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Cheng Kung People, Let's Speak Taiwanese Together: The 2nd Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show Finals
Taiwanese is not a language reserved for the older generation — it’s a language that every generation can speak and use with confidence! In response to the United Nations' advocacy for cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism on university campuses, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) held the finals of the "2nd Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show" on May 24. A total of 72 student teams from across the country signed up to participate, showcasing their creativity and passion through performances in Taiwanese. The contestants' impressive acts allowed the audience to truly experience the beauty of the Taiwanese language.
"Cheng Kung people speak Taiwanese first—Taiwanese is destined to succeed!" said Vice President Yu-Neu Chen of NCKU in her opening remarks, delivered in Taiwanese. She described Taiwanese as the most beautiful mother tongue of Taiwan, rich with the emotions of the land and the wisdom of everyday life. In modern Taiwanese literature, countless touching stories have been written in the poetic flavor of Taiwanese. The dialogues in Chun-Ming Huang’s novels, for example, bring characters vividly to life. Taiwanese is not just a language for daily conversation—it is the root of culture, the expression of emotion, and the soul of art. It carries the elegance of Classical Chinese, along with the salty fragrance of the ocean.
Vice President Yu-Neu Chen expressed that the university fully supports Taiwanese language initiatives. She described the "Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show" as a feast of beautiful Taiwanese, where everyone comes together through songs, drama, and humor to showcase the vibrancy and depth of the language, touching the hearts of all. She hopes that through this event, more people will fall in love with Taiwanese and help pass down this valuable cultural heritage.
The "2nd Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show" aims to encourage students to express their creativity through performances in Taiwanese. A special "Taiwanese Rap Competition" category was added, and the usual restriction on forming cross-school teams was lifted, inviting undergraduate and graduate students from universities and colleges across Taiwan to form teams and participate. Registration began last December, and the finals were held on May 24 at the Phoenix Theater on NCKU's Kuang-Fu Campus. The panel of judges included Professor Hsin-Han Ho from the Department of Taiwanese Literature at National Taichung University of Education, Taiwanese language director Jui-Kun Lin from Ruan Theater, Shih-Che Luo, leader of the “Ancient Style Chanting Group,” Taiwanese rap artist and PTS “Culture Companion” host Tai-You Lin, interdisciplinary singer-songwriter Li-Hsin Tseng, veteran vocal coach and judge Cheng-Shu Pan, and seasoned music critic Cheng-Chung Tsai.
Professor Hsin-Han Ho said that it is the resilient vitality of Taiwanese among the people that has nurtured such a brilliant and diverse Taiwanese performing arts scene. He hopes that the "Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show," now in its second year, will become increasingly exciting and lively, allowing Taiwanese culture and literature to continue growing strong and thriving through grassroots efforts. In this way, Taiwanese culture can flourish even more brilliantly, full of endless hope and possibilities!
The organizer, NCKU’s “Cheng Kung Taiwanese Team,” stated that they hope this competition will encourage students to explore Taiwanese and unleash their linguistic creativity. The contest is not limited to oral expression and singing but also includes a special element of rap performances, adding more creativity and challenges. To make Taiwanese more vibrant in modern society, attract more young people to participate and learn, and enhance the appreciation of Taiwanese culture, their motto is: “Cheng Kung people speak Taiwanese first—Taiwanese is destined to succeed!”
The "2nd Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show" featured three competition categories: Oral Presentation, Rap, and Singing. Registration began last December and attracted 72 teams of students from various universities, including NCKU, National Taiwan University , National Chi Nan University, Tungnan University, National Sun Yat-sen University, Ming Chuan University, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National United University, China University of Technology, Tainan University of Technology, National Taichung University of Education, and National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences. The preliminary round was held on March 28. The finals on May 24 drew enthusiastic participation from over 200 faculty, students, and members of the public, filling the venue to capacity with a lively atmosphere. The event also featured a special "Best Popularity Award" voting segment, allowing the audience to engage and cheer for their favorite performers.
Here are the competition results:
Oral Presentation Category
1st Place: Rising Star Award
Rou-Yi Lin —NCKU, Political Science — C'est la vie
2nd Place: Show King Award
Chuan-Wen Huang —NCKU, Chinese Literature — Graduate or Dead
3rd Place: Show Legend Award
Chien-Ying Li / Wei-Han Chen — National Taiwan University, Law / National University of Tainan, Ecology — Touring Tainan in Taiwanese
Best Popularity Award: Sapphire Superstar Award
Rou-Yi Lin —NCKU, Political Science — C'est la vie
Audience Special Award: Shining Star Award
Teng-Hsiang You — National Taiwan University, History — A Sí-lâng Story
Singing Category
1st Place: Rising Star Award
Hong-Yu Huang —NCKU, Civil Engineering — Going into the Red Dust
2nd Place: Show King Award
Ting-Yen Lin — National Sun Yat-sen University, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering — Love Trickster
3rd Place: Show Legend Award
Rou-Yi Lin —NCKU, Political Science — Long Time No See
Best Popularity Award: Sapphire Superstar Award
Hong-Yu Huang —NCKU, Civil Engineering — Going into the Red Dust
Audience Special Award: Shining Star Award
Kai-Hsuan Hsu —NCKU, Mechanical Engineering — The Wish Blown by the Wind
(Also recognized: Wei-Chih Chang — Aeronautics and Astronautics, Shun-Hung You / Wei-Ling Hou — Transportation and Communication Management Science, Chih-Chun Chen — Systems and Naval Mechatronic Engineering, Ko-Hsin Liao — Mathematics, Jing-Hsiang Huang — Civil Engineering, Mu-Hsi Lee — Industrial Design, Yu-Hung Chen — Statistics)
"Cheng Kung people speak Taiwanese first—Taiwanese is destined to succeed!" said Vice President Yu-Neu Chen of NCKU in her opening remarks, delivered in Taiwanese. She described Taiwanese as the most beautiful mother tongue of Taiwan, rich with the emotions of the land and the wisdom of everyday life. In modern Taiwanese literature, countless touching stories have been written in the poetic flavor of Taiwanese. The dialogues in Chun-Ming Huang’s novels, for example, bring characters vividly to life. Taiwanese is not just a language for daily conversation—it is the root of culture, the expression of emotion, and the soul of art. It carries the elegance of Classical Chinese, along with the salty fragrance of the ocean.
Vice President Yu-Neu Chen expressed that the university fully supports Taiwanese language initiatives. She described the "Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show" as a feast of beautiful Taiwanese, where everyone comes together through songs, drama, and humor to showcase the vibrancy and depth of the language, touching the hearts of all. She hopes that through this event, more people will fall in love with Taiwanese and help pass down this valuable cultural heritage.
The "2nd Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show" aims to encourage students to express their creativity through performances in Taiwanese. A special "Taiwanese Rap Competition" category was added, and the usual restriction on forming cross-school teams was lifted, inviting undergraduate and graduate students from universities and colleges across Taiwan to form teams and participate. Registration began last December, and the finals were held on May 24 at the Phoenix Theater on NCKU's Kuang-Fu Campus. The panel of judges included Professor Hsin-Han Ho from the Department of Taiwanese Literature at National Taichung University of Education, Taiwanese language director Jui-Kun Lin from Ruan Theater, Shih-Che Luo, leader of the “Ancient Style Chanting Group,” Taiwanese rap artist and PTS “Culture Companion” host Tai-You Lin, interdisciplinary singer-songwriter Li-Hsin Tseng, veteran vocal coach and judge Cheng-Shu Pan, and seasoned music critic Cheng-Chung Tsai.
Professor Hsin-Han Ho said that it is the resilient vitality of Taiwanese among the people that has nurtured such a brilliant and diverse Taiwanese performing arts scene. He hopes that the "Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show," now in its second year, will become increasingly exciting and lively, allowing Taiwanese culture and literature to continue growing strong and thriving through grassroots efforts. In this way, Taiwanese culture can flourish even more brilliantly, full of endless hope and possibilities!
The organizer, NCKU’s “Cheng Kung Taiwanese Team,” stated that they hope this competition will encourage students to explore Taiwanese and unleash their linguistic creativity. The contest is not limited to oral expression and singing but also includes a special element of rap performances, adding more creativity and challenges. To make Taiwanese more vibrant in modern society, attract more young people to participate and learn, and enhance the appreciation of Taiwanese culture, their motto is: “Cheng Kung people speak Taiwanese first—Taiwanese is destined to succeed!”
The "2nd Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show" featured three competition categories: Oral Presentation, Rap, and Singing. Registration began last December and attracted 72 teams of students from various universities, including NCKU, National Taiwan University , National Chi Nan University, Tungnan University, National Sun Yat-sen University, Ming Chuan University, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National United University, China University of Technology, Tainan University of Technology, National Taichung University of Education, and National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences. The preliminary round was held on March 28. The finals on May 24 drew enthusiastic participation from over 200 faculty, students, and members of the public, filling the venue to capacity with a lively atmosphere. The event also featured a special "Best Popularity Award" voting segment, allowing the audience to engage and cheer for their favorite performers.
Here are the competition results:
Oral Presentation Category
1st Place: Rising Star Award
Rou-Yi Lin —NCKU, Political Science — C'est la vie
2nd Place: Show King Award
Chuan-Wen Huang —NCKU, Chinese Literature — Graduate or Dead
3rd Place: Show Legend Award
Chien-Ying Li / Wei-Han Chen — National Taiwan University, Law / National University of Tainan, Ecology — Touring Tainan in Taiwanese
Best Popularity Award: Sapphire Superstar Award
Rou-Yi Lin —NCKU, Political Science — C'est la vie
Audience Special Award: Shining Star Award
Teng-Hsiang You — National Taiwan University, History — A Sí-lâng Story
Singing Category
1st Place: Rising Star Award
Hong-Yu Huang —NCKU, Civil Engineering — Going into the Red Dust
2nd Place: Show King Award
Ting-Yen Lin — National Sun Yat-sen University, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering — Love Trickster
3rd Place: Show Legend Award
Rou-Yi Lin —NCKU, Political Science — Long Time No See
Best Popularity Award: Sapphire Superstar Award
Hong-Yu Huang —NCKU, Civil Engineering — Going into the Red Dust
Audience Special Award: Shining Star Award
Kai-Hsuan Hsu —NCKU, Mechanical Engineering — The Wish Blown by the Wind
(Also recognized: Wei-Chih Chang — Aeronautics and Astronautics, Shun-Hung You / Wei-Ling Hou — Transportation and Communication Management Science, Chih-Chun Chen — Systems and Naval Mechatronic Engineering, Ko-Hsin Liao — Mathematics, Jing-Hsiang Huang — Civil Engineering, Mu-Hsi Lee — Industrial Design, Yu-Hung Chen — Statistics)
Vice President Yu-Neu Chen delivered her speech in Taiwanese, praising Taiwanese as the most beautiful mother tongue of Taiwan.
Professor Hsin-Han Ho from the Department of Taiwanese Literature at National Taichung University of Education, serving as a judge, stated that it is precisely because of the resilient vitality of Taiwanese among the people that such a brilliant and diverse Taiwanese performing arts scene has been nurtured.
Through the outstanding performances of the contestants, the audience was able to truly experience the beauty of the Taiwanese language.
The "2nd Cheng Kung Taiwanese Variety Show" attracted 72 student teams from universities across the country to sign up and participate.
