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Jhaigang Elementary School (2016 CyberFair Project ID 8114)
Taiwan,
Taiwan,
Tainan City
Official Status:
Final Project: Ready for Judging
Teacher:
Category: 1. Local Leaders
We estimate 5 student(s) from 11 to 12 will work on this entry.
Description of Our Community: The area where we reside is called the Xuejia District, located in the northwestern part of Tainan City. Being close to the coast, the land has a higher level of salinity. The Bazhang River, Jishui River and Jiangjyun River flow through the region, and given the flat terrain, flooding is frequent during heavy rain.
The early residents of Xuejia District were the Pingpu Siraya tribe (Xuejia branch of the Soulang Community). Later, the Han Chinese migrated to Taiwan and settled along the river before moving further inland and developing the area into the Thirteen Villages of Xuejia, hence making Xuejia a Han Chinese settlement. The residents primarily worship Emperor Pao-sheng of Ciji Temple (Level Three Ancient Monument). Religious activities such as the Xuejia Fragrance (a pilgrimage procession) and the Upper White Reef (yezu ceremony) were further developed and became major religious and cultural activities in Tainan City. Moreover, the temple also specially constructed a Koji Pottery Museum to house and preserve works of Koji pottery by Yeh Wang.
Due to its proximity to the sea and higher soil salinity, we mainly specialize in milkfish farming, milkfish fishball production and cultivation of drought-resistant and salt tolerant crops such as sorghum, corn, watermelon and cherry tomatoes. Our line of milkfish products, watermelon and tomatoes are famous throughout the nation, and visitors to Xuejia must try these specialties to make their trip worthwhile.
Project Description: "Ge-ling (Taiwanese pigeon whistle)" is called as "hong-jiao-ling" or "fen-niao-ling" by local people in southern Taiwan. Hong-jiao or fen-niao are the names for pigeon in Southern Min language. People in the region used to hang Taiwanese pigeon whistles on the back of pigeons and have them fly for racing between different villages, and the event is called "Sai-ge-ling (Taiwanese pigeon whistle racing)". This kind of pigeon racing among villages was the entertainment for farmers in Tainan and Chiayi when they were in leisure. However, the villages which continue to hold Taiwanese pigeon whistle racing have gradually decreased with the emigration of young generations and the change in the form of entertainment. Taiwanese pigeon whistle craftsmen also stops to make new pigeon whistles one by another. Only 1 Taiwanese pigeon whistle craftsman, Mr. Hsieh Jung-che, is still making new pigeon whistles for the local traditional event nowadays. Once Mr. Hsieh stops to make new pigeon whistles, the Taiwanese pigeon whistle racing events lasting for more than 300 years will come to an end. The villages which still hold Taiwanese pigeon whistle racing games are only located in Xuejia Dist., Xinying Dist., Yanshui Dist. in Tainan City and Yizhu Village in Chiayi County. Tainan City Government has already listed Taiwanese pigeon whistle racing as one of the municipal folk cultural events. The event of 2015 Taiwanese pigeon whistle cultural season was also held, and the craftsman, Mr. Hsieh Jung-che, was also invited to show people the techniques to make a Taiwanese pigeon whistle. It was hoped to let more young people know about Taiwanese pigeon whistle and how to make it. Facing the risk of the extinction of Taiwanese pigeon whistle production in the following years, we planned to conduct research on this local craftsmanship and to preserve it. First, we conducted a close interview with Mr. Hsieh Jung-che in order to understand his motivation to become a craftsman of Taiwanese pigeon whistle, his craftsmanship techniques and his expectations for Taiwanese pigeon whistle production. Second, we utilized some related data in analyses in order to understand the recognition and emotions of local people toward Taiwanese pigeon whistle. Last but not least, we introduced the event of Taiwanese pigeon whistle racing in-depth and conducted interviews with the participants of Taiwanese pigeon whistle racing, which truly recorded the process of passing-down of the folk cultural event.