Kaohsiung: When Taiwanese scholar Chang Shoou-huey discovered a 350-year-old travelogue of Taiwan written in an obsolete form of German, she saw a unique opportunity to apply her specialized training. According to Focus Taiwan, this moment came in 2023 at a Kaohsiung book fair when National Taiwan Library Director Tsao Tsau-ying mentioned to Chang that the library possessed a rare 1669 volume that no one had been able to translate.
Chang, a professor at Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages in Kaohsiung, recognized the challenge immediately. She embarked on a year-long project, culminating in May, with the publication of the first complete Chinese translation of "A Short Description of a Nine-Year East Indian Journey," a 17th-century travelogue by Swiss painter and soldier Albrecht Herport. The book provides one of the earliest firsthand European accounts of Taiwan, and its translation highlights Chang's uncommon linguistic expertise and dedication to preserving cultural heritage.
Chang's rarity in expertise lies in her ability to read Early New High German printed in Gothic blackletter script, a skill few possess even in Germany. Her background in ancient Germanic languages and Jewish culture made this project a natural fit. In January 2024, she assembled a multilingual team to examine the original volume, deciphering the centuries-old text.
Her expertise extended beyond translation, allowing her to interpret historical context. For instance, she suggested that Herport's account of a "mermaid" at Fort Zeelandia was likely a Chinese soldier mistaken for a mythical creature. Chang urged readers to critically examine the book's colonial-era prejudices, which offer insight into European perspectives on distant societies.
Chang's interest in preserving historical texts began during her graduate studies in Germany, where she helped rescue Jewish manuscripts discarded during synagogue renovations near Mainz. Her efforts salvaged over 20 volumes, reconstructing the reading culture of an 18th-century German-Jewish village. Her time in Germany left her with an appreciation for the country's culture of remembrance, which she believes Taiwan can learn from as it grapples with its own history.
Beyond historical research, Chang serves as the honorary representative for southern Taiwan at the German Institute Taipei, promoting academic and cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Germany. She noted increased German interest in Taiwan following TSMC's investment in Saxony, along with growing attention to Taiwanese literature, film, and performing arts.
"Whether translating old texts, studying literature, or promoting international exchanges, I am doing the same thing," Chang said. "It is about helping different cultures understand one another."