▲ Su Wen-kuei photographed at the Hoo-wee Historical Studio (on the left), and on the right, the Hoo-wee Historical Studio has been demolished.

Mr. Su developed a keen interest in local history and culture during his time at Tamkang High School and the Art College, where he encountered inspiring teachers. As Taiwan’s society experienced a wave of nostalgia, he began writing articles on Taiwan’s local history and church history while editing church magazines. Unfortunately, his ideas clashed with the Mandarin-speaking church he worked for, which was out of touch with society, leading to his disappointment. With the lifting of martial law and the surge of political and social movements in Taiwan, Mr. Su, fueled by religious fervor, actively engaged in political activities, including assisting in elections and participating in political protests. Eventually, he, along with like-minded friends, founded the “HouweI Historical and Cultural Studio” in his wife’s flower arrangement classroom. They also published the magazine “HouweI Street,” marking the establishment of Taiwan’s earliest cultural and historical studio and local history and culture publication.

Despite receiving recognition, magazines often struggle to directly connect with like-minded individuals. Due to the abundance of historical sites in Tamsui and the emerging trend of cultural tourism in Taiwan, Mr. Su Wen-kuei initiated history tour classes to attract young volunteers to join the studio. Taking a leadership role in guiding these enthusiastic newcomers, he resigned from his job in Taipei and returned to Tamsui, where he also part-time managed a daycare on a mobile cart. Under their collective efforts, tangible results gradually emerged, making cultural and historical work, as well as tour guiding, distinctive features of Tamsui’s culture. The pinnacle of their success was in March 1994 when they collaborated with the Taipei County Cultural Center for the “Remembering Old Tamsui” event during the National Arts Festival. In August of the same year, the Hui-wei Studio hosted the “National Cultural and Historical Workshop Summer Camp” in Tamsui in partnership with the Taipei County Cultural Center. This event was hailed by the cultural community as the first hero meeting of local cultural and historical workers in Taiwan. Tamsui not only became a leading hub for cultural and historical work in Taiwan but also earned Mr. Su Wen-kuei the nickname “Su Laoda” among early cultural workers.

After the fame of the Hwei-Wei Culture and History Studio, coupled with Tamsui becoming a well-known tourist destination nationwide, many individuals and groups rushed to establish studios and organizations in Tamsui. The studio experienced a split, and after Su-dad’s departure, he formed the “Tamsui Local Studies Association.” This new organization focused on publishing educational materials and creating various brochures, aiding local junior high and elementary schools in their local studies programs. They also collaborated with the Tamsui Township Office, agricultural and fisheries associations, and various local community groups, assisting them in establishing reading clubs and tour guides to promote local tourism. This continued until Su-dad’s service at his alma mater, Tamkang High School, in 2000.

Su-dad devoted a decade to cultural and historical work in Tamsui. The thriving development of local cultural initiatives today and the distinctive cultural content and characteristics of tourism development are all related to his more than thirty years of dedication in Tamsui.

▲ The left photo shows Su Wen-kuei providing explanations on the Tamsui ferry, while the right photo captures him conducting historical site explanations within Tamkang High School premises.