CyberFair Project ID: 6269

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Ji-Chou King Ship Ceremony in ShihGang
Category: 4. Local Specialties
URL: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2010/gsh6269/index.htm
Bibliography: http://librarywork.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2010/gsh6269/j.htm

School: ShiGang Junior High School
    Tainan, N/A, Taiwan

6 students, ages 15 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 10, 2010. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2010

Classes and Teachers: Liu Chia-yu, Shie Wan-cen, Ding Yu-ru, Shie Han-ru, Chen Yu-jie, and Chen Gi-lun / Tr. Lin Ching Biau, Tr. Hung Chung-Wei, and Tr. Chang Ming-che

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.sgjh.tnc.edu.tw/sigang/index.html

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

Shih Gang township is located in the south-west area of Tainan County which is the north of Zheng wen river. It was used to be specified as an inner port of Tai-Jiang lake. The exploitation of this area began in the middle of the 17th century. There have been different versions of the origin of the name- Shih Gang. One of the versions delineates that there was a rebuilt port in the east area of this township and the other side was thus named as Shih Gang, which literally means the west port. Another version states that this area had been a piece of reclaimed land. Shih Gang was one of the ports where was the west of Zheng’s family’s troop stationed. In 1920, this area was thus named as known. After Cheng Kai-sheik’s troops arrived in Taiwan, it was officially the specified as Shih Gang township in Tainan County.

2. Summary of Our Project

Fork religions are usually the spirits of local cultures. They are also vital assets. Tainan County has been holding such an unique King Ship culture as a natural privilege. However, due to the fast development of society and its industry, few researches were done for this culture. Many of the people who grew up here have little knowledge about it. We grow up here in the center of the King Ship culture and are interested in doing a research specifically about King Ship Ceremony. We want to investigate this traditional activity. Further more, we would like to start a popularizing of this special culture. Based on this local attraction, we hope to bring a future of sightseeing.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:21-50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:2-3

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:4-6

E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):

1. Internet Facility at School: 10 M network 2. Household Internet: ADSL High speed internet

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

At first, we had no idea where to begin and the materials were all over. The difficulty lied in our lack of experience organizing these information. The progress of the project was then paused. We even thought of giving up. However, our supervisors kept encouraging us and we got more and more efficient on what we targeted to do. We caught up, eventually!

5. Our Project Sound Bite

This is the first time that we participate a major fair. Everyone is touched by our earliest feelings when recalling our first move. We had no idea what we were dealing with. Gradually, things got clear and we made plans to do this project. Interviews were conducted later. In the beginning of interviews, all the members were uncomfortable with such new challenges. Yet, once we got to know each other better, the conversations went much better. The more interview experience we gathered, the better confidence we held for this project. We talked to the head of the county, the head of the village, members in Sing An temple, and the masters of building King Ship. They were willing to answer all of our questions and that was an encouragement to all of us. We worked very hard on this project and thus we firmly believe that this work shall disappoint no one, especially our supervisors! It took us tons of time to conduct this research. Although we worked hard, our supervisors worked time-times harder than us. Therefore, we are expecting the best response from our readers.

6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?

According to the objects of National Institute of Educational Resources and Research, we will learn from local cultural education: 1. Local environment, home culture 2. Local scenery and love for one’s homeland 3. Exploiting local resources and solving local issues 4. Respecting multicultural and encouraging group harmony. We learned the true spirit of local education.

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Project Elements

1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?

Computer is the most useful tool that helped us the most. We conducted most part of the project with computer, such as: saving records and organizing…etc. Creating web pages were also done through computer.

2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.

We conducted this interview in a private space. Six of us plus Mr. Chen were totaled 7 people in the room. Mr. Chen answered all of the questions we asked. Some of us were doing asking question and some of us were taking notes from our conversation. He spoke only local Taiwanese which we had limited knowledge about and, we had a hard time understanding the conversations. He told us that the main god in Sing An temple is Mazu (goddess). He also showed us some of the old pictures that were kept for a long time. What really impressed us was that some of the old pictures were taken during rituals. When the photos were processed, there were two images of carps which weren’t in the rituals previously in the ritual. The saying of Sing An temple locates at a sacred cave which was guided by carps is quiet persuasive.

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

We grow up here in the center of the King Ship culture and are interested in doing a research specifically about King Ship Ceremony. We want to investigate this traditional activity. Further more, we would like to start a popularizing of this special culture. Based on this local attraction, we hope to bring a future of sightseeing.

4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

we interview with Mr. Wang who is one of the experienced craftsmen to build King Ship. Before interview, we had no idea what the gauzes for. Mr. Wang told us it was for pictures on the boat. The lines looked similar to lines drawn by pens at the first sight. However, it had sophisticated skills on those paintings if you looked carefully. Those paintings were originally drawn on pieces of paper and then craftsmen transferred them onto King Ship, like transferable stickers! It was awesome! People who invented this technique were good for it gave others a great impression! This was going to be one of the unforgettable memories!

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

This has been a really some work! It has been fun and it also has been hard. Every time our members came to the computer classroom, they were happy and eager to do something. I have learned a lot through this project and I got to know many people, such as the village head, the temple workers. We also learn a lot about the history of Shih Gang and the process of building up a King Ship. I remember that one day that we were interviewing the village head. The village head fixed us some tea but it tasted odd at first. It tasted much better later. We believed that this kind of special tea tastes better when it is hot. Anyways, if there is another project like this one, I would definitely want to participate again because I was having fun all the time.

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View our CyberFair Project (Project ID: 6269)

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