[National Taiwan Library Mobile Exhibition] Gazing South: Understanding Southeast Asia Through Historical Materials

Have you heard of “Nanyang” (south seas)? Do you know which modern countries or regions were once referred to as “French Indochina,” “Dutch East Indies,” or “British Malaya”? The geographic scope of “Nanyang” is vast, comprising complex ethnicities and diverse cultures worthy of our further understanding. The pre-war materials collected by the Southern Materials Library were incorporated into the Taiwan Provincial Library (predecessor of the National Taiwan Library) after the war, becoming today’s special collection.

The National Taiwan Library has specially planned the “Taiwan Studies Research Book Exhibition – Mobile Edition” for various libraries to borrow and promote Taiwan studies research and enhance public understanding of Taiwan’s history and culture. We hope that through this exhibition, we can together explore the historical context and cultural characteristics of Southeast Asia.