By / MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel & Lifestyle Network Editorial Team

The sage grows more distant with each passing day, yet his legacy endures. Zhou Mengdie, known as the "ascetic monk of the poetry world," passed away on May 1 of this year (103), at the age of 94. To honor this poet, widely acknowledged as a significant and distinctive voice in Taiwan’s modern poetry scene, the West District Library in Taichung, the Huludun Cultural Center, and the Dadun Cultural Center have each set up special exhibition areas and curated thematic book displays. These exhibitions allow the public to revisit Zhou Mengdie’s classic poems and writings, paying tribute to and remembering the poet.

Zhou Mengdie, whose real name was Zhou Qishu, was born in the 10th year of the Republic of China. His father passed away before he was born. After joining the military and following the government to Taiwan, Zhou Mengdie was separated from his mother, wife, and children. He did not return home until his 70s, only to face his son suffering a stroke and eventually passing away. The poet channeled his lifelong solitude and sorrow into his writing, infusing his poetry with humanistic and Zen-like philosophical depth. In 1965, he published "The Grass of Returning Souls," which established his standing in the poetry world. It was also published in English under the title "The Grass of Returning Souls."For 21 years, Zhou Mengdie ran a poetry and literature bookstall in front of the Mingxing Café on Wuchang Street in Taipei, attracting writers and literature enthusiasts from all over Taiwan. This created a unique cultural street scene and inspired many young writers.

The West District Library in Taichung is hosting the 【Ascetic Monk of Poetry – Zhou Mengdie Book Exhibition】 from now until May 31. The exhibition also features related newspaper clippings and study sheets for interested readers to browse in person. Want to know the origin of Zhou Mengdie’s pen name, what title Zheng Chouyu gave him, or what his first poem after arriving in Taiwan was? A visit to the West District Library promises a wealth of discoveries.

Huludun Cultural CenterThe 【Zhou Mengdie Works and Modern Poetry Collection Special Exhibition】 not only pays tribute to the master but also displays all 500+ volumes of modern poetry in its collection, guiding visitors to deeply explore and reconnect with the literary world of modern poetry. Additionally, the documentary film about Zhou Mengdie, "The Coming of Vimalakirti," directed by Chen Chuanxing, will be screened in the first-floor audiovisual area during the event.During the exhibition period from now until June 6, the reader who borrows the most library books will receive a hardcover collector’s edition of 《Zhou Mengdie’s Poetry and Prose Collection》.