In August 2023, I spent two weeks in Taiwan. The primary reason for my visit was to attend the wedding of two friends—interestingly, a pair whom I had introduced to each other, back in Japan in 2018. I was honored to give a wedding speech in my role as their “Cupid.” While in Taiwan, I combined work and leisure. For a week, I operated as a digital nomad, working from various coffee shops in Taipei. The following week, I ventured into the Taiwanese mountains, exploring forests, lakes, and other restored locales, enjoying the cooler mountain temperatures. Over the coming weeks, I’ll share some of my experiences, and as usual, all interwoven with elements of local mythology, environmental psychology, ecofeminism, and/or environmental sustainability. Let’s start with…
What is a circular society? What is a healthy circular landscape?
A circular economy is an economic model rooted in the sustainable management of resources, placing significant emphasis on the regeneration of natural systems and landscape interventions. Rather than the traditional linear approach that often leads to resource depletion, a circular economy seeks to continually restore and rejuvenate the environment.
Regenerating Natural Systems: Central to the circular economy is the proactive restoration of ecosystems. This involves replenishing what industries take from the environment, ensuring a balanced and harmonious relationship with nature. By integrating thoughtful landscape designs, we can help regenerate local habitats, foster biodiversity, and improve water and soil health. These interventions not only support the environment but also provide aesthetic and recreational benefits to communities.
Minimizing Waste Through Design: By designing systems and products with the intention of minimizing waste from the outset, we can further ensure that the landscape remains untouched by pollution and degradation.
In a society embracing the circular economy, there’s a collaborative effort among businesses, consumers, and governments to enact landscape solutions and strategies that prioritize the health and vitality of the planet’s natural systems.
Our mermaids
In Starbucks, yes, the coffee branch with a mermaid, I saw an interesting artwork. Next to the lake, there are many information boards, including one about the origins of the floating islands >>
Sounds like the perfect ingredients for an ecofeminist retelling? The academic article by Gauss is actually interesting, because it let you also reflect on the choice of villains in folklore. It starts with: “In Western fairy tales, the role of the villain is often reserved for the elderly woman. The villains of Snow White, The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel,
Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are all witches; women who wield dark magic to maledict the innocent. In stark contrast, Formosan aboriginal mythology villains take on decidedly dissimilar roles.” I got even more ingredients for an ecofeminist retelling.
Circular society advocates
Incorporating the principles of a circular economy, the myth of the Long Haired Spirits of Sun Moon Lake becomes a poignant lesson for sustainable landscape intervention. The Taqrahaz, as protectors of the lake’s ecological balance, highlight the urgency of regenerating natural systems and implementing landscape interventions. By viewing the lake not merely as a resource but as a living entity with its own guardians, the Sun Moon Lake landscape can be reimagined to prioritize sustainable practices. The Thao people’s past missteps, as narrated in the myth, emphasize the need for holistic solutions that not only restore ecosystems but also instill a deep respect for nature. This story serves as a vivid reminder that societies must harmonize with their environment, lest they face the consequences of their own actions.
————————————————————————————————————-
Practical advice: I took a direct bus from my basecamp in Xitou. There is a direct bus every two hours between 07.00-17.30. I returned in the late afternoon back to Xitou, because I had booked a hotel there for 5 days. If I had this better planned, I would have traveled from Xitou to Sun Moon Lake, stayed in another hotel there, where I could have found a direct bus to Alishan (with its sacred trees).
Stories from the Wood Wide Web 