The Taiwan Hakka Museum of the Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center (THCDC) is organizing two special exhibitions to celebrate Lunar New Year—Treasure of Mountains: Tracing the Camphor Industry in Indigenous and Hakka Settlements along Route 3 and Hakka History of Dongshi & Zhuolan.
Hakka History of Dongshi & Zhuolan focuses on the area between the Dajia and Da’an Rivers, from Dongshi, Taichung to Zhuolan, Miaoli, and integrates the results of the Hakka Village History Survey by THCDC. The exhibition is curated based on the Dabu and Raoping Hakka dialects, using language to help us better know one another through use of poetry and children’s songs. For the first time ever, historical documents kept by the descendants of Chang Ta-ching, Pan Tun-zu, and other settlers of Dongshi and Zhuolan are on display, likewise showcasing the resilience and recovery ability of Hakka settlements after the 1935 Shinchiku-Taichū earthquake and 1999 Jiji earthquake. The venue also has a fun animation for learning Hakka and a game where visitors can experience picking large pears, so more people can become familiar with the Dabu and Raoping Hakka dialects and ethnic groups, as well as their regional customs.
The venue design of Treasure of Mountains: Tracing the Camphor Industry in Indigenous and Hakka Settlements along Route 3 takes inspiration from early Hollywood comedy star Charlie Chaplin to expound the Camphor industry, pivotal to the traditional economy of Taiwanese Hakka villages. From the upstream and downstream to global export, the importance of Taiwanese camphor and related interethnic interactions are demonstrated, including everyday scenarios and surveillance alongside defense lines against indigenous peoples and recreation of the Raknus Selu Trail used for camphor transport, to bring history back to life. A camphor worker plate preserved since 1937, agreement for remuneration to mountain workers, map of camphor tree distribution, and official seals are featured as well. Visitors can closely observe original goods receipt vouchers, a camphor worker payroll, and transport fee payment agreement from the Daxi Camphor Manufacturing Plant.
Other than activities like Blessings from the God of Wealth or Money from the God of Wealth, limited mystery bags will be gifted every day with the chance to win an iPhone, Nintendo Switch, and other great prizes. Show your Google review before the Lunar New Year or an invoice for purchase from THCDC to get beautiful red envelopes for free. Also, take a photo and check in during the event to win a unique cultural gift. During the Lunar New Year holidays, don’t miss on these exhibitions, shows, and exciting activities. Happy New Year of the Dragon for all!
