to create literature and art that truly reflected the Taiwanese people. It was intended to be more literary than revolutionary.

Formosa ran for three issues, featuring reviews, essays, fiction, and poetry by Taiwanese writers in Japan, including Su Weixiong, Wang Baiyuan, Zhang Wenhuan, Wu Kunhuang, Wu Yongfu, and others. The works blended local culture with modern literary influences, and the magazine aimed to re-create Taiwan’s literature and art.

Due to a lack of funds, Formosa ceased publication after the third issue on June 15, 1934, and the Taiwan Art Research Association dissolved. Its members later joined the Taiwan Alliance for Literature and Arts in Tokyo, and Formosa was merged into Taiwan Literature and Art.

Formosa is remembered as a bold, short-lived effort by young Taiwanese writers in Japan to forge a new literary path—one that drew on Taiwan’s cultural heritage while embracing modern literary forms.