Coming soon! The first major book from our new publishing venture Plum Rain Press (English translation): "Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa" by Dr. Chen Yao-chang 陳耀昌.
The History of Taiwan - Formosa Files

The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files

Taiwan's Top-Rated History Podcast
Stories from the History of Formosa (Taiwan)


The Formosa Files Taiwan History Podcast is sponsored by
The FRANK CHEN FOUNDATION
(陳啟川先生文教基金會)
www.frank-chen.org.tw

HOSTS:
John Ross (author, co-founder of publisher Camphor Press)

Eryk Michael Smith (writer, broadcaster, journalist)

Both Ross and Smith have lived in Taiwan for well over 20 years and call the island home.

Formosa Files - Weekly Tales from the Wonderful History of Taiwan 

Recent Episodes

Oct. 15, 2024

FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH27-橫行海上的女海盜—大海盜蔡牽媽與蔡牽

中國東南沿海、臺灣海峽一帶自從明朝實施海禁政策以來,就成為了海盜橫行的海域,一直到清朝年間都還有海盜出沒,甚至還有許多名震四海的女性海盜。在1790年代,就誕生了一對海盜夫妻:蔡牽與蔡牽媽,堪稱是當時最強盛也最特別的海盜。這集 Formosa Files 中文版 Podcast 就由兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊,大海盜蔡牽媽與蔡牽的故事。
Oct. 10, 2024

S4-E26 - Bits and Pieces - October 2024

Did you know? Joseph Stalin saved Chinese characters. (um… sort of) In Qing-era Taiwan, two men sometimes SHARED a wife! John has done 10 episodes of our other podcast, “Bookish Asia.” Plum Rain Press, the new publishing …
Oct. 8, 2024

FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH26-聖母峰上的生存奇蹟—臺灣登山家高銘和

攀登世界第一高峰聖母峰(珠穆朗瑪峰、Mount Everest)是全世界登山家的夢想。臺灣自1990年代起,也開始陸續有登山家成功登上這座高峰。然而1996年在聖母峰發生了一場悲劇性的山難,當時台灣隊的高銘和也被捲入其中,卻奇蹟似的存活下來。這集 Formosa Files 中文版 Podcast 就由兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊這位臺灣登山家的故事。
Oct. 3, 2024

S4-E25 - The ROC (Taiwan) at World Expos & World Fairs

In the first few decades after retreating from the mainland, the Republic of China on Taiwan needed to shine as brightly as possible in foreign spotlights to keep alive the idea (or some might say fantasy) that the governmen…
Oct. 1, 2024

FORMOSA FILES IN CHINESE! CH25-賭性堅強的臺灣人—彩券、賭博在臺灣的故事

自從國民政府遷臺後,政府急需資金填補預算的黑洞;此外,臺灣自1970、1980年代經濟起飛後,人民財富迅速累積,一些人就開始追求「一擲千金」的刺激感,或是追尋一夜致富的手段。再加上或許臺灣人有種「賭性堅強」的性格,造就了臺灣歷史長久的賭博文化。這集 Formosa Files 中文版 Podcast 就由兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊,彩券與賭博在臺灣的故事。
Sept. 27, 2024

S4 - [ENCORE] - Taiwanese-American Director Ang Lee Wins Again

To celebrate Oscar-winning director Ang Lee (李安) being named the winner for theater/film of the 2024 Praemium Imperiale, a global arts prize awarded annually by the Japan Art Association, we thought we'd reprise our Ang Lee …