| dc.description.abstract | Abstract
The shape of Cyonglin Township is like a calabash and the geographical size of it is the smallest out of 13 townships in Hsinchu County. Chih-liao-wo is a village of Liu family with Hakka traditional rural style settlement in Cyonglin Township. Since the most abundant crops are bamboos at this place, the residents in Cyonglin Township has developed traditional handmade techniques for producing handmade paper by using bamboos as the main materials. They successfully manufactured handmade paper with Makino bamboos.
During the Japanese occupation, the promotion of the ＂ The Kominka Movement ” requried religious movement on old customs reforming which prohibited the burning of gold and silver paper for the Gods and the dead. It had a great impact on the paper industry in Chih-liao-wo at that time. Not until the birth of the emerging paper industry which led the reduction on the manufacturing costs had Chih-liao-wo been washed down and fell out of its competence to the low-priced products. Therefore, the occurrence of both＂ The Kominka Movement＂in Japanese Occupation and the machine-made paper caused the direct impact to Chih-Liao-Wo on its economy. The major contributions to its local economy by pruducing and selling handmade paper have thus been put to an end. From the time, handmade paper industry of Chih-liao-wo was no longer existed and became part of the history.
Being a small settlement in HsinChu County, the traditional handmade paper industry in Chih-liao-wo has been one of the representative local industries in the Hsinchu County. Besides, we can learn Chih-liao-wo’s unique environment, history and the process of cultural development from here. Furthermore, it also highlights the importance and value of the traditional handmade paper industry. With the years rolling on, there isn’t much man-made construction left after the urban planning development. Fortunately, the local environment is rarely damaged. For this reason, Chih-liao-wo still retains the original natural appearances and abounds in ecological resources. Because of the preservation of the natural environment, Chih-liao-wo still maintains its bamboo paper fields. The Hakka handmade bamboo paper, utensils and producing techniques are still remained to present. The Liu clans have nigh recongnition of the cultural characteristics and the values of local areas.
The development of Chih-liao-wo settlement has started from the end of 1993. In the beginning, the residents got involved and took part in planning. However, it had slowed down for several years due to lacking of professional knowledge and unfamiliarity with laws. Until theCouncil for Cultural Affairs carried out “Regional Cultural Assets Preservation and Revitalization Plan “in year 2007, the core concepts of conservation and revitalization have been built up. The unique living environment and history have been reconstructed hence. Since Chih-liao-wo settlement is a handmade bamboo paper-based traditional Hakka community, the preservation of traditional Hakka settlements is especially meaningful. Furthermore, Council for Cultural Affairs also provides funding with a professional team to assist the community. Thus, the great enthusiasm of traditional handmade bamboo paper among the local residents has been sprung up again.
Through the processes of community manufacturing, Chih-liao-wo’s residents participate in activities of public sector and transforming their living space into the original native bamboo handmade paper manufactory. Therefore, the fragments of the cultural traces are mended and the cultural assets are preserved. the regeneration of the Chih-liao-wo settlement has also been expected for this reason.
The research studies the value of cultural assets and settlement reservations and also connects them with the in-depth understanding of the history, the existing status of cultural assets, the remaining ecological resources, and the residents’’ participation and views. The results of field observation and survey have been analyzed in this study to discuss the community production mode of Chih-liao-wo to preserve the cultural assets in the settlement and the expectation of the residents.
The outcome of the research has been expounded through the process of analysis and induction. In addition, the suggestions for the corresponsive development strategies have also been made in order to achieve the targets of preserving both the visible and invisible cultural assets, passing down the heritage of the Hakka culture and skills, enhancing the quality of life of the local residents, uplifting the cultivation of Hakka culture, increasing tourism benefits and incomes. We believe not only the historic environment would consequently be maintained and redeveloped, the Hakka culture and craftsmanship would also be passed down from generation to generation.
Keywords: Cultural Assets, Community Empowerment, Chih-liao-wo ,
Settlement, Hakka Ethnic Group
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