SDG11
Intercollegiate Taiwanese-Language Talent Competition Crowns New Stars at the 3rd “Cheng Kung Taiwanese Song Hall Show”
The final round of the 3rd “Cheng Kung Taiwanese Song Hall Show,” jointly organized by the College of Liberal Arts at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), the Huat-Ki Taiwanese Foundation, and the Tainan Taiwanese Language and Culture Association, took place on May 30 at the Phoenix Theater on NCKU’s Kuang-Fu Campus.
Bringing together outstanding young talents from universities across Taiwan, the event showcased the vitality of the Taiwanese language through speech and music performances. The lively atmosphere and enthusiastic audience response demonstrated that Taiwanese is far from being a language used only by older generations. Amid cheers and applause, champions in both the spoken-language and singing divisions were crowned, with Huang Shih-Hung from NCKU’s Department of Medicine winning first place in the spoken-language category.
More than a competition, the third edition of the “Cheng Kung Taiwanese Song Hall Show” symbolized the intergenerational transmission and innovative transformation of Taiwanese-language culture. Organizers expressed hope that the event would encourage more young people to rediscover the beauty of their mother tongue and help bring Taiwanese onto broader stages of contemporary popular culture. Through speech and music, participants demonstrated the language’s vitality, creativity, and continuing relevance in modern society.
In her opening remarks, Professor Bihui Tsai of NCKU’s Department of Foreign Languages and Literature reflected on the establishment of the “Cheng Kung Taiwanese” initiative in 2024. She emphasized its guiding principle of “Taiwanese as the Priority,” encouraging people to actively use Taiwanese in daily life.
“As long as Taiwanese people are willing to speak and continue using Taiwanese, the language will breathe freely,” she said. “If NCKU people choose to speak Taiwanese first, Taiwanese will undoubtedly thrive.”
Professor Tsai noted that the event has now entered its third year. She recalled that the inaugural competition was launched largely through passion and determination. Although the second year benefited from the facilities of the Phoenix Theater, limited experience and resources presented challenges. Drawing on lessons learned from previous years, the organizing team successfully elevated the event this year with the support of numerous partners and volunteers.
She expressed special gratitude to the Rongzajia Online Reading Group, the Tainan Taiwanese Language and Culture Association, the professional production team of Taiwan Public Television Service’s Taiwanese-language channel, Voice of Victory Radio, dedicated student volunteers, and the instructors who coached contestants in stage performance and Taiwanese pronunciation.
Professor Wen-Sung Chen, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, highlighted the importance of cultivating Taiwanese as a living language through education. He praised the dedication of Professor Tsai and her team and expressed particular encouragement at seeing students from diverse academic disciplines and universities using Taiwanese for stand-up comedy, manzai-style comedy performances, rap, storytelling, and original music.
“This proves that Taiwanese is not limited to traditional folk songs or the everyday conversations of older generations,” Chen said. “It can be perfectly integrated with contemporary youth and popular culture. We hope events like this will help mother-tongue culture take root among younger generations and eventually reach broader cultural stages.”
Renowned Taiwanese poet and lyricist Su-Tsung Chou, who served both as sponsor and judge, addressed participants on behalf of the judging panel. He praised the contestants’ linguistic creativity, vocal expression, and stage presence. Reflecting on his own journey of beginning to study written Taiwanese at the age of sixty and subsequently dedicating himself to Taiwanese poetry and songwriting, Chou encouraged participants to continue creating through their mother tongue.
“Creativity comes from everyday life,” he said. “The more we speak our mother tongue, the more naturally and skillfully we can use it.”
According to the organizers, this year’s Spoken Language Division served as a key focus of the competition, aiming to demonstrate that the “Song Hall Show” is about far more than singing. Contest categories included stand-up comedy, manzai, storytelling, radio drama, and traditional Taiwanese verbal performance arts, showcasing both humor and critical thinking through spoken expression.
The organizers also shared several “inspiring statistics” from this year’s event: 120 enthusiastic audience members, 20 outstanding contestants, 5 special guest performers, 8 preliminary-round judges, 7 final-round judges, and 21 behind-the-scenes staff members contributed to the success of the event.
Honor Roll of the 3rd Cheng Kung Taiwanese Song Hall Show
Spoken Language Division
First Prize / Rising Star Award
Shih-Hung Huang (Department of Medicine, NCKU) — Ài Piànn Tsiah Ē Iânn《愛拚才會贏》
Second Prize / Show King Award
Yen-Fu Chen (Graduate Institute of Law, National Chung Cheng University) — Ka Gī Hó Si̍t Khuán《嘉義好食款》
Third Prize / Show Legend Award
Chien-Ying Li / Wei-Han Chen (National Taiwan University Department of Law / National University of Tainan Department of Ecology) — M̄-Thang Oo-Pe̍h Io̍h《毋通烏白藥》
Most Popular Award / Sapphire Superstar Award
Chien-Ying Li / Wei-Han Chen — M̄-Thang Oo-Pe̍h Io̍h《毋通烏白藥》
Audience Special Award / Shining Star Award
Yi-Hsun Chang (Department of Taiwanese Literature, NCKU) — To̍k Lú Khì To̍k Lú《獨女去獨旅》
Singing Division
First Prize / Rising Star Award
Ting-Yen Lin (Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University) — Iânn Tsi̍t Kháu Khuì《贏一口氣》
Second Prize / Show King Award
Yu-Ning Tang (Department of Accounting, NCKU) — Thàn Guá Ia̍h Ē-Kì《趁我還會記》
Third Prize / Show Legend Award
Yu-Chieh Cheng (Department of Chinese Literature, National University of Tainan) — Lo̍h-Hōo Siann《落雨聲》
Most Popular Award / Sapphire Superstar Award
Ting-Yen Lin — Iânn Tsi̍t Kháu Khuì《贏一口氣》
Audience Special Award / Shining Star Award
Chien-Ying Li (Department of Law, National Taiwan University) — Kian-Tshî《堅持》
Bringing together outstanding young talents from universities across Taiwan, the event showcased the vitality of the Taiwanese language through speech and music performances. The lively atmosphere and enthusiastic audience response demonstrated that Taiwanese is far from being a language used only by older generations. Amid cheers and applause, champions in both the spoken-language and singing divisions were crowned, with Huang Shih-Hung from NCKU’s Department of Medicine winning first place in the spoken-language category.
More than a competition, the third edition of the “Cheng Kung Taiwanese Song Hall Show” symbolized the intergenerational transmission and innovative transformation of Taiwanese-language culture. Organizers expressed hope that the event would encourage more young people to rediscover the beauty of their mother tongue and help bring Taiwanese onto broader stages of contemporary popular culture. Through speech and music, participants demonstrated the language’s vitality, creativity, and continuing relevance in modern society.
In her opening remarks, Professor Bihui Tsai of NCKU’s Department of Foreign Languages and Literature reflected on the establishment of the “Cheng Kung Taiwanese” initiative in 2024. She emphasized its guiding principle of “Taiwanese as the Priority,” encouraging people to actively use Taiwanese in daily life.
“As long as Taiwanese people are willing to speak and continue using Taiwanese, the language will breathe freely,” she said. “If NCKU people choose to speak Taiwanese first, Taiwanese will undoubtedly thrive.”
Professor Tsai noted that the event has now entered its third year. She recalled that the inaugural competition was launched largely through passion and determination. Although the second year benefited from the facilities of the Phoenix Theater, limited experience and resources presented challenges. Drawing on lessons learned from previous years, the organizing team successfully elevated the event this year with the support of numerous partners and volunteers.
She expressed special gratitude to the Rongzajia Online Reading Group, the Tainan Taiwanese Language and Culture Association, the professional production team of Taiwan Public Television Service’s Taiwanese-language channel, Voice of Victory Radio, dedicated student volunteers, and the instructors who coached contestants in stage performance and Taiwanese pronunciation.
Professor Wen-Sung Chen, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, highlighted the importance of cultivating Taiwanese as a living language through education. He praised the dedication of Professor Tsai and her team and expressed particular encouragement at seeing students from diverse academic disciplines and universities using Taiwanese for stand-up comedy, manzai-style comedy performances, rap, storytelling, and original music.
“This proves that Taiwanese is not limited to traditional folk songs or the everyday conversations of older generations,” Chen said. “It can be perfectly integrated with contemporary youth and popular culture. We hope events like this will help mother-tongue culture take root among younger generations and eventually reach broader cultural stages.”
Renowned Taiwanese poet and lyricist Su-Tsung Chou, who served both as sponsor and judge, addressed participants on behalf of the judging panel. He praised the contestants’ linguistic creativity, vocal expression, and stage presence. Reflecting on his own journey of beginning to study written Taiwanese at the age of sixty and subsequently dedicating himself to Taiwanese poetry and songwriting, Chou encouraged participants to continue creating through their mother tongue.
“Creativity comes from everyday life,” he said. “The more we speak our mother tongue, the more naturally and skillfully we can use it.”
According to the organizers, this year’s Spoken Language Division served as a key focus of the competition, aiming to demonstrate that the “Song Hall Show” is about far more than singing. Contest categories included stand-up comedy, manzai, storytelling, radio drama, and traditional Taiwanese verbal performance arts, showcasing both humor and critical thinking through spoken expression.
The organizers also shared several “inspiring statistics” from this year’s event: 120 enthusiastic audience members, 20 outstanding contestants, 5 special guest performers, 8 preliminary-round judges, 7 final-round judges, and 21 behind-the-scenes staff members contributed to the success of the event.
Honor Roll of the 3rd Cheng Kung Taiwanese Song Hall Show
Spoken Language Division
First Prize / Rising Star Award
Shih-Hung Huang (Department of Medicine, NCKU) — Ài Piànn Tsiah Ē Iânn《愛拚才會贏》
Second Prize / Show King Award
Yen-Fu Chen (Graduate Institute of Law, National Chung Cheng University) — Ka Gī Hó Si̍t Khuán《嘉義好食款》
Third Prize / Show Legend Award
Chien-Ying Li / Wei-Han Chen (National Taiwan University Department of Law / National University of Tainan Department of Ecology) — M̄-Thang Oo-Pe̍h Io̍h《毋通烏白藥》
Most Popular Award / Sapphire Superstar Award
Chien-Ying Li / Wei-Han Chen — M̄-Thang Oo-Pe̍h Io̍h《毋通烏白藥》
Audience Special Award / Shining Star Award
Yi-Hsun Chang (Department of Taiwanese Literature, NCKU) — To̍k Lú Khì To̍k Lú《獨女去獨旅》
Singing Division
First Prize / Rising Star Award
Ting-Yen Lin (Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University) — Iânn Tsi̍t Kháu Khuì《贏一口氣》
Second Prize / Show King Award
Yu-Ning Tang (Department of Accounting, NCKU) — Thàn Guá Ia̍h Ē-Kì《趁我還會記》
Third Prize / Show Legend Award
Yu-Chieh Cheng (Department of Chinese Literature, National University of Tainan) — Lo̍h-Hōo Siann《落雨聲》
Most Popular Award / Sapphire Superstar Award
Ting-Yen Lin — Iânn Tsi̍t Kháu Khuì《贏一口氣》
Audience Special Award / Shining Star Award
Chien-Ying Li (Department of Law, National Taiwan University) — Kian-Tshî《堅持》
The final competition of the 3rd “Cheng Kung Taiwanese Song Hall Show,” jointly organized by NCKU’s College of Liberal Arts, the Huat-Ki Taiwanese Foundation, and the Tainan Taiwanese Language and Culture Association, took place on the afternoon of May 30 at the Phoenix Theater on NCKU’s Kuang-Fu Campus.
The 3rd “Cheng Kung Taiwanese Song Hall Show” featured 20 top contestants from around the world, along with Taiwanese-language performances by families.
The event featured insightful evaluations and expert guidance from a distinguished panel of eight preliminary-round judges and seven final-round judges.
The “Cheng Kung Taiwanese Song Hall Show” entered its third year this year.
This year, the Spoken Language Division was a central focus of the event.
Taiwanese is not limited to traditional folk songs or the everyday conversations of older generations—it can be perfectly integrated with contemporary youth and popular culture.
