Chinese Translation of "East India Travelogue" Published, Offering a Glimpse into Taiwan 350 Years Ago

Central News Agency

(New Taipei City, May 11, CNA reporter Tsao Ya-yen) The National Taiwan Library (NTL) today announced the publication of the Chinese translation of "East India Travelogue." The translation team re-interpreted the difficult Old German, allowing readers to glimpse a microcosm of Taiwan from over 350 years ago. NTL Director Tsao Tsui-ying stated that the foundation of civilization comes from history, highlighting that historical culture has always been Taiwan's soft power.

The National Taiwan Library today held a new book launch for the complete translation of its treasured collection, "East India Travelogue," with the original book also displayed for public viewing. The book was written in Old German by Albrecht Herport, a 17th-century Swiss mercenary and painter, published in 1669, and translated into Dutch the following year. This complete Chinese translation, launched by the NTL, is the second complete foreign language translation in the world, more than 350 years after the Dutch translation.

The NTL introduced that the descriptions of the Dutch-Koxinga War in "East India Travelogue" are considered important historical materials for studying the siege of the Dutch fortress Zeelandia (now Anping Fort). It also includes 9 copperplate engravings, providing valuable material for visual culture research.

The NTL revealed that Professor Chang Shou-hui of Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages led the translation effort, collaborating with Associate Professor Mei An-te, Assistant Professor Chou Hsin, and Tang Ying-ke, to publish the Old German translation in Traditional Chinese. Currently, there are only a handful of linguists worldwide who study medieval Old German, with only about a dozen able to identify it. Three experts and scholars in this translation team understood Old German, and it took them over a year to translate, piece together, and restore the meaning to complete this arduous translation task.

NTL Director Tsao Tsui-ying introduced that Herport embarked on an expedition with the Dutch East India Company starting in 1659, sailing from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, Jakarta, and Zeelandia in Taiwan. Over nine years, he recorded his experiences in the form of war history and travelogue. The book dedicates 69 pages specifically to describing Taiwan's rich products and diverse ethnic groups, and also portrays the details of Koxinga's war with the Dutch at that time. This is an ancient work of humanities, history, war, and travelogue, and also a microcosm of contemporary history, symbolizing Taiwan's presence on the world stage during the Age of Discovery.

Tsao Tsui-ying said that the foundation of civilization comes from history. Although it is now an era of innovation and AI, cultural heritage must never be lacking. Through this book, one can understand the preciousness of democratic values and highlight that historical culture has always been Taiwan's soft power.

Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages President Chuang Hui-ling stated in her speech that the university cultivates students with excellent foreign language abilities, not only for future job seeking abroad but also hoping for more diverse service fields. If Taiwan's economic development relies solely on high-tech semiconductors without cultural support, society will be relatively hollow. In addition to economic strength, cultural heritage must also complement it. (Editor: Lee Hsi-chang) 1150511

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