Religion

 Sanjiao (Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism)

 Christianity

Language

 Mandarin Chinese
 Taiwanese
 English

Taiwan is a democratic country after its transformation from an authoritarian state from the late 1970’s
and to the 1990’s

Taiwan is labeled as one of the Four Asian Tigers because of their phenomenal economic development.
It has been labeled so because it has become a major international trading power, which resulted in
their economic and social stability as a country.

Geographic Description

 Taiwan, an island in the western Pacific Ocean that lies roughly 100 miles (160 km) off the coast
of southeastern China is approximately 245 miles (395 km) long (north-south) and 90 miles (145
km) across, at its widest point.
 The island’s shape is comparable to a sweet potato.
 Mountainous and boasts 118 rivers
 Climate: Subtropical; Summer from April or May- September, and winters from December – February

Zhuoshui- the longest river in the country (186 km)

Sun Moon Lake- largest body of freshwater and a top tourist destination

Food

 Taiwan is a country of fish eaters. Food is cooked slowly in soups and stews or quickly by deep
frying. Favorite dishes include oysters with black bean sauce, prawns wrapped in seaweed,
abalone, cucumber crab rolls, and clam and winter melon soup.
 Taiwan is famous for tea, especially the lightly roasted oolong tea. Teahouses exist in almost
every town, and most households have a tea cart to serve guests.

Literature and Arts

 Writers in the 1980’s and 1990 have experimented with postmodern literary forms, and more eclectic
subject matter like sexual liberation, political complacency, and corporate life.
 Impressionism and scene oil paintings
 Modern and traditional dancing (Liu Feng-hsueh and Lin Hwai-min)
Food is served as offerings to gods, ancestors, and ghosts. A cup of tea or wine is placed on the family
altar for the ancestors and gods, along with incense. More elaborate offerings are made on special days,
including New Year's, gods' birthdays, and the Ghost Festival.

Non Material Culture

Marriage

Historically, Taiwan has 3 ways to marry:

 Major Marriage
 Sim pua
 Uxorilocal

Domestic Unit

Inheritance

Kin Groups

Etiqutte

 Taiwanese people are friendly and courteous.

 The exchange of cigarettes, business cards, or small gifts
  Introductions are important in initiating a relationship.
 One fights for every inch of space on the streets of Taipei, and holding one's place in a
line is a contest.

Religion