Taiwanese Tile Genealogy: The Encyclopedia of Taiwanese Tiles - An Appreciation of Eight Categories of Tiles

Decoding the Fascinating History of Taiwanese Tiles．Connecting the Cultural Map of Global Tiles

★The Encyclopedia of Taiwanese Tiles: An Appreciation of Eight Categories of Tiles

★Nearly 800 Pictures and Diagrams to Appreciate the Beauty of Tiles

★Over 20 Years of Research by the Author, Revealing Private Tile Collections

   ★30 Recommended Taiwanese Tile Themed Appreciation Spots

Don't underestimate a single tile; it connects Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia, China, the UK, Italy, Spain, and even Islamic countries, unfolding a cross-cultural map spanning 600 years of East-West exchange!

This book is divided into four chapters, beginning with the author's stories of tile research from around the world.

Chapter 1 〈Exploring the Tile Genealogy〉 starts by defining tiles and understanding how they achieved rapid and brilliant development after the 12th century. It meticulously analyzes the cultural development trajectories from Islamic mosaic tiles, Spanish and Italian majolica tiles, British Victorian tiles, to Japanese-made majolica tiles.

Chapter 2 〈Small Tiles, Big History〉 traces the history of tile development in Taiwan, divided into three stages: late Qing Dynasty, Japanese colonial period, and post-war era. It discusses everything from traditional kiln products to the trendy and luxurious majolica tiles on folk houses, decorative tiles in modern architecture during the Japanese colonial period, and the use of exterior wall tiles in post-war architecture, gradually understanding the evolution of Taiwanese tiles over more than a century.

Chapter 3 〈Unlocking the Tile Code〉 analyzes the modular dimensions and hidden codes of tiles. Through the text, patterns, or trademarks on their backs, one can determine the place of production, country, age, and designer, revealing more stories behind the tiles.

Chapter 4 〈Appreciation of Eight Categories of Tiles〉 categorizes tiles into eight types: majolica tiles, Victorian tiles, tile paintings, decorative tiles of modern architecture, mosaic tiles, terracotta tiles, roof tiles, and cement tiles. It offers an appreciation of the rich styles and aesthetic patterns of these tiles.

It is worth noting that since the history of Japanese tile development is closely related to the use of tiles in Taiwan, the author, as a Japanese scholar residing in Taiwan and specializing in tiles, references many Japanese architectural cases for comparison in the book. This allows for a more systematic and in-depth discussion of the aesthetic application of tiles in modern Taiwanese architecture during the Japanese colonial period.