The tung flower, while undeniably quite beautiful, is no more so than most other flowers, nor is it especially fragrant, which could make its elevation to the central part of a four-week festival somewhat specious were it not for its integral role in the history of Hakka settlement in the low mountains along the island's west coast.
Until the middle of the last century, Hakka communities faced a literal and figurative uphill struggle to establish themselves, sandwiched as they were between hostile Minnan and Aborigine groups. So to supplement their meager incomes derived from the small-scale agricultural plots they could clear in the mountains, wood from tung trees was used in the production of items like matches, toothpicks, bento boxes, sandals and furniture, while oil extracted from the flower's buds became the base ingredient in a widely sold water-resistant varnish.
As a key to the communities' economic survival, the flower is held dearly by many Hakkanese as a symbol of their difficult history in Taiwan.
All the products from tung wood and flowers have long since been replaced by more economical alternatives, but the trees in the meantime have flourished to the point where whole sections of forest in this season turn a white that looks like, well, snow.
The Council for Hakka Affairs has then seized upon the flower's blooming season as an opportunity to showcase Hakka culture and give tourists one more reason to head for the hills on their days off. If one really needs an excuse to get out into the country, seeing the tung flower in genuine Hakka communities is as good as any other.
Tung Blossom of Hakka Festival
Sanyi Wood Carving Festival
Sanyi wood-carving museum
Contest of wood carving
Sanyi is at the forefront of wood-carving arts in Taiwan. The town's wood-carving industry originated back in the 1920s and, in those days, concentrated on oddly shaped pieces of natural wood. The golden age of wood carving in the area came in the 1970s, when most of the products were exported. The establishment of the Museum of Wood Sculpture in 1995 prompted numerous wood carvers from other places to gravitate to Sanyi and develop their own styles of artistic creation. The most unique feature of Sanyi carvings is that the artists fashion their works in accordance with the natural shape of the wood, carving the fantastic shapes of nature by each stroke of the knife and chisel into religious icons, large animals, flowers, birds, and just about anything else that can be encompassed by the imagination. These carvers have created numerous classic works of native Taiwanese art, and have become known even in international circles for their consummate skill. Sanyi today is, in fact, a paradise for artistic creation; it will certainly continue developing in that direction in the future, and will become a model of a creative art zone for the rest of Taiwan.
Miaoli International Mask Festival
The Miaoli International Mask Festival is one of the most comprehensive exhibitions of masks ever held in Taiwan. The event is sponsored by the Miaoli Country Culture Bureau, which has invested NT$30 million in the event. This festival was initiated in 1999 during the preparation of building the Sanyi Museum of Wood Sculpture, when cultural administrators happened upon the strong disposition of mask art that exists within Miaoli’s wood carving tradition. The festival also incorporates an array of folk music and dance performances associated with the use of masks. Although masks are not commonly used in Chinese ritual or performances, Hakka culture, which is strongly represented in Miaoli, uses masks in funeral rites, which explains the choice of Miaoli for the event.
Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Administration All rights reserved Now Time：2008/11/22 18:39(UTC/GMT+8hours)
Tung Blossom of Hakka Festival
