Le Moulin Poetry Society

Le Moulin Poetry Society (Chinese: 風車詩社) was the first literary society in the Japanese rule period to advocate surrealism in Taiwan. It was established in October 1933 in Tainan, Taiwan, by poets such as Yang Chih-chang (楊熾昌). Regarding the origin of the name Le Moulin (“windmill”), Yang Chih-chang pointed out several explanations: first, the admiration for the windmill scenery in the Saline Land they often visited; second, the influence of the French theater "Le Moulin”; third, the belief that the Taiwanese poetry field needed to bring in new air and establish a new atmosphere.^[1]

The writing styles of the members of Le Moulin Poetry Society varied, but many of them had experiences studying in Japan during a time when the modernist poetry movement in Japan was flourishing. Consequently, they were greatly influenced. For example, Yang Chih-chang advocated that poetry is the embodiment of intellect and focused on creating surreal images with local characteristics. Another member of the poetry society, Li Chang-jui (李張瑞), was influenced by the styles of French poets Jean Cocteau and Paul Valéry. His works had a light rhythm and experimented with various poetic forms.^[2]

The poetry society published the literary magazine Le Moulin in October 1933.^[3] It was an irregular publication, with 75 copies printed per issue. The content included poems, short stories, essays, and other works by the society members. The magazine had a total of four issues until December 1934. The story of this poetry society and its members was adapted into a documentary titled Le Moulin (日曜日式散步者).^[4] No. 26 of Taiwan Literature: English Translation Series (2010) is a special issue dedicated to Yang Chih-chang and Le Moulin poetry society.

Reference

^ Choi, Gyu Wan (2017). 三○年代臺、韓詩壇現代主義的引進與發展：楊熾昌的「風車詩社」與鄭芝溶的「九人會」比較 [Introduction and Development of Modernism in the Taiwanese and Korean Poetry Scene in the 1930s: A Comparison of Yang Chi-chang's Le Moulin Poetry Society and Cheng Chih-jung's Nine Friends Group]. Tunghai University. pp. 90, 92.
^ Chuang, Hsiao-ming (2008). 日治時期鹽分地帶詩人群和風車詩社詩風之比較研究 [A Comparative Study of Poets in the Saline Land and the Poetry Style of the Le Moulin Poetry Society During the Japanese Occupation]. National Taipei University of Education. pp. 210–216.
^ Chang, Shih-chin (2021). "日治台灣的「詩精神」與「新精神」：以《風景》、《茉莉》與《風車》為例" [The 'Spirit of Poetry' and 'New Spirit' in Japanese-Occupied Taiwan: A Case Study of 'Scenery,' 'Jasmine,' and 'Le Moulin']. Taiwan Literature Studies (39): 99–138, 121.
^ Yang, Chantal (2017). "以《日曜日式散步者》之影片形式思索台灣1930年代的前衛藝術經驗" [Contemplating Taiwan's 1930s Avant-Garde Art Experience through the Filmic Form of 'Sunday Strollers]. Art Symposium (28): 83–92.

[1] Choi, Gyu Wan (2017). 三○年代臺、韓詩壇現代主義的引進與發展：楊熾昌的「風車詩社」與鄭芝溶的「九人會」比較 [Introduction and Development of Modernism in the Taiwanese and Korean Poetry Scene in the 1930s: A Comparison of Yang Chi-chang's Le Moulin Poetry Society and Cheng Chih-jung's Nine Friends Group]. Tunghai University. pp. 90, 92.

[2] Chuang, Hsiao-ming (2008). 日治時期鹽分地帶詩人群和風車詩社詩風之比較研究 [A Comparative Study of Poets in the Saline Land and the Poetry Style of the Le Moulin Poetry Society During the Japanese Occupation]. National Taipei University of Education. pp. 210–216.

[3] Chang, Shih-chin (2021). "日治台灣的「詩精神」與「新精神」：以《風景》、《茉莉》與《風車》為例" [The 'Spirit of Poetry' and 'New Spirit' in Japanese-Occupied Taiwan: A Case Study of 'Scenery,' 'Jasmine,' and 'Le Moulin']. Taiwan Literature Studies (39): 99–138, 121.

[4] Yang, Chantal (2017). "以《日曜日式散步者》之影片形式思索台灣1930年代的前衛藝術經驗" [Contemplating Taiwan's 1930s Avant-Garde Art Experience through the Filmic Form of 'Sunday Strollers]. Art Symposium (28): 83–92.

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