Yingxiang (Chinese: 影響雜誌; Influence Magazine) was an important film journal published in Taiwan, comparable in its significance as a platform of debate to the importance of the Cahiers du Cinéma for the French debate about film, the significance of Bianco e nero in the Italian context, the impact of Filmkritik in Germany and of Screen for English-speaking cinema lovers.
It is reprinted in “The Chronicle of Taiwan Cinema 1898-2000,” a publication that consists of several volumes published by the Chinese Taipei Film Archive.
In an interview that is summed up in a publication done for (and by) Taida alumni, Prof. Lee Daw-ming who was an editor of Yinxiang in the late 1970s, said that "Dan Han-Chang,a National Taiwan University law school graduate, Zhuō Bótáng (National Chengchi University (NCCU)) and Duan Zhongyi (NCCU)… started Yinxiang Magazine (in 1972)” In this interview, Lee Daw-ming observed that the timely convergence of several favorable conditions led to the birth of the first professional film publication.
It did not only mention that "Wáng Hsiao-hsiang serves as publisher" but added, "The editors’ group includes Zhuō Bótáng, Zhū Dàokǎi, Qiū Lìběn, Chén Wénqí, Dàn Hànzhāng, Yú Wéizhèng in Japan, Zhèng Shùsēn in the U.S., and Qiū Jiātāo, also in the U.S."[2] To this basic information regarding the original editorial staff, an anecdote concerning one of the editors mentioned in the book may be added: According to Lin Mucai, it was Dan Han Chang, a graduate of the law school of Taida (National Taiwan University) who had a key role.
Lín Mùcái recalls how Dan got the job: "Because he liked movies, he often went to places dedicated to the arts in order to chat and have tea and by chance he met the founder of Yinxiang magazine.
Wang Hsiao-hsiang was stunned to see a young man so passionate about movies, and invited him to write texts for Influence."
But in China, due to the producers, the government, the audience, and even multiple misunderstandings and intellectuals attacks, it presented a distorted face.
Therefore the journal will be professional, embracing an academic point of view, offering in-depth analysis oriented toward Western movies, guiding people positively and working for the development of a mature film art in the country.
Professor Lee Daw-ming called Yinxiang "Taiwan's most representative film research publication" in the 1970s.
A politician of the pro-democracy movement ran for office as a non-party candidate and was elected as “magistrate” of Taoyuan.
The Yinxiang people, above all Lee Daw-ming (who was then the editor of the journal), managed however to organize a private screening for film journalists.