Young Taiwan writer chronicles family's three-generation journey on mainland

A young Taiwan writer's book about his family's root-seeking journey on the Chinese mainland spanning three generations is released on Friday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A young Taiwan writer's book about his family's root-seeking journey on the Chinese mainland spanning three generations was released on Friday to promote cross-Strait connections at a time when the island authorities are attempting to sever such ties.

The book, "Huangtu Family", was written by Chang Yu, who spent 10 years shuttling between the two sides of the Strait, visiting relatives, collecting old photographs, and crafting a poignant and intricate story of his family.

He was inspired by his grandfather, who was born in Qixian county in Henan province, and was forced to retreat to Taiwan with the defeated Kuomintang troops in 1949. Chang's grandfather married and had children in Taiwan and he couldn't return to the mainland due to cross-Strait conflicts lasting for decades.

In 1988, after the reopening of cross-Strait family visits, his grandfather returned to his hometown in Henan, altering the fate of his family split between the two sides.

Upon his return, his grandfather brought back a bottle of water from the Yellow River, symbolizing the essence of his homeland, a keepsake that remained on his bedside table until his passing.

"For him, preserving items carrying the essence of home held deep significance," Chang said. "I hope that through my family's story, I can share more positive energy and contribute to the peaceful development across the Strait."

Yuan Xiaobo, the book's editor said that there were over 600,000 veterans such as Chang's grandfather in Taiwan who came from the mainland, but fewer than 4,000 have been able to return to their hometowns, and today only around 3,900 are still alive.

"The writer not only fulfilled his grandfather's wish to return home but also immortalized his life in a book, providing a detailed, credible, and feasible reference for similar families across the Strait," he said.

Dou Weilong, head of the Taihai Publishing House based in Beijing, said in recent years, attempts of Taiwan's democratic Progressive Party to sever Taiwan's ties with the motherland have led to many Taiwan youths lacking understanding of their homeland and a gradual loss of national identity.

"Publishing realistic books like this holds great practical and historical significance," he said.