Hibiscus & Plum Blossoms

Bilingual Translation Edition

Hibiscus And Plum Blossoms: Contemporary Malaysian And Taiwanese Poems is a cross-cultural project where two literary traditions meet, intertwine, and reflect one another’s landscapes, histories, and inner worlds.

Published by Maya Press, the bilingual anthology – in English and Chinese – takes its title from the national flowers of both countries: Malaysia’s hibiscus, symbolising vitality, and Taiwan’s plum blossom, prized for its ­resilience. Together, they frame the collection as a meeting of ­cultures and a dialogue in verse.

This anthology also expands the literary connection between Malaysia and Taiwan, which first began with Mahua literature, the Chinese-language literature produced by Malaysian Chinese communities in Malaysia and Taiwan that first emerged in the 20th century.

'Hibiscus And Plum Blossoms' features works by 42 poets from Malaysia and Taiwan, with the cover illustrated by KL-based artist Jun Kit. Photo: Malachi Edwin Vethamani