〈Romance of An-ping: Miss

Jin’s Interethnic Love Story〉1

(An-ping Requiem)


This novel is accompanied by a complete feature film screenplay.
Film adaptation rights: USD 2,000,000
For inquiries, please contact:
Chen Ching-Yang – 54088rabbit@gmail.com

Table of Contents

1. Creative Concept .................................................................. 2
2. Story Synopsis ...................................................................... 3
3. Character List ....................................................................... 4
4. Story Outline ....................................................................... 10
5. Film Novel ........................................................................... 15

Chapter 1: Junsen Arrives at Tayouan Harbor ..................... p.15
Chapter 2: An Ox Cart Enters Chihkan Village ................... p.20
Chapter 3: Chihkan Women Clean the Village ..................... p.27
Chapter 4: Courtship at the Firefly Festival ...................... p.33
Chapter 5: Sayun Accepts Junsen’s Confession ................. p.40
Chapter 6: Sayun Nurses Junsen Back to Health ............... p.46
Chapter 7: The Wedding of Junsen and Sayun ................... p.52
Chapter 8: Junsen Conducts Traveling Medical Care ........ p.58
Chapter 9: Villages Form an Anti-Tax Alliance .................. p.64
Chapter 10: Junsen Is Placed under House Arrest in Madou ... p.70
Chapter 11: Regional Bishop Mediates the Conflict ............ p.77
Chapter 12: The Mother-in-law Worries about Her Son-in-law ... p.84
Chapter 13: Dutch Troops Attack the Villages ..................... p.91
Chapter 14: Junsen Enters Fort Zeelandia to Meet the Governor ... p.103
Chapter 15: Rescuing Four Female Chieftains from Danger .... p.107
Chapter 16: Junsen Returns to Chihkan in Triumph ............ p.116
Chapter 17: Junsen Returns to Amsterdam ....................... p.123
Chapter 18: Viana Discovers Junsen’s Secret ..................... p.128
Chapter 19: Devoted Sayun Gives Birth to a Daughter ........ p.133
Chapter 20: Sayun Opens a Medical Clinic at Tayouan Harbor ... p.138
Chapter 21: The Graceful and Captivating Blonde Woman ..... p.144
Chapter 22: The Unspoken Understanding between Hsiuya and Williams ... p.151
Chapter 23: Kali Arranges a Matchmaking for Hsiuya .......... p.157
Chapter 24: Conflict between Kali and His Daughter .......... p.164
Chapter 25: Sayun Supports Her Daughter’s Pursuit of Happiness ... p.171
Chapter 26: Hsiuya Leaves Tayouan Harbor with Williams ..... p.176
Chapter 27: Sayun Devotes Herself to Treating Smallpox ..... p.183
Chapter 28: Sayun Contracts Acute Pneumonia ................. p.190
Chapter 29: Junsen and Hsiuya Set Sail Back to the Far East ... p.196

1. Creative Concept

This full-length novel is inspired by An-ping Requiem, a Taiwanese song composed in 1951 by renowned lyricist Chen Daru and composer Hsu Shih. The story is set in Anping, Tainan, between 1625 and 1650, and recounts a historical romance between Junsen (Johson), a Dutch Christian Dominican physician, and Princess Sayun of the Siraya Chihkan tribe.

As a historical love story, the author conducted extensive research prior to writing, consulting published historical materials such as The Batavia Castle Diaries and Pearls and Roses—The Authorized Biography of Miss Jin of Anping. These sources were carefully整理 and distilled to reconstruct cultural settings as faithfully as possible.

The novel centers on interethnic marriage and European cultural elements, and, given its international subject matter, is expected to receive strong audience response upon publication. The screenplay adaptation has already attracted keen interest and cooperation proposals from several film and television production companies, with strong prospects for a future cinematic release.

The novel is written in screenplay-style scenes, comprising approximately 150 scenes, which would translate into a feature film of roughly 220 minutes. With its solid narrative and emotionally compelling content, the production—if greenlit—would consider location shooting in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Given that the story is set four centuries ago, all sets, costumes, and props require rigorous historical verification, design, and fabrication. To ensure visual authenticity and refinement, the production budget would be relatively high. Therefore, international co-production with European and global film distributors is being considered, with overseas-language versions planned for international distribution.

The author is a graduate of the Graduate Institute of Taiwanese Literature, National Taipei University of Education, specializing in Taiwanese history and literature. In addition to teaching, the author is devoted to writing poetry, fiction, and drama. It is the author’s aspiration to create high-quality cinematic novels that may eventually be adapted for the screen, allowing Taiwanese audiences—beyond Korean dramas and mainland Chinese historical epics—to appreciate stories that portray the unique landscapes, history, and cultural beauty of Taiwan.

2. Story Synopsis

Young physician Junsen (Jansen) arrives by ship at Tayouan Harbor (modern-day Anping) in Formosa. Struck by the bustling port and prosperity, he becomes deeply curious about the land. Junsen encounters Kali, who is suffering from malaria, and gives him medicine. In gratitude, Kali takes Junsen back to Chihkan Village and introduces him to the chieftain Dabangya.

Junsen treats the villagers’ illnesses and teaches methods of environmental sanitation to eliminate disease vectors. He earns the villagers’ admiration, as well as the affection of both the female hunter Lalu and Princess Sayun. Sayun, who is knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine, becomes Junsen’s capable assistant. Through their daily collaboration, the two gradually fall in love.

Kali, who harbors secret feelings for Sayun, realizes that her heart belongs to Junsen. During the Firefly Festival—the tribe’s equivalent of Valentine’s Day—Kali confesses his love, but Sayun gently rejects him. Fearing that Sayun may leave Chihkan with Junsen, and discovering that his sister Lalu also loves Junsen, Kali persuades his father Daliguan to pressure Chieftain Dabangya. Dabangya forbids Sayun from seeing Junsen. Nevertheless, with the help of her younger brother Dalai, Sayun continues the relationship in secret.

Unaware that he himself has contracted malaria, Junsen falls ill with chills. Sayun loosens her clothing to warm him, and the two lie naked in each other’s arms. They are discovered by Lalu, who has followed them. Furious, Kali demands that Junsen choose between leaving Chihkan or marrying into Dabangya’s family to preserve Sayun’s honor. Moved by Sayun’s devotion, Junsen agrees to marry her. Kali realizes too late that his schemes have backfired.

After their marriage, Junsen and Sayun travel together to neighboring villages providing medical care. However, the Dutch colonial authorities impose unilateral tax increases, provoking strong resentment among the villagers. A tax official is taken hostage, and Junsen and Sayun are mistakenly detained in Madou Village. Upon learning of this, Dabangya rescues them.

Dutch Governor Peter, wary of escalation, adopts a strategy proposed by his advisor Bakker: he pretends to reduce taxes to secure the hostages’ release, then later sends troops to punish the villages, arresting the chieftains. Missionary Matthews and Junsen work together to rescue them. Junsen agrees to treat Peter’s illness in exchange for their freedom. News spreads, and Junsen becomes revered by the indigenous communities.

Junsen later receives a letter from home demanding his return to the Netherlands. At the harbor, a pregnant Sayun bids him a tearful farewell. Junsen leaves her a token of remembrance. Sayun continues his medical mission and waits at the harbor daily, unaware that Junsen is forced by his family to remarry upon returning home. Her solitary figure at the harbor moves passing ships to sound their horns in sympathy.

More than a decade later, Sayun’s daughter Hsiuya, of mixed heritage and golden hair, grows into a striking young woman, attracting admiration from both foreign merchants and local youths. Her godfather Kali, determined to prevent her from repeating her mother’s fate, opposes her relationship with the young British merchant Williams. Hsiuya’s uncle Dalai sympathizes with her and persuades Sayun to let her go to England with Williams.

In England, Williams recognizes Junsen from a photograph of Hsiuya’s necklace and brings her to meet her biological father. Learning of Sayun’s life, Junsen is overwhelmed with remorse. He returns to Tayouan with his daughter and son-in-law, only to find that Sayun, exhausted from combating a smallpox epidemic, has passed away. At her grave, Junsen weeps openly. To fulfill Sayun’s wish, he resolves to remain and continue practicing medicine for the people.

(3) Character List

(4) Story Synopsis

The young physician Jansen is dispatched by the Dominican Order of the Christian Church to the Far East. Traveling by ship, he arrives at Tayouan Harbor, Formosa (present-day Anping Harbor). Struck by the bustling prosperity of the port, he is filled with curiosity about this land. While strolling through the streets, he encounters a Siraya youth named Kaleh, who is suffering from malaria and undergoing herbal treatment by a traditional Han physician, though with little improvement. Jansen takes quinine from his medical kit and administers it to Kaleh. By the next day, Kaleh’s condition has improved noticeably. Jansen gives him a bottle of quinine powder and instructs him to take it regularly.

After Jansen cures Kaleh of malaria, the two become close friends. Kaleh is the son of Dalikuan, an elder of Chihkan Village, and he brings Jansen back to the village. At the time, Chihkan and several nearby Siraya villages are plagued by malaria and “intermittent fever” (typhoid). With the support of Tapanya, the female chief of Chihkan Village, and Kaleh, Jansen not only treats the infectious diseases in the surrounding villages, but also teaches preventive measures such as using mosquito nets, drinking boiled water, and eliminating stagnant water around homes to eradicate disease vectors. These efforts greatly improve local sanitation.

Jansen’s benevolent deeds earn him a fine reputation and the affection of two women: Lalu, Kaleh’s sister and a female hunter, and Saiyun, the daughter of Chief Tapanya. Both fall in love with the kind-hearted, guileless Dutch doctor. Lalu sews deerskin clothes for Jansen to win his favor, while Saiyun—having previously studied traditional Chinese medicine—becomes Jansen’s capable assistant. Working closely together, their feelings gradually deepen.

Saiyun and Kaleh grew up together as childhood sweethearts. Kaleh has long hoped to marry into the chieftain’s family and become Saiyun’s husband, and the villagers regard them as a perfect match. However, after Jansen’s arrival, Kaleh senses Saiyun drifting away. In preparation for the upcoming Firefly Festival (the Siraya lovers’ festival), Kaleh goes to cut bamboo and encounters Daya, who perceives his worries and encourages him to confess his feelings. During the festival, Kaleh presents Saiyun with a bamboo tube filled with fireflies, but Saiyun opens the lid and gently but clearly rejects him. Heartbroken, Kaleh drowns his sorrow in drink. Ali, who also fails in confessing his love to Lalu, joins Kaleh in mutual consolation.

Kaleh later realizes that his sister Lalu also loves Jansen. For Lalu’s happiness—and for his own feelings toward Saiyun—Kaleh resolves to force Jansen to leave Chihkan Village. He argues to his father Dalikuan that since Saiyun is to inherit the chieftainship, she cannot marry an outsider unless Jansen agrees to marry into the family. Dalikuan understands Kaleh’s private motives but nonetheless convenes the elders, urging Chief Tapanya to uphold ancestral rules and forbid Saiyun from continuing her relationship with Jansen.

Tapanya states that she must first hear Saiyun’s own wishes. When asked, Saiyun declares that if Jansen were to confess his love, she would abandon everything to follow him. Shocked, Tapanya places Saiyun under house arrest and forbids her from working at the Han medical clinic. Li Qinghua, Tapanya’s husband, also advises restraint to quell village gossip. However, Saiyun’s younger brother Talai, sympathetic to her plight, secretly helps the lovers exchange messages. Though aware, Tapanya tacitly allows their secret meetings.

The friendship between Jansen and Kaleh fractures due to Kaleh’s resentment. Jansen senses the hostility and feels both helpless and regretful. He knows he loves the gentle Saiyun, yet foresees a difficult fate ahead. Meanwhile, the forthright and assertive Lalu repeatedly expresses her affection for Jansen. Unwilling to hurt her feelings, Jansen’s ambiguity leads Lalu to believe she still has hope.

Before Jansen departs to practice medicine in Sinkang and Mattau villages, Talai brings Saiyun to see him and leaves them alone. That stormy night, Jansen suddenly falls gravely ill with chills. Saiyun finds quinine in his medical kit, nurses him with herbal medicine, and holds him through the night to keep him warm. At dawn, Talai returns, followed by Lalu, who witnesses the couple embracing naked. Devastated, Lalu flees in tears.

The incident causes an uproar in the village. Dalikuan and the elders demand that Jansen declare whether he will marry into the chieftain’s family. If not, he must leave Chihkan forever. To protect Saiyun’s honor, Jansen agrees. Kaleh and Lalu regret their actions, having inadvertently forced Jansen’s decision. Once Jansen recovers, a wedding is held under Tapanya and Li Qinghua’s supervision, and Jansen formally marries into the chieftain’s household.

Jansen and Saiyun set out together to practice medicine in other villages, with Ali driving the ox cart. Kaleh comes to see them off. Jansen’s compassion earns him widespread respect among the villagers.

Meanwhile, Peter, the governor of Fort Zeelandia, raises taxes due to rising deerskin prices in Europe. Under his orders, tax officer Piers demands one additional deerskin per household each month. This sparks outrage, prompting Donin, chief of Soulangh, to unite four northern villages in revolt. Dutch officials and missionaries are taken hostage. Jansen and Saiyun are confined in Mattau’s church.

Missionary Matthews reports the crisis to Bishop Candidius, who joins merchant leaders George and Louis in petitioning Peter—unsuccessfully. Tapanya travels to Mattau with Kaleh and Lalu, but agrees to let Jansen and Saiyun remain to serve the villagers.

Feigning concession, Peter later orders military retaliation. Villages are attacked, chiefs arrested, and warrior Makawu is killed defending Donin. Jansen and Saiyun treat the wounded. Matthews condemns Peter’s betrayal and, with Candidius, confronts him again.

Suffering from chronic rheumatism, Peter summons Jansen for treatment. Jansen agrees on condition that the chiefs be released afterward. Using traditional Chinese medicine, Jansen alleviates Peter’s illness. Peter honors his promise, releasing the chiefs and reducing grain taxes.

Soon after, Saiyun becomes pregnant. Jansen receives news of his father’s grave illness and must return to Holland. He leaves Saiyun with tokens of promise. Back home, he is compelled into marriage with Viana to fulfill his dying father’s wish. Afterward, Viana—understanding Jansen’s sorrow—encourages him to return to Formosa, but her mother intervenes and relocates the family to England.

Left behind, Saiyun opens a clinic combining Western and Chinese medicine. She gives birth to a daughter, Xiuyah, and waits daily at the harbor. Years later, Xiuyah meets Williams, an English merchant. They fall in love and sail to England, where Xiuyah reunites with her father Jansen.

A smallpox epidemic ravages the Siraya villages. Saiyun exhausts herself seeking a cure, eventually discovering both supportive therapy and variolation, saving many lives—including Ali’s—but succumbs herself to pneumonia and sepsis.

Jansen returns too late. Grieving, he fulfills Saiyun’s final wish by continuing her medical work, controlling the epidemic. Xiuyah follows in her parents’ footsteps. Jansen writes to Viana, asking her to join him, resolved to remain in Formosa permanently.

(The End)