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1. Description of Our Community
In the Ming and Ching dynasties, Fujian and Guangdong were hit by natural disasters and continual tragedies. Because of the poverty and hunger, people moved out to look for a way forward.
"Tangshan to Taiwan, a cure for the heart" People in the early days moved their homes from Tangshan and crossed the ocean, and took on all sorts of risks to arrive in Taiwan and open up land. They had to cross the Strait of Taiwan which was called "the black divide", because of its winds and waves. Because of this, the people who came to Taiwan did not know if they would arrive safely. Even if they did arrive alive, they did not know whether they would be able to hide from the incursions of the aboriginal peoples, and avoid tropical diseases. In such uncertainty, the people fled from their old home in Tangshan and took on an unknown fate. This meant that those who went to Taiwan were even more resolute.
During the latter Ching dynasty, trade and government gradually caused the rise in the relationship between cities and towns and the river. The areas where people settled were basins, river banks, and valleys, and the fruit of the rivers was sufficient for them. They produced coal, camphor, paddy and tea. There are [illegible] towns and villages, and several are representative.
2. Summary of Our Project
On a street packed with antique flavor, old temples are everywhere. Of these, the Fuyou Kuan is one of the most evocative. Built in 1796, the temple backs a wharf, and today serves as a marketplace. Although it has lost its position of importance as the center of development in Tamsui, it still occupies an important position, and has been listed as a Class 3 historical relic. Although social and economic activities in Tamsui are now homogenized, graduatlly evolving into a residential area, the Fuyou Kuan is still the spiritual home for many. Old and filled with historical meaning, it attracts us to do a detailed study for the benefit of everyone.
3. Our Computer and Internet Access
A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:more than 50%
B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:more than 6
C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection
D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6
E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):
The school's computer classroom allows us to access the Internet. The school uses a LAN to connect to the outside, and the connection is very fast. Moreover, each group has a computer that can link to the Internet, and we can communicate in real time through Yahoo regardless of whether we are at home or doing homework.
4. Problems We Had To Overcome
a.Problems in setting the topic:
Our topic was originally set as "The relationship between Tamsui's Old Streets and Temples", and was looking at Tamsui's streets, the Lungshan Temple, Fuyou Kuan… a total of four temples. Initially we thought that because of the large number of people, we would be able to take on this large scope, but as we actually got going,we discovered that a more manageable size would be "Tamsui's Streets and the Development of the Fuyou Kuan." Finally, based on our teacher's suggestions, we worked on the Fuyou Kuan,hoping that a smaller scope would let us be more thorough. That is why our current topic is "The Spiritual Center of Tamsui -- the Fuyou Kuan."
b.Problems in assembling the team:
It is easier to get things done when there are a lot of people, but large numbers also bring problems. We are a group of 10, and everyone lives in different places, so transportation is not always the same. Often, it takes a long time just to make sure that everyone meets up. Also, everyone's schedules are different, and to find a time when everyone can work on site is very difficult. Therefore, apart from surveys done by the whole group, we also did some in smaller groups, in order to solve this problem.
c.Problems with Using the Software:
In order to make a good-looking Web page, we had to buy an expensive piece of software to do Flash animations and stay up nights to learn how to use it. Because we did not know how to use it, it took a lot of effort. Although it was difficult, we managed to do it, and although we might not be up to the level of some of the more outstanding groups, each time we see our Web page, we are filled with unspeakable emotion. The page is like the fruit of all our hard work and suffering.
5. Our Project Sound Bite
Because our group had more people in it, we learned many things about allocation of work and how to finish required work in different environments. Because our research area was Tamsui, a place full of human interest, we also learned how to use the local people's good nature to our best advantage to assist us with our work. We learned, for instance, in one of Tamsui's temples that an old bakery in Tamsui (Sanhsiehcheng) was actually not only a center of baking, but also served to introduce Tamsui's history and development. At the beginning when we went there, we just happened to hit on an interview by a TV station with the boss of that bakery, and the employees were also enthusiastically providing us with data which put the final touches on our project.
6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?
Q:High School Team: How have your research and activities related to this Web exhibition helped your school education and curriculum needs?
A:Since the late Ming dynasty and the early Ching, a group of rich people wished to reinstate the Ming dynasty, and they came over from Quanzhou in Fujian Province. Because of this, the Matsu temple was first built at [illegible], and later moved to Taiwan [illegible] and founded 300 years ago. Based on the inscriptions on the walls of the temple, the temple first faced the seashore, and helped to guide ships. In the ninth year of Kuangchu, conflict reached Tamsui, and General Sun Kaichu prayed earnestly for help from Matsu. He was delivered, and the event reached the ears of the Emperor, after which the "Tsuitsichaoyou" was carved. On May 7, 1972, the President of our diplomatic ally Guatemala visited; the captain of the fishing boat "Yuanfa" went to sea March 21, 1972 and suddenly encountered a violent shaking. When they took in their nets, they found [illegible] with Japanese writing. Although it was unclear, later Chen Jianghe interceded with Kuanyin to find the meaning. This temple has been restored several times, and has been burned to the ground. It is one of the best examples of Kuanyin temples in Taiwan.
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