We went to Wufeng Town of Hsinchu during the hot Summer Holiday to take part in the Taiya culture teaching event held by Teacher Bidai. In just a matter of two days, we learned a lot, including the collection, shaving, and use of a weaving machine and dyeing of ramie. In addition to the tacit skills of the teacher, we also understood so much about Taiya culture and its outlook.
We have four meals in Senyinu Camp Site in these two days. Each meal entails local feature. It is simple but tasteful. The resources in the mountain are not good enough. We have bed and blanket, which are sufficient. The toilet facility of this camp site is very clean and the quality is good.
My team members and I planned and organized this Taiya culture camp jointly with Luo Foo Senior High School. We did not prepare well for lodging at this time, like reminding the participants what kind of toilet items to bring along and the arrangement of rooms, which could be better. We should address the shortcoming this time and make improvements in the future. I believe the trip of learning for this time will be even better and perfect.
To summarize, we really learned a lot here. We are grateful to have this opportunity and to Teacher Bidai, to perpetuate the spirit of Taiya culture.
Text by Xu,Li-Chun
Editing by Li,Ruo-Jia
Photo by Li,Ruo-Jia
This is my first time to organize an event, I learned a lot about the nuts and bolts for holding an event. I wish I could be more detail-oriented the next time to rectify the mistake I made this time. This is also the first time I have gone to the mountain with the teachers and students of Luo Foo Senior High School to learn after my joining the Taiya weaving team. The students of Taiya are filled with passion and expectation. We were moved. Most of the activities were held at Qingquan Tribe of Wufeng, Hsinchu. Liaison and communication were mainly conducted through telephoning and texting, which resulted in lagging in the arrival of information. We have to put ourselves into the position of the other, I think. That is why I was deeply touched by many things at this event.
Activities like cutting ramie, shaving, and dyeing are all the wisdom of the ancestors. I found it not that simple, only after I had experienced it myself. Patience and time are indispensable for accomplishing these tasks. Ground weaving machines are also a form of wisdom of the ancestors. A piece of cloth is in shape after moving back and forth through the shuttle. In addition, dye yam is a very good dyeing material. We extracted the essence from dye yam and soaked the cloth with the material for dyeing. It gives an excellent tone of Taiya style for ornament or clothing.
This kind of plant cannot be grown on the plain. In searching for resources, we have spent a lot of time before we could get hold of Teacher Bidai. I deeply feel that course design really is not an easy task. As we witnessed the descendants of Taiya tried hard to learn in order to carry on their culture. Even though I am just a part of the assistance, I feel a sense of achievement. I deeply appreciated the big family of the weaving team that allowed me to see the scenic view, which I could not find on the plain, and a good taste of the passion of local Taiya culture.
Text by Liu,Shu-Yu
Editing by Li,Ruo-Jia
Photo by Li,Ruo-Jia
In this camp, NCU students and Miss Hsiu-Ling, the weaving teacher at Luo Foo Senior High School, led the students of Luo Foo Senior High School to Wufeng Town in Hsinchu County. We asked Teacher Bidai to teach us the traditional skills related to Taiya weaving. In the weaving club lesson before this camp, the club members used an improved and simplified belt weaving machine to learn the basics of weaving. We also took this opportunity to learn the making of ramie yarns, as well as the more sophisticated and difficult traditional ground weaving and plant dyeing. In the learning process, the teacher taught us a lot of vocabulary in Taiya dialect and their meaning through chitchatting.
Some students are particularly fond of ground weaving in this event, and some prefer the process of using dye yam for piece dyeing. All are longing for knowledge and the passion and pride of their own culture. In the event, we hope the club members can bring back this tacit skill back to Luo Foo Senior High School. This could help the members to get hold of more advanced technique. Under the assistance of Teacher Hsiu-Ling, we opened basic courses on ramie education in the nearby primary schools. Pupils who are interested in this are invited to Luo Foo Senior High School to experience the culture of weaving, and carry on the traditional culture of the Taiya.
Text by You,Mei-Qi
Editing by Li,Ruo-Jia
Photo by Li,Ruo-Jia
