Black Cat, Clear Heart: A Different Kind of Movement

Some people rally crowds. Others write manifestos.
黑貓姐 (Black Cat Sister) does neither — and yet, people follow.

For over two decades, Black Cat Sister has quietly protected Taiwan’s land, sea, and traditions — not with titles or institutions, but with a clear heart and steady hands. From teaching tofu-making and crafting folk instruments to protesting hotel development and rehabing homes (via collecting shells) for endangered land crabs — she does what she believes is right; No fanfare. No funding. Just the kind of everyday action that quietly awakens and draws others.

Impact So Far

Cultural Keeper: Preserves disappearing practices such as moon lute (月琴) music and traditional sea salt and tofu-making — teaching, documenting, and passing them on through live practices/ performances and workshops.
Eco Defender: For over a decade, she fought unsustainable development and industrial waste in coastal areas. Her grassroots efforts contributed to Taiwan’s first land swap case for environmental protection, preserving vital habitat for endangered land crabs. Since 2012, she’s collected shells and encouraged public donations — giving these “people’s nannies” new homes and a chance to thrive again.
Life Educator: Runs a community classroom where life lessons are shared freely: teaching children to play moon lute on the street and walking visitors through the sea salt and tofu-making. She replaces powerpoint presentation with nature immersion experiences, and shows up for what matters.

What Makes Her Special

1. Lives Her Teachings

Black Cat Sister doesn’t ask for attention or authority. She works quietly, day after day, preservinging and spreading what’s beautiful — whether it’s music, food, or a community spirit. Her lessons come not from theories but from actions. People come to learn, stay to reflect, and leave changed.

2. Moves With Compassion

Black Cat Sister’s energy comes from compassion — for the land, for the elders, for children, and for the unseen. “I’m just doing what human should do — because it’s right thing to do, not for $,” she says. “When I said let’s clean the beach, people join me, that’s a reward.”

3. Encourages Thinking

When people ask, “Can we eat the sea salt?” she raises a deeper question: Why are we afraid of what’s natural, yet trust factory-made products cleaner?

She asks:

“Everybody wants to advance with technology but without land and river, what’s left?”

“What’s winning and losing?”

“If life is just about accumulating money, what are you going to use it for?”

Black Cat Sister chooses to live simply — sufficient in daily needs and rich in clarity, truth, and meaning.

What’s Challenging — and What’s Next?

Taiwan is rapidly changing. Younger generations are often disconnected from the nature, and traditional knowledge is at risk of being lost. Also, easy access to everything makes people take things for granted, instead of treasuring what we have or thinking of the future. Environmental destruction is fast; restoration is slow. Culture disappearance is dim; money making is shiny.

Black Cat Sister continues to share her know-how and heartwork with anyone willing to learn. Yet she won’t be here forever, neither the cultural practices, nor the creatures — what matters is to stop watching and start doing. Not in her name, but in your own way.

How You Can Support

Be Present
Get to know your environment: listen, observe, ask questions. The stories of the land and people are not in textbooks — they’re alive, if you open your eyes, ears, and heart.
Listen, Learn, and Act
Go into the nature. Get involved in a community activity. Fix something instead of tossing it. Cultural and natural preservation starts with everyday habits.
Head + Heart + Hand
You don’t need to be famous, rich, or loud to make a difference. Listen to your heart, think what makes sense in the long-run, and act with care, starting now and where you are.

Black Cat Sister says, “My mom taught me to respect the environment — don’t take it all, leave some for next year.”

What will you pass on — for your friends, your children, and the generations to come?

References / Learn More

More Black Cat Sister public work. Our article highlights the quiet core behind the actions.

Landcrab is people’s nanny: Big Cat Sister told me a story — One day I met a fisherman. We chatted about land crabs. He told me the more land crabs, the more fishes. I asked why? “Because land crabs lay eggs in intertidal zone, fishes will feed on them. Then fishes grow and go back to ocean, later they feed people.” Also, when children play with a crab or grab it for fun, it’s a good time to educate. I explained to the child “If you’re the crab and got scared, how will ou feel? The little creature may not recover from the trauma”.
Facebook pages: Backbay Tofu Mini School、Mei-Yun Yang (Black Cat Sister) 、Backbay Cultural and Natural Ecological Conservation Association
Media coverage: environmental work, tofu and salt-making: