Literature originates from the land and its people, recording their lived experiences and spiritual evolution across different historical eras. Beginning with the hunting and fishing life of indigenous peoples in ancient times, Taiwan subsequently experienced centuries of Han migration and land development. Its historical trajectory spans Dutch and Spanish colonial rule, the Tungning Kingdom, Qing dynasty governance, Japanese imperial occupation, post-WWII administration under the Republic of China, and ultimately today’s economic prosperity and vibrant democracy, which have commanded worldwide attention. The arduous path—woven with historical hardships, human vicissitudes, and relentless efforts to turn the tide—has long been reflected across various literary genres. Whether passed down through oral myths and legends or constructed through written texts, literature has faithfully recorded the multifaceted "Taiwan Experience," rich with the tears, blood, and wisdom of its people. Whether reflecting on the past or looking to the future, and whether viewed through the lens of Taiwan’s sustainable cultural inheritance or global engagement and exchange, Taiwan literature stands as an immensely precious cultural asset. Over the past three to four hundred years, Taiwan literature—in terms of linguistic forms and thematic depth—has manifested rich diversity and a remarkable flourish of talented writers, standing as a distinct system of its own within world literature.

Established in August 2002, the Institute of Taiwan Literature at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) admits 12 master’s students each year. The Ph.D. program was introduced in 2012, enrolling 2 doctoral students annually, along with 1–2 students from China, overseas Chinese, or international backgrounds. In 2006, in collaboration with other units within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), the Institute launched the "Graduate Program of Taiwan Studies for In-service Teachers." This program offers courses designed for junior and senior high school teachers, integrating Taiwan literature into classroom teaching while enhancing their professional expertise. Furthermore, in 2010, the Institute established the "Program in Literature and Creative Writing" under the Interdisciplinary Program of Humanities and Social Sciences, aiming to cultivate creative writing and interdisciplinary talents through a series of theoretical and practical courses. In Taiwan, our Institute stands as the only Taiwan literature department that equally emphasizes research, creative writing, and in-service teacher education. In terms of academic activities, the Institute regularly co-hosts graduate student academic conferences with universities across Taiwan each semester. In 2012, the "Taiwan Literature Research Association" was founded as a key platform for scholars at home and abroad to engage in discussions on Taiwan literature—a precursor to the national "Association for Taiwan Literature" established in 2016. Since 2015, funded by novelists Mr. Wang Mo-Jen and Ms. Chou An-Yi, the "Literary Lecture of Wang Mo-Jen and Chou An-Yi " was established to focus on creative writing and literary promotion through regular lecture series. Regarding international exchange, since its inception, the Institute has organized a major international academic conference every one to two years, inviting scholars from Mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the United States, and beyond. These events have successfully established a transnational platform for academic collaboration through ongoing dialogue and interaction. Additionally, faculty and students organize annual overseas academic visits to countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong, fostering global engagement and strengthening academic connections with international institutions.

The Institute offers a comprehensive and diverse curriculum covering areas such as Taiwanese literary history, Classical Taiwanese Literature, Taiwanese Indigenous literature, Taiwanese Literature under Japanese Colonial Rule, Colonialism and Literary Production, Comparative Colonial Literature, Post-War Taiwanese Literature, Modern and Contemporary Literature, Post-War Women’s Literature, Studies in Prose and Essays, Studies in Modern Poetry, Taiwanese Cinema, Taiwanese Drama and Theater, Cultural Studies Theory, Feminism and Gender Culture, Comparative Literature Theory and Research, Global Modernism, ACG (Anime, Comics, Games) and New Media Studies.

Graduates of the Institute enjoy broad and diverse career opportunities, actively contributing across academia, education, creative writing, and various cultural and creative industries: