Barn on the hill-Trip of Fugang (Bogonggang) -Hong-chuan Hsiang
Today, thanks to the Director of Department of Cultural Affairs, Taoyuan, Zhuang Xiu-mei and the staff of Cultural Affairs Bureau, I visited the southernmost and the highest Fugang Station in TRA Taoyuan with the writers of Taoyuan. It is an ancient and attractive Hakka town. My grandmother lives in Yangmei. Before the marriage, on the second day of every New Year, my mother took us to the grandmother’s house. During this time, I always ate the steamed rice cake (Ban of Hakka) and the vegetable of longevity which could not be finished with one bite. I remember the smell of firecrackers, Miscanthus at every corner, the temple of Earth God with festive music. When I waited for the train as a kid, I knew that the next station of Yangmei was Fugang. When I took the bus, I saw Fugang at the bus stop. However, I began approaching this town when I drove and worked as a part-time teacher in the school of Hukou. There were old streets, the western buildings of Baroque style and popular Hakka food.
I haven’t visited Fugang for years and today I realized that with the reconstruction of Cultural Affairs Bureau, the surrounding of Fugang Station was renewed. It was modern and preserved the traditional culture of Fugang. From the row of old rice mills in front of the train station, I recognize that it has been the important barn of northern Taiwan. On Yongchang rice mill, there are bullet holes of American army and they are the traces of the war. In the Zun Tou and ditches of irrigation, fish are frightened and swim in the mud and river. It reminds me of the approachable river with Mosquito fish and shrimps in old times; I heard that Egret landscape creation beside the pond and on the hill eats the loaches in the water; as memory, it is not easy to distinguish the virtual world of art.
It seems that Fugang surrounded by railway is not changed by the modern transportation. Along the railway, there are important food factories in Taiwan. However, Fugang stays with the time as a loyal train. It resembles Hakka women I know who always cook in the kitchen to feed the family. They are proud of the work. The wrinkles on the forehead and center of the palm show their worries and hard work.
According to my elementary school classmate who resembles Haroun who drinks the Sea of Stories in the book of Rushdie, if I can’t find the parking lot, I can try the temple of Earth God. I guess he meant Da Jing Dou Earth God temple. However, I still could not find the parking lot. The director of bureau and the staff introduced “Earth God temple of carriage” reconstructed by the first generation of Tze-Chiang Express of TRA which combines the religious culture and landscape features of Fugang. The land of hometown thus follows us everywhere.
After Taoyuan Land Art Festival in 2018, there were many art works remained in Fugang which aimed to create the image of “railway and bike”; the native Flame Gold-rain Tree, the pond blown by the wind, golden rice wave, passing train, frightened flying Egret and dried radish in the bamboo baskets in front of the house—different shadows and levels of color, sound and the salty taste show various images of time.
I haven’t visited Fugang for years and today I realized that with the reconstruction of Cultural Affairs Bureau, the surrounding of Fugang Station was renewed. It was modern and preserved the traditional culture of Fugang. From the row of old rice mills in front of the train station, I recognize that it has been the important barn of northern Taiwan. On Yongchang rice mill, there are bullet holes of American army and they are the traces of the war. In the Zun Tou and ditches of irrigation, fish are frightened and swim in the mud and river. It reminds me of the approachable river with Mosquito fish and shrimps in old times; I heard that Egret landscape creation beside the pond and on the hill eats the loaches in the water; as memory, it is not easy to distinguish the virtual world of art.
It seems that Fugang surrounded by railway is not changed by the modern transportation. Along the railway, there are important food factories in Taiwan. However, Fugang stays with the time as a loyal train. It resembles Hakka women I know who always cook in the kitchen to feed the family. They are proud of the work. The wrinkles on the forehead and center of the palm show their worries and hard work.
According to my elementary school classmate who resembles Haroun who drinks the Sea of Stories in the book of Rushdie, if I can’t find the parking lot, I can try the temple of Earth God. I guess he meant Da Jing Dou Earth God temple. However, I still could not find the parking lot. The director of bureau and the staff introduced “Earth God temple of carriage” reconstructed by the first generation of Tze-Chiang Express of TRA which combines the religious culture and landscape features of Fugang. The land of hometown thus follows us everywhere.
After Taoyuan Land Art Festival in 2018, there were many art works remained in Fugang which aimed to create the image of “railway and bike”; the native Flame Gold-rain Tree, the pond blown by the wind, golden rice wave, passing train, frightened flying Egret and dried radish in the bamboo baskets in front of the house—different shadows and levels of color, sound and the salty taste show various images of time.
Searching for a new name- Shui-fu Hsu
Musical breeze sings with sunshine
February in Spring. Peaceful and charming landscape everywhere
The scene of time on the left
Walking on the right I ask the direction of the quiet history
While walking Words hide in the green land
The laughter is from the oral history
Old train station. Falling leaves and red bricks witness the glorious history
Rice mill, old well and the ring are projected in the dream
Ruins and monuments live with cough
The noisy time calls the revival
The old tree breathes deeply
Fugang is harvesting the quiet sparks
as stars on the land
Public art painting in the town
We joyfully read the reborn pond
Reading with the monosyllabic of old railway
At this moment. Let’s rewrite the history
We slowly follow Earth God temple of the carriage of TRA
Today we will leave the protective talisman
Green rice wave under the sun
Stories with sweat and love
The sweet steps continue the nostalgia of Baroque buildings
A face. The time leaves the traces
Ancient Bogonggang is charming and attractive
It is reborn after being neglected
February in Spring. Peaceful and charming landscape everywhere
The scene of time on the left
Walking on the right I ask the direction of the quiet history
While walking Words hide in the green land
The laughter is from the oral history
Old train station. Falling leaves and red bricks witness the glorious history
Rice mill, old well and the ring are projected in the dream
Ruins and monuments live with cough
The noisy time calls the revival
The old tree breathes deeply
Fugang is harvesting the quiet sparks
as stars on the land
Public art painting in the town
We joyfully read the reborn pond
Reading with the monosyllabic of old railway
At this moment. Let’s rewrite the history
We slowly follow Earth God temple of the carriage of TRA
Today we will leave the protective talisman
Green rice wave under the sun
Stories with sweat and love
The sweet steps continue the nostalgia of Baroque buildings
A face. The time leaves the traces
Ancient Bogonggang is charming and attractive
It is reborn after being neglected
One day in Fugang- Yang-min Lin
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South of Yangmei, under Bogonggang
The town blessed by Earth God Dark sunshine on the ground It guides the idle intellectuals Slowly from the train station To the morning of old street They absorb the simple and ancient climate Walk through the wooden door Old houses show the evolution of Fugang Time passes through the brick arcade Leave the traces on red brick wall Although some are reconstructed As the Baroque building The ages still can be seen The writers walk until noon Are taken to the forest out of the village by the bus They visit Earth God of carriage Relax the tired feet Sit in the restaurant of the countryside Be recharged and praise the ring of health In sports park We look up Min Sheng Pond of Xia Ying Ying Wo The plane is ready to fly We approach Triple Ponds of the west Shimmering projection of Egret Share the peace with the reconstructed landscape The train moves toward the sunset |
At this moment, a pen writes down
“Free life and pleasant discussion of the village” The writers thus nod and discuss Afterword: on February 14, 2020, with the guidance of Director General Show-mei Chuang of Department of Cultural Affairs, Taoyuan and several public officials, I visited Yangmei Fugang with the writers such as Ming-pan Chen, Wen-yi Lin, Hua-Tang Chuang, Shui-fu Hsu, Cheng-wei Liu, Hong-chuan Hsiang and Hsieh. Fugang village is located at the southernmost point of Taoyuan. It was the first time I visited the village after moving to Taoyuan City (County) for more than 40 years. It was written after the visit. ------Finished on 2020.05.19. |
My Bogonggang- Hua-tang Chuang
|
I used to call Fugang “Bogonggang” since childhood. During the time, local people of Yangmei, Xinwu and Xinfeng called it “Bogonggang”.
There are Earth God temple and hill in Bogonggang. When I was in junior high school, during the family worshipping for the ancestors, I rode the bike with offering from the hometown Ben Gang, San Jiao Ku, Shih Wu Jian Niu Jiao Wan to worship the ancestors in the shrine of Xin Wu of the branch of Zhuang Family of Taoyuan. San Jiao Ku is Da Po village, Shih Wu Jian is Wan Jian village and Niu Jiao Wan is in the south of Fu Xin River which is originated from Bogonggang. Thus, after the highway of Niu Jiao Wan, I should climb to Bogonggang. Besides Fugang of Yangmei, there is another Fugang in east coast of Taiwan. Director General Show-mei Chuang has guided us the writers to visit “Fugang Railway Cultural Festival”. Yang-min Lin was late and we joked that he might have gone to Fugang of Taitung? I know that that Fugang was named by the Japanese, whereas our Fugang was renamed from “Bogonggang” by National Government after the war. When I was little, I always saw the little train and short old streets in Bogonggang. In the year 4 of Showa when the double-track railway of western Taiwan was constructed, the station was established called “Bogonggang Station”. Because of the transportation and goods, it results in the old street of Zhongzheng Road in front of the train station. In 1955, the government changed the name as “Fugang Station”. At the time, my Bogonggang changed from remote village to busy street. |
Besides Lu Jiasheng Building, on Chung Cheng Road old street, the red brick buildings and arches are similar to Hukou and Guanxi Old Street. The elevation of the street is different from Daxi and Sanxia Old Street, splendid Baroque style. The former three are the streets of Hakka and the latter two are the streets of Holo people. As the saying of Hakka, “9 out of 10 chickens disappear”. I know that it is associated with the simplicity and frugality of traditional Hakka.
Lu Jiasheng Building is particularly tall on Fugang Old Street and it resembles Jian Cheng firm of Daxi Old Street since it was the same builder. They are both two-floor brick houses. The former is much wider than Jian Cheng store. Besides five enormous houses, in the center, it is splendid Byzantium dome (Hakka people call it Huo Ma Du). Raised and claw-form wooden window is highlighted. Parapet of the roof is unique and it is Greek triangular tall wall. At the front door of the first floor, there are four cylinders which resemble The Parthenon. On the second floor, there are four square yellow washed granolithic finish pillars. It is the most delicate traditional washed granolithic finish work in Taoyuan. Lu Jiasheng is well-known in Yangmei and during the construction of the building, he was the chief of Yangmei district. Although he had the field of more than two hundred Chia, his assets and reputation were inferior to famous Jian A Niu of Daxi. Mr. Chien which founded Jian Cheng firm was a great businessman and the director of Da Ke Kan of San Ching. However, his building was larger than that of Jian A Niu. Thus, my Bogonggang with simple old streets and splendid western buildings show the characteristics of Hakka who are frugal and face-saving |
Water landscape in the hill –Wen-yi Lin
Green life from 45 degree
Hundred-year old tree in Spring
I would like to ask if it rained last night
The charming green wet road
Name of the town remains
The wave is distant
It is the serenade of the Pacific Ocean
Taking the boat in Fugang to Green Island
Cheng Chou-yu said, a beautiful mistake
It is the hill not the sea
Singing of Hakka ballads
Rich life of countryside
How can I remember you?
The trip of spring
Quiet and peaceful
Blue scraf beauty walks toward us
Straight railway to the south and north
Green house and free local people
The legend that flowers and trees grow with old houses
The stories hidden in the pond
The secrets of history are known to the nature
Ancestors in old photos no longer exist
It is Fugang Beautiful hill
The most tranquil Hakka town in Taoyuan
June 2, 2020
Hundred-year old tree in Spring
I would like to ask if it rained last night
The charming green wet road
Name of the town remains
The wave is distant
It is the serenade of the Pacific Ocean
Taking the boat in Fugang to Green Island
Cheng Chou-yu said, a beautiful mistake
It is the hill not the sea
Singing of Hakka ballads
Rich life of countryside
How can I remember you?
The trip of spring
Quiet and peaceful
Blue scraf beauty walks toward us
Straight railway to the south and north
Green house and free local people
The legend that flowers and trees grow with old houses
The stories hidden in the pond
The secrets of history are known to the nature
Ancestors in old photos no longer exist
It is Fugang Beautiful hill
The most tranquil Hakka town in Taoyuan
June 2, 2020
Fugang: If you come- Cheng-wei Liu
If you come.
The season will bring you the romantic elements, railway, Egret, green wave and golden harvest.
In Yangmei, with the cultivation of red bayberries, there will be red fruits and color. After generations, Bogonggang is still Bogonggang; Earth God is still there and people enrich Fugang.
The old houses witness the history. American army raked the rice mill and the wind passes through the seven bullet holes. The laughter vibrates the aging of rice mill. Rain sometimes passes through Fugang Old Street.
Landscape remains with time and art stays with the festival. Egret is exhibited in the sky. San Lian Pi shows the tenderness of water. The wall is decorated with ceramics and painting. Earth God temple of Tze-Chiang Express of TRA Fugang Vehicle Depot protects the trains at night.
In the peaceful Hakka town, rice field stretches to the horizon. If you come. The land is the playground for green wave and golden field.
The season will bring you the romantic elements, railway, Egret, green wave and golden harvest.
In Yangmei, with the cultivation of red bayberries, there will be red fruits and color. After generations, Bogonggang is still Bogonggang; Earth God is still there and people enrich Fugang.
The old houses witness the history. American army raked the rice mill and the wind passes through the seven bullet holes. The laughter vibrates the aging of rice mill. Rain sometimes passes through Fugang Old Street.
Landscape remains with time and art stays with the festival. Egret is exhibited in the sky. San Lian Pi shows the tenderness of water. The wall is decorated with ceramics and painting. Earth God temple of Tze-Chiang Express of TRA Fugang Vehicle Depot protects the trains at night.
In the peaceful Hakka town, rice field stretches to the horizon. If you come. The land is the playground for green wave and golden field.
Water landscape of Bogonggang -
Ming-pan Chen
Fugang, Yangmei District, originally named Bogonggang, is a simple Hakka village. The mountains are green without brown. The mountains, trees, houses and fields are surrounded by the plateau. We walk in the countryside, look at the blue sky and smell the flowers and grass and the blossoms. The shadows are extended to the ground and the sky.
We walk from old street to Triple Ponds and the wind blows. Egret installation in the pond shows the reflection in the water and sunset leads to the red color on the pond which enhances our affection.
There are no boats on the pond. The wind blows the cloud. We see the aquatic birds flying in the sky. On Triple Ponds, we are one of the flying birds which sometimes pass through the woods and fields and see the pond under the sunshine and sometimes approach the water to catch the fish which pops the head out of the water accidently.
Aquatic bird, why you fly fast? Can’t you be slower? In this way, you can see the reality and the shadow of reed in the green water with splendid silver splash.
What is the scenery of Fugang? We are inspired by seeing the water and field. By standing with Egret looking for food, we can see the spray and the flying aquatic bird approaching the extensive pond.
With the music of river and breeze, water of Fugang thus becomes our scenery.
We walk from old street to Triple Ponds and the wind blows. Egret installation in the pond shows the reflection in the water and sunset leads to the red color on the pond which enhances our affection.
There are no boats on the pond. The wind blows the cloud. We see the aquatic birds flying in the sky. On Triple Ponds, we are one of the flying birds which sometimes pass through the woods and fields and see the pond under the sunshine and sometimes approach the water to catch the fish which pops the head out of the water accidently.
Aquatic bird, why you fly fast? Can’t you be slower? In this way, you can see the reality and the shadow of reed in the green water with splendid silver splash.
What is the scenery of Fugang? We are inspired by seeing the water and field. By standing with Egret looking for food, we can see the spray and the flying aquatic bird approaching the extensive pond.
With the music of river and breeze, water of Fugang thus becomes our scenery.
Earth God living in the carriage-
Hung-wen Hsieh
When the breeze of spring blows Fugang, cherry blossoms grow in front of Fugang Station. The air is filled with bird singing and fragrance of flowers. It is no longer the freezing winter and we walk to TRA Fugang Vehicle Depot on the field.
There is the largest train maintenance center in East Asia and railway cultural park which is planned. Noticeably, an Earth God temple is reconstructed by the wasted carriage of the first generation of Tze-Chiang Express “British upper-class woman” (EMU100) carriage.
In the day time, Earth God blesses and responses to people’s wishes. At night, as a British upper class, it enjoys the rich offering on the splendid train to travel around the world.
The carriage Earth God is mighty and not luxurious, sacred and approachable. We can sit with him on the red wine sofa of the carriage and be blessed. We see the green scenery out of the window and the joy grows luxuriantly.
There is the largest train maintenance center in East Asia and railway cultural park which is planned. Noticeably, an Earth God temple is reconstructed by the wasted carriage of the first generation of Tze-Chiang Express “British upper-class woman” (EMU100) carriage.
In the day time, Earth God blesses and responses to people’s wishes. At night, as a British upper class, it enjoys the rich offering on the splendid train to travel around the world.
The carriage Earth God is mighty and not luxurious, sacred and approachable. We can sit with him on the red wine sofa of the carriage and be blessed. We see the green scenery out of the window and the joy grows luxuriantly.
