Taiwan Honors Late Poet Li Kuei-hsien with Presidential Citation

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of a Literary Icon Who Elevated Taiwanese Poetry to the World Stage

Taipei, April 7 - A presidential citation was awarded posthumously to the late Taiwanese poet Li Kuei-hsien (李魁賢) on Sunday, recognizing his profound contributions to Taiwanese literature. Li Kuei-hsien, who passed away on January 15th in Taipei at the age of 85, left behind a rich legacy of poetry and cultural promotion.

Culture Minister Li Yuan (李遠), representing the President, presented the award to Li Shih-fei (李斯棐), the poet's son, during a moving memorial ceremony held in his honor.

In a released statement, Minister Li Yuan emphasized Li Kuei-hsien's lifelong dedication to writing and translating modern poetry. He highlighted how the poet utilized poetry, a universal language, to significantly increase the global recognition of Taiwanese literature.

The minister further noted that Li Kuei-hsien's unwavering passion and commitment to advancing Taiwanese literature would continue to inspire generations to come.

Born in Taipei in 1937, Li Kuei-hsien began writing poems in junior high school, according to the Ministry of Culture. His inaugural published poem, "Sakura (櫻花)," appeared in the magazine Wild Wind in 1953, marking the beginning of his prolific career.

In 1956, Li Kuei-hsien joined the Modernist, a poetry club led by Chi Hsuan (紀弦). He published his first poetry collection, "Columbarium and Others (靈骨塔及其他)," in 1963.

Li Kuei-hsien's talent was recognized internationally, as he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001, 2003, and 2006 by the India-based International Poets Academy.

Throughout his lifetime, he received numerous prestigious honors within Taiwan, including the National Award for Arts, the National Cultural Award, and the Wu San-lien Literary Award, solidifying his position as a literary giant.

His poetry has been translated into various languages, including Japanese, Korean, Romanian, Greek, Spanish, and Mongolian, reaching a global audience.

In 2016, Li Kuei-hsien initiated the Formosa International Poetry Festival in Tamsui, New Taipei, which has become an annual event, further contributing to the vibrant poetry scene in Taiwan.