本文討論日治時期被殖民的臺灣人為了爭取其存在尊嚴，如何面對國民性的思考，從漢民族身體／帝國規訓身體展開自我、族裔與兩個祖國（中國、日本）辯證性關係，亟欲突破既定的形象，並積極從文藝創作中尋找改造形象的道路，以完成以臺灣為主體的民族精神的重塑。當魯迅等人以國民性的負面書寫反思中國國民性，思考如何加以改進，臺灣文人面對殖民政府以「變成日本人」改造臺灣國民性，對於臺灣人血緣、文化所繫屬的中國國民性多所批評，部分臺灣文人有的與日人協力，有的則主張截中國／日本兩方之長短，互相為用；有的則主張建立臺灣民族的主體性，致力於中國國民性的價值辯證。以上，都反映在文藝創作暨其相關論述之中，形成系譜。本文的目的不在達成一個結論，而是在呈現其相關言說的衝突、移動與妥協的過程。

During the Japanese colonial reign, Taiwanese faced difficulties with national identity. In some respects they were Chinese, connected to China through culture and blood. In other respects they were under Japanese reign. In order to enhance the motivation of Taiwanese to become Japanese, the colonial government used every means possible to devalue Chinese nationality through books, newspapers, and other cultural and political activities. Chinese were said to be cowardly and greedy and obsessed with face. To resist these attacks, some Taiwanese literati attempted to elevate Chinese nationality to something which, if not everything for Taiwanese, then at least something they could be be part of, something worthy of being kept forever. Some wanted to learn from the Japanese while others did not. Many different attitudes and works were developed by Taiwanese literati from different political points of view in order to discuss how and what Taiwanese should become. This article focuses on the the differences among them.