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Decode Wanhua
& Know Ourselves
WAN der LAND extra issue: temple market herb alley dali street grafts that place
The reasons for us to read the first book:
The reasons for us to read the first book:
When our teachers shared stories behind these places, it made us more aware of our community. That’s why, after discussing with our group, we decided to read this book.
Our opinion: This book helps us understand our hometown well. Through it, we learn about the past of Wanhua, focusing on Temples, Markets, Herbal Alley, Dali Street, Crafts, and the Red-Light District. There is a historical context behind it. From the early settlers to Wanhua, temples were built for safety, and nearby in Herbal Alley, people collected herbs for medicine. The markets were established to meet the people's needs for daily goods, and eventually, due to administrative policies, the Red-Light District was created to respond to the situation at the time. These histories also inspire us to move forward with the motivation to experience the local culture and history in the next stage.
Two Trees Make a Fores
The reasons for us to read the first book:
We chose this book because we wanted to explore how a person anchors their self-identity—especially Jessica Lee, who was born in Canada, studied in the UK, works in Germany, and has parents from different countries. Growing up in such a complex background, we are interested in reading this book to understand her thoughts.
Our opinion: This book motivates us to think about our self-identity. Through the author, Taiwanese-Canadian Jessica, who travels to Taiwan after the passing of her grandparents, and with the company of her mother and relatives, she uncovers her family's history through the pages of her grandfather's notebook. Following Jessica's steps, we learn about her family history and, together with Taiwan's natural environment, explore self-identity. This part also encourages us to reflect on the next steps in visiting places; by understanding the community and learning about history, it serves as an opportunity for us to reflect on our own self-identity.
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