THIS ROOM IS AN ISLAND REPEATEDLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE TUNE OF :
望春風 TOWARDS SPRING’S WIND 1930's COMPOSED BY DENG YU-XIAN
THE SAME TUNE
WITNESSED AND CARRIED
THE BURDENS HOPES OF VARIOUS ERAS
In This room is an Island 2024, the tune - Towards Spring's Wind by Deng was incorporated into our soundscape design throughout the entire show. Adapted and recomposed by Jeff Chen (Tāmaki Makaurau), the music, the lyrics which the performers sang to were adaptations of this tune throughout three displaced generations.
PRE-SHOW:
1920's TAIWAN
獨夜無伴守燈下 清風對面吹
十七八未出嫁 見著少年家
果然標緻面肉白 誰家人子弟
想要問伊驚呆勢 心內彈琵琶
思要郎君作夫婿 意愛在心內
待何時 君來採 青春花當開
忽聽外頭有人來 開門該看覓
月老笑阮憨大獃 乎風騙毋知
"Alone at night, I keep vigil under the lamp
A gentle breeze blows from the other side
Seventeen or eighteen, yet to be married
Seeing a young man from a good family
Truly handsome with fair skin
Whose son could he be?
I want to ask him, but I'm too shy
Inside my heart, the pipa plays
Longing for him to be my husband
My love resides within
When will you come, my beloved,
As the youth blossoms like flowers?
Suddenly, I hear someone outside
I open the door to look
The matchmaker smiles at my foolishness
Whether the wind is deceiving me, I do not know."
During the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, the Taiwan Governor-General's Office, in order to recruit soldiers, had [Yoshiji Oikawa] adapt the Japanese military lyrics to "望春風 towards spring’s wind."
ACT ONE:
KŌMINKA 1930's
アジアに くるふ こがらし も いつしか やみて あおぐ ひに ごしきのはた も てり はえて あおぞら たかく ひるがへる はてなき だいち もえいづる われらの ちから いま みよと みどりの のべ に くわ とれば うれしや つちも ほゝえみぬ のびゆく くにの わこうど と うまれし かい に このからだ みくに に ささげ いざゆかん だいちは まねく きは いさむ
This is a song called "大地は招く" (The Earth Beckons) which was adapted in the context of the Pacific War in 1941. The lyrics speak of the call for enlistment and devotion to the nation during wartime.
Around the 1950s, a Mandarin version of "Wang Chun Feng" was released in Asia. In the 1960s, the Nationalist Government adapted it into a song about secrecy and espionage.
ACT TWO: WHITE TERROR 1950's
COUNTER-SPIES SONG
約在1950年代於東南亞也發行了華語版的《望春風》，在1965年代左右還被國民政府改編成《保密防諜歌曲》，依稀記得當時其中的一、兩句歌詞：「無中生有造謠言，匪諜真荒唐。搬弄是非毀法紀，叛亂的勾當…」
The song writer’s grandson faintly recalls a couple of lines from that time, something like: "Creating falsehoods from thin air, Spies are truly absurd. Fanning rumours, destroying order, Seditious activities..."
PRESHOW
PRESHOW: 1930-1940 KŌMINKA - JAPANISATION
Recording of ‘How to say hello’ in Japanese weaving together Taiwanese dialects was a regular performance / radio play to push ‘Kōminka’. Related to the theme of learning ‘national language’ during the years 1937-1945.
Two Taiwanese individuals meet and greet each other, starting a conversation about 'learning National Language (Japanese).' They teach each other ways to greet in the morning, noon, and evening, then sing a Japanese-learning song.
(Provided by the Taiwan Phonograph Music Association). 1937-1945."
ACT ONE
ACT 1 SCENE FIVE :
KŌMINKA - 奉公防空群の歌
SONG OF THE CIVIL AIR DEFNESE
During World War II, there were air raid precaution educational records that included songs describing movements for dancing as a part of training.
ぶんぶん蚊とんぼ 赤とんぼ 来るなら来てみよ ひとうちだ 我等の空は 我が腕で 守りは堅いぞ 防空群 2.空の守りは 先づ監視 傳令傳達 大急ぎ ことばはっきり まごつかず 漏れなく知らせよ となり組
"Buzzing mosquitoes, red dragonflies, come and try your luck. Our airspace, we protect it firmly, the air defence team. Protecting the skies begins with vigilance, swift communication, urgent commands. Speak clearly, without hesitation, inform comprehensively without omission, neighbouring teams."
二戰期間防空教育唱片，
配合歌單描述動作可以跳舞作為訓練。
During World War II, there were air raid precaution educational records that included songs describing movements for dancing as a part of training.
ACT 1 : KŌMINKA - THEME RELEVANT ARCHIVAL SONGS
The "Song of the Taiwan Army" (台湾軍の歌), released in 1940, was a record produced by the Japanese Victor Talking Machine Company in October 1940 as part of a collection of "national songs." The lyrics were composed by the Taiwan Army Commander, Masaharu Honma, with Eiichi Yamada composing the music and Katsuhiko Haida performing the song.
The song's first verse describes Taiwan's strategic location in the Western Pacific, a crucial point for Japan's southern expansion, guarded by the Taiwan Army. The second verse pays tribute to Prince Nōhito of the Northern Imperial Family who passed away during the First Sino-Japanese War while in Taiwan, revered as the 'exemplar spirit' of the Taiwan Army for fifty years following his death. The third verse recounts the bravery of the Taiwan Army during their deployments to Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Hainan Island, and Nanning after the outbreak of the war between China and Japan. The fourth verse highlights the significant role played by the Taiwan Army in constructing the 'New Order in East Asia'.
Song of the Taiwan Army lyrics
Sky far away in the Pacific Ocean
Southern Cross shining
Island Palm bitterly
Kuroshio
The equator loose rough seas
Of the south stand with glare
Mamoritai is our Taiwan military
Lyrics by Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, head of the Takasago Volunteers Ka Lisa
ACT TWO
1950's
臺灣光復紀念歌
Taiwan Retrocession Commemoration
臺灣光復紀念歌歌詞
作詞者： 陳波 作曲者： 陳泗治
張燈結彩喜洋洋，勝利歌兒大家唱，
唱遍城市和村莊，臺灣光復不能忘。
不能忘，常思量，不能忘，常思量。
國家恩惠情分深長，不能忘。
有錢難買真情意，有錢難買真爹娘，
今朝重見天和地，八年血戰不能忘。
不能忘，常思量，不能忘，常思量。
加緊建設為國增光，不能忘。
張燈結彩喜洋洋，光復歌兒大家唱，
唱遍城市和村莊，民族精神不能忘。
不能忘，常思量，不能忘，常思量。
中華民國地久天長，不能忘。
The Lyrics for the Taiwan Retrocession Commemoration Song Lyricist: Chen Bo, Composer: Chen Sizhi
Decorations and celebrations galore, The victorious song is sung by all. Sung throughout the cities and villages, Taiwan’s retrocession must not be forgotten. Cannot forget, always consider, Cannot forget, always consider. The deep gratitude for our nation is unforgettable, Cannot forget.
Money cannot buy genuine emotions, Nor the love of true parents. Today, we witness heaven and earth anew, The eight-year battle shall not be forgotten. Cannot forget, always consider, Cannot forget, always consider. Urgently develop for the nation's honor, Cannot forget.
Decorations and celebrations galore, The song of liberation is sung by all. Sung throughout the cities and villages, The spirit of the nation must not be forgotten. Cannot forget, always consider, Cannot forget, always consider. The Republic of China is enduring, eternal, Cannot forget.
1950's
反攻大陸去
Counter attack the mainland song
你保密 我保密 大家一起來保密 說話要注意 不談國家的機密 你防諜 我防諜 大家一起來防諜 謹覺性要提高 須把匪諜來消滅 時時要警覺 注意可疑人 □□來檢舉 杜絕□□□
You keep secrets, I keep secrets, everyone together keeps secrets,
Speak carefully, avoid discussing national secrets.
You guard against spies, I guard against spies,
everyone together guards against spies,
Maintain vigilance and increase awareness to eliminate enemy spies. Always be alert, pay attention to suspicious individuals,
report any suspicious behaviour, To eradicate any harmful activities.
1950's
反攻大陸去
Counter attack the mainland song
打倒俄寇，
反共產，反共產！
消滅朱毛，
殺漢奸，殺漢奸！
收復大陸，解救同胞，
服從領袖，完成革命；
三民主義實行，
中華民國復興；
中華復興，民國萬歲；
中華民國萬萬歲！
Down with the Russian bandits, Anti-communism, anti-communism!
Eliminate Zhu and Mao, Kill the traitors, kill the traitors!
Reclaim the mainland, rescue our compatriots, Obey the leader, complete the revolution;
Implement the Three Principles of the People, Revitalize the Republic of China;
The revival of China, long live the Republic; Long live the Republic of China!
1990's
抓耙子的心聲
The Songs of the Rats
(Traitors of the nation)
做一個 抓耙子真悲哀 歸工緊張 誰人知 行東走西 心臟披博採 為著獎金來抄台 講到 TNT 真厲害 透早抄機 英暗擱復台 節目精采 阮真愛 奉命抄台是無奈 抓耙子 抓耙子 抓耙子 可憐代 抓耙子抓耙子抓耙子快快起義歸來 抓耙子抓耙子抓耙子做人要實在
收腳洗手才有將來
"To be a rat is truly pitiful, returning from work feeling stressed.
Who knows the back and forth, the heart spreading wide,
to sell Taiwan for the prize money.
Talking about TNT is truly impressive.
Early in the morning, typing on the machine, English secretly being restored for Taiwan. The program (TV) is wonderful; we truly love it.
Being tasked to sell on Taiwan is unavoidable. Ratting, Ratting, Ratting, it's a pity to rat. Ratting, Ratting, Ratting, quickly come back to justice.
Ratting, Ratting, Ratting, to be genuine as a person.
Only by stopping and starting anew can we have a future."
王明哲編唱的"抓耙子之歌"，從一個專門監控地下電台的特務人員角度，描述當時大家愛聽地下電台的心情。(李世明 蒐藏提供)。1990年代
"The Rat’s Song" sung by Wang Mingzhe, describing the sentiment of people who loved listening to underground radio stations from the perspective of a special agent tasked with monitoring those stations.
During the period of White Terror, Taiwan was under authoritarian Koumintang (KMT) rule, Martial Law was placed and everything was highly surveilled, some Taiwanese people established underground radio stations in resistance to the authoritarian dictatorship, special agents were everywhere to punish and eliminate these people with ‘thought crimes’, yet still many people listened to underground radio stations to affirm their Taiwanese identity.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) today, who is in governance of Taiwan are known for their pro-Taiwanese identity. They first gathered their voters and strengths through this underground station network. This song is written in the 1990’s as a sarcastic response to the KMT authoritarian rule, taking their perspective and mocking the precarious White Terror era of Taiwan during 1950’s - 1990’s.
SOME ADVERTISEMENTS USED IN SCENE
"I DREAMT OF A WEIRD PARADE"
THIS ROOM IS AN ISLAND
THANKS
TAIPEI NATIONAL MUSEUM
FOR SHARING TAIWAN'S HISTORIC SOUNDSCAPE WITH THIS PRODUCTION THROUGH
TAIWAN SOUNDSCAPE 100 YEARS WEBSITE