Tsai, Ming-Hsuan

Introduction

Tsai received her B.A. in History from National Taiwan Normal University and her M.A. in Drama from Taipei National University of the Arts, majoring in playwriting. She later studied in France and received her doctorate in drama from the Université Paris VIII. She is currently the director of Théâtre d’Ombre et de Bois, and the co-founder of Mix Art Center, both of which are based in Chiayi. Tsai is also a part-time French teacher at Houbi High School in Tainan. She is a writer, director, producer, planner, and editor in a theater company and the mother of a toddler. She has published works such as Home at 23° N, Crepes in Taiwan, Father’s Homework List, and Goodbye Angmo Ship . Tsai believes that creation is a continuous excavation of forgotten fragments of historical works, combined with light and shadow objects to tell wonderful and resonating stories.

Resident planning

In addition to echoing the theme of the Writers-in-Residence (WiR) Program, “Legend,” the Legend of Pirates writing project was also based on Tsai’s visit to Matsu last September, where she learned that Matsu’s unique geographic location has long attracted a large number of fishermen, merchants, and pirates to come and make a living, thus leaving behind many anecdotes and stories passed down through the generations, including that of hidden treasures in Matsu’s waters, the legend of the Great King of Li-Mai in Dong Yin Island, and the pirates’ funding for the construction of the local Matsu Temple. These stories are all related to an 18th century pirate named Cai Qian. This “Martial Emperor of the Sea,” infamous at the time, was active on the southeast coast of China and the waters of the Taiwan Strait. He once established a regime in Tamsui and called himself the “Mighty King of the Sea.” His other half, surnamed Lu, known as Cai Qian-Ma, was a famous female pirate who was actually in charge of Cai Qian’s maritime domination at the time. The pirate kingdom led by Cai Qian gradually imploded due to the lack of a strong leader as Cai Qian-Ma was killed in battle. The Legend of Pirates will continue the performance mode of the Théâtre d’Ombre et de Bois, opening with a chanting song and presenting the ups and downs of the life of the pirate Cai Qian and Cai Qian-Ma through the performance of the storyteller and the puppet theater together. As a descendant of the seafaring people, I am very interested in how to view this historical legend. Through my creative work, I will create this epic story, and it has become a practice for me to pursue my Taiwanese identity.