Community and Li Culture in Taiwan

As night falls, the community activity center in a district of Taipei still glows with light.
The district director (li zhang) is convening residents to discuss next month's cleanup day, while neighborhood heads (linzhang) report on conditions in their respective areas, and instructors from the community university teach tai chi in the adjacent classroom.
This seemingly ordinary night actually embodies the essence of Taiwan's community culture — from the most basic administrative organizations to autonomous civic participation, from institutionalized democratic practice to creative social innovation.

Within this small administrative unit called a "li," several hundred to several thousand residents live together, collectively forming the smallest cell of Taiwan's democratic society.
How these cells function, how they self-organize, and how they respond to challenges not only affects residents' daily quality of life but also profoundly shapes Taiwan's democratic culture and social resilience.

The Li-Neighborhood System: The Frontline of Democracy

Taiwan's village-district (cunli) system can be said to be among the most people-close democratic practices in the world.
According to the Local Government Act, villages and districtss are the most basic administrative units, each with a village-district director (cunli zhang) directly elected by residents for a four-year term, with no limit on consecutive re-elections. ¹
This institutional design ensures the breadth and accessibility of democratic participation.

The role of the district director is highly diverse; they serve as both a bridge between government and residents and a coordinator of community affairs.
According to legal provisions, the district director "is under the command and supervision of the mayor (town, city, district) and handles village-district affairs and assigned matters," but in actual operation, the district director often plays a more complex role.
They must handle matters ranging from community construction planning to minor neighborhood disputes.
From assisting residents in applying for various certificates to organizing community activities, from promoting environmental cleanliness to reflecting on security issues, the district director's duties almost cover all aspects of residents' lives.

Under the district, there is a more detailed "neighborhood" organization.
The neighborhood head is a non-paid position. Taking Taipei City as an example, the neighborhood head is selected and appointed by the district director from among the adult residents of that neighborhood, with no salary, but receives a monthly work assistance fee of NT$2,500, along with accidental insurance and subsidies for self-improvement activities. ²
The pay is not much, but the neighborhood head plays an indispensable role in community operations.
They are the closest contact point to residents, responsible for conveying policy information, collecting public opinions, and assisting with various administrative matters.
When a typhoon approaches, the neighborhood head visits each household to check on the safety of elderly people living alone;
During the epidemic, they assist in distributing epidemic prevention materials;
In daily life, they are an important bridge between residents and the district director.

The operation of this system demonstrates an important feature of Taiwan's democracy: the deep practice of participatory democracy.
The frequent interactions between district directors, neighborhood heads, and residents also cultivate habits and capabilities for civic participation.

Community Building: A Bottom-Up Social Transformation Movement

In the 1990s, a concept called "community-wide construction" began to take root in Taiwan, changing not only the appearance of communities but also profoundly influencing Taiwan's social development model.
The core idea of this movement is "bottom-up," emphasizing the autonomous participation of community residents, achieving comprehensive community development through cultural arts, environmental improvement, and industrial revitalization.

The rise of the community building movement is closely related to the course of Taiwan's democratization.
After the authoritarian system was lifted, people began to have more opportunities to express their opinions and participate in public affairs.
Community building provided a concrete platform for people to start from their own living environment and realize the ideals of democratic participation.

The Ministry of Culture (formerly the Council for Cultural Affairs) began promoting community building policies in 1994, encouraging community residents to independently propose plans and improve their living environment through subsidy programs.
These programs cover various aspects including cultural arts, environmental landscapes, industrial development, and social welfare.
For example, the Ban Tou community in Xingang Township, Chiayi County, through the promotion of the JiZhu paste art, not only preserved traditional crafts but also drove the development of the tourism industry;
The Neicheng community in Yuanshan Township, Yilan County, combined organic farming, friendly cultivation, and ecological conservation, also attracting some young people to farm there.

The spirit of community building lies in "our own community, our own salvation."
It encourages residents not to wait for government or external intervention but to actively discover problems, find resources, and propose solutions.
During this process, residents learn organizational coordination, resource integration, and plan execution skills, while cultivating a sense of identity and responsibility for their community.

Community University: Experiments in a Learning Society

In 1998, the first community university in Taiwan was established in Wenshan District, Taipei City, marking a new chapter in adult education.
The founding philosophy of community universities stems from a reflection on the traditional education system: Why should education end at a certain age?
Why should learning be limited to specific places?
Why can't knowledge be closer to life?

The curriculum design of community universities has three aspects: academic courses provide basic education in humanities and social sciences, life arts courses meet residents' interest needs, and club activity courses encourage civic participation.
This diverse curriculum design reflects the community university's broad understanding of "learning" — learning is not only about absorbing knowledge but also about cultivating abilities, expanding horizons, and building interpersonal networks.

Taking the Beitou Community University as an example, they not only provide various courses but also promote the concept of "Beitou Learning," encouraging students to research the local history, culture, ecology, and social issues.
Through field surveys, oral history, and community map drawing, the students become researchers and recorders of the community.
This promotion of "local learning" not only deepens understanding of the community but also cultivates residents' critical thinking abilities and civic consciousness.

Community universities have also become important bases for social movements.
Environmental protection, cultural preservation, and social care issues are often discussed, organized, and implemented in community universities.
Students gain knowledge and skills from the classroom and then invest these resources into practical social actions.
This model of "learning combined with action" embodies the ideal of "knowledge liberation" of community universities.

Civic Participation: From Passive Acceptance to Active Transformation

An important feature of Taiwan's community culture is the gradual enhancement of civic participation awareness.
This change can be clearly seen in the shift in residents' attitudes toward public affairs.
In the past, many people were accustomed to the model of "government does, people watch," and the planning and implementation of public construction often lacked residents' participation.
But with the deepening of democratization and the awakening of civic consciousness, residents began to demand more participation opportunities and were willing to take on more responsibilities.

This participation is not limited to voting in elections but extends to all aspects of daily life.
For example, in the planning of community parks, residents form a "park adoption group" to participate in design discussions and maintenance management;
In improving traffic safety, parent committees organize a "kindness volunteer team" to assist students with going to and from school safely;
In promoting environmental protection, communities establish an "environmental protection patrol team" to monitor pollution issues and promote resource recycling.

Participatory budgeting has emerged as a new form in recent years.
Some local governments open part of the budget to let people decide how to use it, allowing residents to directly participate in the allocation of public resources through proposals, discussions, and voting.
This approach not only improves the transparency of budget use but also enhances residents' sense of being the masters of their own destiny.

The development of digital technology has also provided new possibilities for civic participation.
Many communities have established online platforms where residents can discuss community affairs, reflect on issues, and share information online.
County and city governments have also launched their own applications, such as Taipei City integrating personal identity recognition and multiple municipal services into "Taipei PASS," allowing people to interact with the government more conveniently. ³

Diverse Development of Community Organizations

Taiwan's community organizations show a high degree of diversity and innovation.
In addition to formal village-district organizations, various types of civil society organizations are active in communities.
Community development associations are the most common organizational form, usually with the aim of promoting community development and enhancing residents' welfare, organizing various activities and services.

Volunteer organizations are an important pillar of community operations.
From environmental protection volunteers, traffic volunteers, to library volunteers, cultural tour guides, these unpaid service providers inject warmth and human feelings into the community.
The prevalence of volunteer spirit reflects the traditional value of "mutual aid and cooperation" in Taiwanese society and embodies the social responsibility of modern citizens.

Community enterprises are a new model that has emerged in recent years.
They combine social goals with business methods, using innovative products or services to not only solve community problems but also create economic benefits.
For example, some communities develop organic agriculture, handicrafts, and local tourism to not only improve environmental quality but also increase residents' income.

Religious organizations also play an important role in communities.
Temples, churches, and Buddhist temples are often the cultural centers of the community, providing spiritual comfort and organizing various social service activities.
From charitable relief, educational promotion, to cultural inheritance and environmental protection, the participation of religious organizations adds more resources and energy to community affairs.

Challenges and Dilemmas

However, Taiwan's community development also faces many challenges.
Population aging is one of the most severe issues.
Many young people flow to cities for work, leaving behind mostly elderly residents, leading to insufficient community vitality and difficulties in organizational operation.
How to attract young people to participate in community affairs has become a common issue faced by many communities.

Insufficient resources are another common problem.
Although the government provides various subsidy programs, the competition is fierce, and the subsidy amounts are limited.
Many creative community plans cannot be implemented due to lack of funding.
At the same time, community organizations often lack professional planning and management capabilities, affecting the effectiveness of plan implementation.

The anonymity brought by urbanization also impacts community culture.
In large residential communities, there is a lack of interaction between neighbors, and community consciousness is weak.
How to rebuild community connections in modern urban life is an issue that requires innovative thinking.

The politicization of issues cannot be ignored.
Some community affairs are involved in partisan political disputes, affecting the harmony and development of the community.
How to transcend political divisions and focus on the common interests of residents tests the wisdom of community leaders.

Innovative Practices and Future Prospects

Faced with these challenges, many communities have begun to try innovative approaches.
Intergenerational cooperation is one of the important trends.
Some communities promote "intergenerational learning" and "generational workshops" to facilitate communication and cooperation between different age groups.
The elderly share their experience and wisdom, while the young contribute creativity and energy, forming a virtuous cycle of mutual complementarity.

The application of technology has also brought new possibilities for community development.
The concept of smart communities is gradually emerging, using technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency and quality of community management.
For example, some communities have built smart security systems, environmental monitoring equipment, and online service platforms, allowing residents to enjoy a more convenient and safe living environment.

The model of social enterprises is also being applied in communities.
Some communities develop characteristic industries and provide innovative services to not only solve social problems but also create sustainable business models.
This thinking of "social innovation" provides new imaginative space for community development.

International exchanges and learning have also become a trend.
Many community organizations in Taiwan have established partnerships with communities abroad, sharing experiences and exchanging practices.
This cross-border cooperation not only broadens horizons but also provides new ideas for solving common problems.

The Deep Value of Community Culture

The value of Taiwan's community culture goes far beyond the surface-level organizational operations and event hosting.
It embodies an important social philosophy: democracy is not only a political system but also a way of life.
In communities, people learn to listen to different voices, respect diverse opinions, and seek common solutions.
This cultivation of "democratic literacy" lays a solid foundation for the democratic development of the entire society.

Community culture also demonstrates the power of "civil society."
Outside of government and the market, civil society responds to many social needs through self-organization and self-governance.
The active participation of this "third sector" not only makes up for the shortcomings of government services but also embodies the subjectivity and initiative of citizens.

More importantly, community culture carries the function of "social resilience."
When facing natural disasters, economic changes, and social shocks, the closely-knit community network is often the most effective support.
Mutual care between neighbors, rapid mobilization of community organizations, and flexible allocation of local resources all reflect the bottom-up social recovery capability.

Looking to the future, Taiwan's community culture will continue to evolve and develop.
New challenges require new responses, and new generations will bring new imaginations.
But no matter how things change, the core spirit of "living together, caring for each other, and acting collectively" will always remain the most precious asset of Taiwanese society.

In this rapidly changing era, communities remind us of the essence of life: humans are social animals, happiness needs to be shared, and problems need to be solved through cooperation.
When we discuss the next month's cleanup day in the community activity center, learn new knowledge in the community university classroom, and greet each other in the alleys of the neighborhood, we are actually practicing humanity's oldest and most modern ideal — building a better commonwealth.

Conclusion: Seeing Taiwan's Future Within the "Li"

Taiwan's li culture is an ongoing democratic experiment.
It turns abstract civic obligations into concrete neighborhood care, and translates cold government policies into community enthusiasm and implementation.
In this rapidly fragmented era, we still need the alleys where we can greet each other in the morning, and we still need the activity centers where we gather to discuss a old tree or a drainage ditch.
Because there, we are not only voters but also witnesses to each other's lives.

Extended Reading

• Village-District Director System — From the Japanese colonial era's bō (township head) to direct election in 1950, how Taiwan's 7,748 grassroots elected officials operate
• 309 District Director Account Books — In 2022, among 13,988 village-district director candidates, only 309 left political donation account books at the Control Yuan; placing the accounts alongside the vote count results, seeing whether money can buy a district director

References

1. Ministry of Culture, Republic of China (2022). "Community Construction and Settlement Cultural Development Plan (Years 111-116)." Source: https://www.moc.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=128
2. Taiwan Community Network (2021). "Beyond Just an Arts Class: The Social Movement of Community Universities." Source: https://communitytaiwan.moc.gov.tw/Item/Detail/不只是才藝班, Social Movement of Community Universities
3. Taipei City Government, Department of Civil Affairs (2024). "Rights and Duties of Village-District Directors." Source: https://ca.gov.taipei/cp.aspx?n=3E43CD1A09FE5FA9
4. National Institute of Legal Resources. Local Government Act Article 59. Source: https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawSingle.aspx?pcode=A0040003&flno=59
5. Wikipedia Editors (2025). "Community-Wide Construction." Wikipedia. Source: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/社區總體營造

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