Fall of a Grain of Wheat

Motive for building the Literature Museum

Moving emotions from Mackay

In summer of 2001, Sin-hua Village Lu-wei's Champions Education Association and Shan-shang Junior High sponsored the activity of North Taiwan Culture Tour, which arranged for 90 teachers and students to observe the activities to commemorate the hundredth year anniversary of Dr. Mackay's passing. This activity greatly moved the Director of the Lu-wei Center, Mr. Kang Wen-jong. He kept thinking about which Taiwanese person would be so worthy of commemoration after Mackay? Especially in Sin-hua in southern Taiwan, Tavokan Village, who could have such significance?

Yang Kuei in Tavokan

A news report on Yang Kuei's relatives donating Yang Kuei's artifacts and manuscripts to archive centers gave Mr. Kang Wen-jong great surprise that Yang Kuei is a Tavokan! After ceaselessly collecting evidence, Mr. Kang Wen-jong was moved by the fighting spirit of Yang Kuei, and began strivings of his own.

Process of building the Literature Museum

Yang Kuei Garden

Mr. Kang Wen-jong began with collecting works by Yang Kuei, and rented a building in Sin-hua Old Street to set up the Yang Kuei Garden, a store of love. On the one hand, it would sell textiles made by those who were physically or mentally challenged, and on the other hand it would exhibit and sell works by Yang Kuei and other Taiwanese authors. There is a Yang Kuei image center on the second floor.

Difficulties in establishing Yang Kuei Literature Museum

Other than the establishment of Yang Kuei Garden, a series of activities were held, including Heart of Taiwan, Emotions of Rose, Yang Kuei Literature Camp, Yang Kuei literary works being acted out by Song-nien University students, and issued the Yang Kuei Garden Community Newspaper. These efforts attracted attention of the Village Office and County Government. After the Office gave the old Land Administrations Office, planning and designing commenced. In the process, because of lack of funds, it could officially begin construction until acquiring funds from the Council for Cultural Affairs.

Before Establishment

Organization of related activities

While waiting, Mr. Kang Wen-jong did not just sit around. To promote Yang Kuei's ideas, and to let more Tavokan people get to know Yang Kuei, Yang Kuei's descendents such as Yang Chien were invited to return to speak, and many activities were arranged.

1.2002 V Heart of Taiwan, Emotions of Rose, Yang Kuei Study Camp; Study of literary plays, musical and rhythmic appreciation, situational art creative design, study of the spirit of Yang Kuei's literature, etc.

2. 2002 - Yang Kuei Commemorative Music Festival

3. Music festivals to commemorate birthdays of Yang Kuei

4. Yang Kuei Image Exhibition

5.Yang Kuei Literature Colloquium

Completion of the Literature Museum

The Literature Museum was completed on November 20, 2004. On that day there were still exhibitions, as well as a Yang Kuei Literature Colloquium (but when the Colloquium took place, Mr. Kang Wen-jong did not participate, because he was busy from the day before until the opening that morning, he was exhausted!). There was the excellent music festival to celebrate opening of the Yang Kuei Literature Museum, which lasted from 2pm that day until 9pm. The activities included performances by university staff of the Song-nien University, young students from Sin-hua Junior High to perform Yang Kuei musicals, dances by the women's association, Elementary School wind band, choir, and Mandolin band. It could be said that the old, middle-aged, and the young of Sin-hua all mobilized. The power of culture is touching. The effort of Mr. Kang Wen-jong should certainly not be overlooked.