Feeling a Shared History through Song: “A Flower in the Rainy Night” as a Key Cultural Symbol in Taiwan

Released in 1934, “A Flower in the Rainy Night” (U iā hoe) is often considered one of the most heart-rending of old Taiwanese songs. On the eve of the 2002 Taipei mayoral election, Taiwan's former president, Lee Teng-hui, closed the rally for the underdog candidate by leading a crowd of 50,000 in singing the song. An analysis of ethnographic, literary, and media sources indicates that the song serves as an elaborating symbol and aids in conceptualizing the order of the world, making ties between the past and present, and offering visions of alternative futures.