|
Meeting Cultural Workers 2
Interview with Mr. Yen-Yu Chuang,
Local Scholar in Culture and History of Lukang
Mr. Yen-Yu Chuang is the principal of Lukang Creek Studio of Culture and History as well as the instructor for the club “Guides to Historical Sites” at Lukang Junior High School. Mr. Chuang has been training tour guides for folk culture and historical sites and advocating the importance of tradition and culture. When Lukang Explorers approached Mr. Chuang, he immediately agreed to meet with us and answer our questions about Pu-Tu in Lukang. As soon as he heard about our project topic, he shared with us about the latest update; some areas in Lukang are slowly resuming the tradition of the Pu-Tu rotation. He suggested that we should experience these Pu-Tu activities if possible. The questions raised by Lukang Explorers during the interview on December 25th were mainly to resolve the inconsistency in the data collected about the Song of Pu-Tu in Lukang. For instance, the remains of Tucheng (on Day Six) and Yamen (on Day Thirteen) are no longer in existence. We read about different stories online and had no idea which ones were true. Therefore, we asked Mr. Chuang for help. He explained to us that Tucheng was the makeshift site for the military during the Qing Dynasty after their navy camp was once burned. This temporary site is close to Little Train Station today, on the left side of the intersection between Sanmin Road (in front of Lukang Junior High School) and Zhongshan Road. It was called Tucheng (Town of Earth) because there were no proper walls in Lukang and people labeled their street blocks with soil enclosures or their own Earth God temples. These things, however, have all disappeared. Yamen (or Jinsheng Lane in the other version) refers to the area from Remembrance Hall to Shiyi Hall. This place is still called Jinsheng Lane. Lukang Elementary School is where the aboriginal affairs subprefect under the Qing Dynasty was located. The Pu-Tu on July 13th was held in this neighborhood. While answering our questions, Mr. Chuang also quizzed us on the Pu-Tu tradition and temples in Lukang, so as to make sure that our understanding of the Pu-Tu culture is accurate. The good thing was that Lukang Explorers worked hard in the data collection and managed to respond to his tough questions. It was through Mr. Chuang’s brilliant explanations that we got to know more deeply about our hometown. As the young generation of Lukang, we should do our best to promote to others the Pu-Tu culture of Lukang.
|
||
|
Source of photo: taken by Lukang Explorers
|
