The upcoming issues of global phenomenon of aging has led to the widespread adoption of the concept of aging-well, shaping a model of healthy and active aging while downplaying the realities of body frailty and mortality, thereby challenging the individual subjectivity of the elderly. Taiwan, situated at the crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures, is not immune to these influences. In a certain extent of whether the longstanding Chinese cultural tradition of self-cultivation has weakened or strengthened old adult’s sense of self. Consequently, this research aims to utilize body frailty as a key lens to explore the adaptation within the lives of the elderly, rooting in the lived experiences of aging in Taiwan to illuminate the subjectivity of Taiwanese elders.
Employing a reflexive thematic analysis approach, this research conducted in-depth interviews with 12 participants to elucidate the subjective experiences of bodily frailty and the processes of adaptation. The findings revealed four thematic experiences: 1) Encirclement of self by bodily issues, 2) Noticing I am no longer myself, 3) Oscillating in the process of self-reconstruction, and 4) Heading towards an authentic life. Finally, this research delves into the characteristics and potentials of self-emerging within the aging process of elderly individuals in Taiwan. It unveils their practice of emphasizing a balance between the ’self-other’ and ’mind-matter’ re-lationships, while proposing an art of living that harmonizes ’realistic’ and ’freehand’ in daily practices.
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