The 1968 Lunar New Year festival came to an end on February 13. According to the lunar calendar, this is the 15th day of the first moon and commonly known as Teng Chieh or the Lantern Festival.
Lantern exhibitions were held in Taipei and throughout free China. The loveliness of lanterns goes back to the Tang dynasty (618-907 A.D.). People of that time believed that celestial spirits could be seen flying past in the light of the first full moon. Torches were lighted to improve the visibility. Then came lanterns.
This year is that of the Monkey in the 12-year cycle of lunar calculation. Monkey lanterns predominated. Many of the lanterns exhibited at the Lung Shan and Pao An temples in Taipei were related to the Monkey King and his magic powers as recorded in ancient writings which won a larger following than Peter Pan in the West.
Riddle contests also added interest to the evening. The riddles were posed on a paper lantern. Those who answered correctly received an award.
Batiks exhibited by Dershin Chen
Dershin Chen, one of Taiwan's top batik artists, held an exhibition of his works at the International Art Gallery in Taipei.
Batik involves the dyeing of fabrics and the use of wax to cover the parts that are not to be dyed. The wax is then dissolved with boiling water.
Chen, 35, is a native of Chekiang province. He was graduated from the Industrial Arts Design Department of the National Taiwan Academy of Arts and since has worked as the chief designer of Kina Associates.
Exhibitions of Chen's batiks were held at the International Art Gallery in 1965 and 1966.
Chen applies multiple layers of wax. His works are fresh in tone and simple in complexion.
Of the 23 pieces shown, 10 were abstract.
Liberal policy for study abroad
The Chinese government is planning a liberal policy regarding the exit of college graduates for advanced study abroad.
Two actions may be taken:
First, the government will provide more scholarships for advanced studies abroad in accordance with national needs. Students receiving scholarships will be required to return to Taiwan upon completion of their studies.
Second, efforts will be made to detect cheating under which students go abroad without taking part in the government-sponsored qualifying examination.
Some students with poor scholastic records have obtained "scholarships" in return for "donations" 'from the families of the students.
The Ministry of Education will screen applications more strictly. The number of university graduates going abroad without qualifying examination will be reduced to a minimum.
The brain drain is expected to be sharply reduced by funds allocated for science education and research in the next 10 years. About NT$12,000,000,000 (US$300,000,000) will be spent.
When good research and teaching is available in Taiwan, fewer students will want or need to go abroad.
The Taiwan employment environment also will improve with economic and social development and mitigate the brain drain.
Philippine dancers perform in Taipei
The world-famous Bayanihan Philippine Folk Dance Company came to Taiwan and gave an exclusive performance for the Pacific Area Travel Association's 17th annual conference in February.
The performance was arranged by Philippine Ambassador Raul T. Leuterio in cooperation with the Philippine Tourist and Travel Association.
Government dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corps also were invited.
This was the first presentation of the whole Bayanihan repertoire in Taipei. Previously the Bayanihan company had given a limited performance for members of the Taipei International Women's Club.
Foreigners hear Taiwan folk music
A program of Taiwan folk music was presented in late January by the China Society in the auditorium of the Tien Educational Center.
The program was intended to give foreigners in Taiwan an acquaintance with Chinese folk music in general and that of Taiwan in particular. The instruments were explained in English. Instrumentals included numbers on the nose flute, drums and Chinese violin.
Stamps run gamut of Chinese history
The Directorate General of Posts issued 14 sets of stamps last year to draw attention to Chinese folk dancing, poetry, heroes, birds, scenery and history. These are some of them:
1. Tsai Yuan-pei.
This is the fifth stamp in the Famous Chinese Portrait Series and honors Tsai Yuan-pei, an educator in the early period of the Chinese Republic, on January 11, 1967, his 100th birthday.
The portrait is the central design of the stamp. On the left side are two vertical lines of Chinese characters. One line indicates his name and life span (1868-1940), the other sets forth his favorite motto, "Learning without satiation; instruction without becoming weary."
Tsai was born at Shaohsing in Chekiang province. At the age of 24, he earned the equivalent of the modern PhD.
He established China's first girls' high schools at Shanghai in 1902. He spent the years from 1907 to 1911 in Germany and attended Leipzig University. Upon the overthrow of the Manchus in 1911, he returned to China to become the first Minister of Education. In 1917 he was appointed president of Peking University. He received an honorary LLD from New York University in 1921. He was the first president of the Academia Sinica, serving from 1928 to his death in 1940.
Tsai is one of China's greatest teachers and established most of the modern educational system. His contribution in introducing Western knowledge and guiding research work are unsurpassed.
He is noted for his concepts of liberal learning, his forgiveness, his thrift and his search for truth.
2. Communications.
The $1 stamp shows mail collection by a postman in the foreground and a microwave station in the background. The $5 stamp shows a diesel-powered train, two buses, an ocean liner and a jet plane. Also seen are the mountains, the new radar station of the Taiwan Weather Bureau and a harbor beyond a mountain range.
These stamps were released March 15, 1967, on the 60th anniversary of the Bank of Communications, which was established to handle financing for railways, telegraph and postal services, and navigation in addition to general banking.
Communications services are supervised by the Ministry of Communications and include eight branches: railways, highways, shipping, harbors, civil aviation, meteorology, telecommunications and postal services.
The Taiwan Railway Administration operates some 1,000 kilometers of track serving the industrial centers and key cities of Taiwan. There are about 3,000 kilometers of industrial rail lines, most of them operated by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation and the Forestry Bureau.
Highways have a length of some 17,000 kilometers. Buses and trucks reach every corner of the island. The East-West Cross-Island Highway cuts through the Central Mountain Range that rises to 13,000 feet.
Shipping and harbors. There are international ports at Keelung, Kaohsiung and Hualien. Taiwan has shipping services to the whole of the free world. About 13 million tons of cargo was handled in 1967.
Civil Aviation. Taipei International Airport is among the best in the Far East. Some 50 scheduled flights land and take off every day. Three carriers provide domestic service.
Postal Services. The Chinese Postal Administration offers mail and banking services and has a reputation for efficiency. There are 562 post offices, 1,477 postal agencies and 5,047 stamp sales stations.
Telecommunications. There are cable, telephone and radiophoto circuits with major cities of the free world.
Meteorology. Meteorological, seismological and astronomical observations and measurement of radioactive fallout are conducted regularly. Weather forecasts and typhoon warnings are broadcast.
3. First Anniversary of President Chiang Kai-shek's fourth-term inauguration.
These $1 and $4 stamps were similar. Only the floral frames and background color differ.
President Chiang Kai-shek is seated in Chinese ceremonial dress. On his right is the national flag. Above is Dr. Sun Yat-sen's inscription "For the Common Good of All".
4. Chinese Poets' Series.
This set was released June 12, 1967, to mark Poets' Day.
The $1 stamp bears a portrait of Chu Yuan, who lived in the latter part of the Period of Warring States (770-221 B.C.) Li Sao (Falling Into Trouble) is his best-known poem. It expresses sorrow for the corruption of the government. Chu Yuan drowned himself on the Fifth Day of the Fifth Moon (277 B.C.), which is still observed as Poets' Day.
The $2 stamp bears the portrait of Li Po (705-762), who received the highest literary degree from the emperor. He was one of the two great poets of the Tang dynasty. The other great Tang poet, Tu Fu (712-762), has his portrait on the $2.50 stamp.
On the $3 stamp is the portrait of Po Chu-i (772-846), a minister of justice in the Tang period. He wrote long narrative poems, lyrical poetry and satires. His poems are humorous and easy to understand.
Portraits are based on those at the National Palace Museum.
5. Handicraft Products.
This set was released August 12, 1967.
The $1 stamp pictures the Chinese god of happiness, a popular subject with wood carvers.
A Chinese vase and dish are featured on the $2.50 stamp and the $3 stamp shows two Chinese dolls in typical dress.
Two palace lanterns are depicted on the $5 stamp. Lanterns are made of painted silks fastened on carved wooden frames and decorated with colorful tassels. They can be folded when not in use.
6. Stilts.
"Play on Stilts" was released October 10, 1967, to celebrate the 56th National Day of the Republic of China.
Stilts were invented for crossing rivers and marshes but have been used mainly for amusement by all people in all ages.
In China Lan Tse sought to please the king of Sung by performing stilt stunts 3,000 years ago.