Even Taiwanese swim nude

[naturistoftheyear]

When the Taiwanese media report on naturism, it's usually about overseas nudity, like the flight in Germany or Spencer Tunick's events.
This time, the major newspaper Apple Daily has a report about a woman who launched a group of nude swimmers a decade ago, and now has a following of about 30 mostly middle-aged, and mostly female naturists.
That's quite a feat in Taiwan, where public nudity is completely banned and there is no official naturist organization nor resort.

http://asianaturist.blogspot.com

The original Apple Daily story - in Chinese - is at:

Link edited and deleted as 99.5% of guests, members of CFF cannot read Chinese characters and is a duplicate of the above blog in English.

[SpiderThug]

This is very good. Cool :)

[Agde]

NakedGary, would you mind terribly not systematically deleting Chinese language links? Since Apple Daily has a kind of wild tabloid reputation, I was curious to read the original for the tone of the article and it took awhile to find it without the link.

Also, the 99.5% reasoning is kind of odd -- from a global perspective, naturism could be deleted from public discourse on the same basis. :) Finally, we might want to keep communication open with a quarter of the world's population, many of whom find news like this through english language sites. If only .5% of Chinese got interested, they might do for naturism what China is currently doing for oil prices! :)

[Agde]

The tone of the article, btw, is just great! Cheerful, simple, positive. I suspect most readers, especially women, will take away a feeling that "bare swimming" is very healthful and refreshing.

It is interesting to European naturists, of course, that in the traditional Chinese context, there is no Puritan-style moral or religious taboo to fight. Clothing has always been a matter of practicality, custom, social status and decoration.. The Taiwan women in the article reflect that in comments about it "not being about looking good, but feeling good."

Without discounting the complex challenges faced by Chinese women, the fact that women are taking the lead as naturists somehow gives the whole thing a gentler homey feel. Its of course not that people, especially young people, are unaware of European and American attitudes toward nudity, its just starting from a different value set.

Now I am curious to get a hold of Pan Ying-hua's book.

[naturistoftheyear]

Hi, Agde.

Pleasantly surprised to find a fellow Chinese-reader here on this forum.
Pan self-published her book, called 'Naked - Ten Years of Conversations with my Body', which means it's only available through her blog http://wretch.cc/blog/ibubunu

Since I'm up for a trip to Europe next Tuesday, it's too late for me to order her book so I'll wait until my return to Taiwan in late May.
Here in Taiwan, her book is only available in some stores around her home region of Taidong, but not in the capital Taipei.

[Agde]

Thanks for the link, naturistoftheyear! I'll order the book as indicated. With all the media attention, it sounds like Ms Pan will get back her publishing investment, and probably could use some help with distribution logistics, but overall she seems to be coping pretty well. Hope it sparks interest in Chinese-style naturism in a way that provides a positive model for the mainland as well. Have a good trip to Europe -- its still not very warm :(