Qi-Deng Sheng was one of the most philosophically incisive creative writers on the Taiwan island in the 1960s and 70s, and one of the most controversial figures in local literary history. Criticism of his work is polarized, in a sort of tug of war between “collective consciousness” and “individual will” in the cultural landscape of a rapidly modernizing society. As the hive mind buzzed, Qi-Deng Sheng tuned out and listened to his inner voice. As he explains in the above quotation, he regarded writing as a creative process that differentiated the ego from the group, and reality from falsehood. In other words, he wrote to build a sanctuary for his individuality. On the one hand, he was committed to conveying his personal beliefs through his works, rejecting vulgarity wherever he found it: in social groups, cultural trends, even literary critics. On the other hand, he was dedicated to highlighting the antagonism between self and society––to spotlighting the poor, deprived, embattled, iso
