An art feature in Taiwan - Chiayi stone monkey.

Hello everyone, today I like to introduce an art feature in Taiwan - Chiayi stone monkey. There have been 60 years of history for the artists to create art works with stone monkeys. Chiayi has a complex relation with monkey & stone monkey. There used to be(The head of the Monkey Stone fell down in the 921 Earthquake 1999, so it became 3 or 4 meters shorter. Thus, the whole landmark changed a lot. It is hard to imagine how it was like before) a pile of giant stones which called “Monkey Stone” in Alishan(A mountain located in t Chiayi) Forest. These giant stones looked very much like a monkey sitting there staring into the far distance, so people named the place “Monkey Stone”. There use to be a lot of monkeys in Mount Ali(Alisha). Monkey stone is sculptured with various shellfish fossils from Pachong River(A river in Taiwan,it flows through Tainan County and Chiayi County for 81 km.). All factors have the relation with Chiayi.

As previously said, stone monkey is sculptured with various shellfish fossils from Pachong Rive. Art creators use all kinds of shellfish fossils originating from Pachong River, making impossible into miracle, who turn the plain original stones and fossils into unique arts. Through their dexterous hands, these artists sculptured the spirits, witty & elastic natures of the monkeys on their works. One thing worth mentioning is most stone monkeys creators never accept academic training, but all of the stone sculptures are look alive.

The reason I like to introduce this art feature is that I live in Chiayi now, and one of main roads that I will passing very day, has a stone monkey sculpture on it. I am curious about the origin of it, so I search it on the internet and find these stories. I hope you will like this introduction. :)

Traditional Market Hall

The day was dawning, there are some smell may be scented indistinctly, the fragrance of the soil, the fresh fish, and the cooked food…etc. Sound of bargains and saying hello to others filled the air. This is the lifestyle of many Taiwanese. In Taiwan, many people are prefer traditional market hall to supermarket, because the quality of kinds of goods are freshest, and sometimes you can get a good price that cheaper than supermarket.

Traditional market hall offers a lot of things, there are all kinds of fish, meat, vegetables, fruit, traditional snack, and articles for daily use…etc.

If you are students or need to work at the morning, don’t worry, there are gloaming traditional market hall waiting for your visit, which can also satisfy your needed.

The Betel Nuts Girl

Every country has its own unique culture, so does my country, Taiwan. For instance, when you car drive off the highway and get into the road, your eyes will gett caught by sexy girls standing in front of betel nut booths selling betel nuts. The sight will make you feel like you are seeing window girls making their livings in “Red-light District in Amsterdam. The only difference between these two is that our betel nuts girls are not dealing with sexual business but only wish to capture your attention by doing sexual dancing with their hot bodies and the purpose of doing this is all about selling drivers betel nuts.

The taste of betel nuts is like chewing guns, and yet the texture is quite different from what you could imagine. Our elders believe it make you fresh and warm your bodies especially for those who needs doing hard works such as fish men and farmers. A lot of them make a habit of eating betle nuts all year round.

Today, lot of report revealed the fact that betel nuts are responsible for Oral Cancer, as a result, people tend to give up eating betel nuts.

The Rite of Passage of Tainan

This custom had began from three hundred years ago.In the early, there are many child labors worked in Tainan canal.When the child is sixteen years old,he can get the same salary as the adult.
So this day is very important for the child.It not only means they are grow up but also they have responsibilities to family and society like the adult.
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Kai Long Temple is the oldest one which still hold this custom.

Because the temple is consecrated to Seven Mothers,also called Seven Mothers Temple.Seven Mothers is seven daugthers of Jade Emperor.Why does the Rite of Passage has relationship with Seven Mothers?According to the people of temple say:the medical treatment and sanitation of Tainan were not good in the early.So people believe that Seven Mothers will help them to take care the child.In order to express their thanks to Seven Mothers,they take place the Rite of Passage on Seven Mothers's birthday(7/7 of Chinese lunar calendar).Not only to celebrate the child is grow up also say thanks to Seven Mothers.

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People always prepare offering,thin noodles,tamales,and four fruits to consecrate Seven Mothers.

Otherwise,perfume,rouge,mirror,comb,needlework are also important because Seven Mothers are female.

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The most special process is the child needs to crawl through Seven Mothers pavilion which is raised by parents or through Seven Mothers's table.And they may wear a red suit to do it.This is the main process to express the child has departed the protection from Seven Mothers and grow up to be the adult!

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edit by Seven and May

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photos from :

.7mother.baibai.com.tw
. www.vrwalker.net/tw/scenery_view.php?tbname=scenerys&serno=660

The helmet

 

  In Taiwan,due to narrow roads,vehicles and parking problems,most people riding a motorcycle as the main means of transport. Because the safety of riding knights, the Government requires them to wear helmets for safety, offenders will be fined NT 500.

  Helmet is not only a necessity, but also consumables. For the businessmans is a great opportunity, they continue to design various types of helmets. There are also many kinds of helmets,like full face, half hood, lined with breathable type, removable and washable type. Come and pick one for your helmet, riding a motorcycle makes you more popular and more secure it!

                                                                       full face

                                                                          half hood

                                                                    spider man

                                                                     guess who? Jay Chou

                          

 Photos from:

http://superven.pixnet.net/blog/post/24166015

http://bbs-mychat.com/sindex.php?t784060.html

http://star.ent.mop.com/starnews/hk_tw/2008-09-02/108585.shtml

http://www.flickr.com/photos/s840103/3165808583/

http://bbs.mychat.to/sindex.php?t781962.html

 

The funeral

The funeral that everyone will go through for their friends or members of family.
The main purpose of the funeral is for alive people to accompany the dead through the last way.
It must be solemn and serious.But in Taiwan lately,it's incredible that some activities are happened in the funeral ceremony.
The dead's family spend money hiring employee of funeral parlour to replace them crying for the dead.And also to hire the "song and dance ensemble" dance and sing behind the funeral team.
It's seems our traditional culture,but I don't know what the foreign friends think about it.
I am ashamed for it

The Vendors

In Taiwan, you can see a lot of street vendors at roadsides.
These vendors do it for supporting their family. It is not easy to sell groceries
on the street, because they have to take into account the weather factors on that day
and also decide where they set the stands. The most important thing is that
they have to evade the local police. In order to earn more money, they also think
many ways to plan what they can sell well for each season. I think it is a feature
in Taiwan that people set the stands on the streets. If you come to Taiwan next time,
do not forget to buy something as a souvenir and see this particular scene.