Lōa Hô (also Lai He, 1894-1943) is often referred to as the “father of new Taiwanese literature” because he was the first to mark the development of a Taiwanese identity separate from the colonial one. His work coincided with the rule of the Japanese Empire in Taiwan. As a physician by profession, Lōa often witnessed the cruelty of colonial rule, his stories are filled with the need for a sense of justice and social insight. The style of Lōa Hô is far from accusations and bitterness, but the author uses irony and satire to criticize the status quo, and his stories interestingly fit into the trend of postcolonial literature, offering a unique insight into the Taiwanese realities of the early 20th century.
Scales of Injustice is a complete collection of Lōa Hô stories, with an introduction by Lin Pei-yin (a visiting professor at Harvard-Yenching Institute and lecturer at the University of Hong Kong) and notes by Darryl Sterk, translator and lecturer specializing in Taiwanese literature.