Ko Wen-je's 'too troublesome' zongzi comment sparks debate on tradition vs. efficiency

Ko Wen-je, the founding chairman of the Taiwan People's Party and former Taipei mayor, suggested that wrapping zongzi is too troublesome and proposed eating them directly from a bowl instead. His remarks, made during a visit to Yunlin to experience zongzi making on June 14, sparked criticism online, with some commenters suggesting his view stemmed from a "science and engineering education."

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I think we should just eat zongzi directly, no need to wrap it, it's too troublesome. Just eat it from a bowl.

Professor Lee Chung-hsien of National Cheng Kung University countered Ko's assertion, stating that attributing such a view to science and engineering education is inappropriate. Lee explained that Ko's core argument, that since the goal is to eat, why not simplify the process by eating from a bowl, reflects a utilitarian mindset. While efficient from a purely functional perspective, this approach overlooks the deeper cultural, emotional, and symbolic meanings embedded in traditions like zongzi wrapping.

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Don't blame science and engineering education anymore. Real engineers wouldn't think like this.

Lee emphasized that true engineering training involves understanding user needs, not just optimizing for cost or efficiency. If the primary need is sustenance, then other options like oil rice might suffice. However, if the purpose is to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival and pass down cultural heritage, the act of families gathering to wrap zongzi, embracing the ritual, becomes irreplaceable. He argued that reducing zongzi to mere rice in a bowl misses the essence of the tradition.

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The problem is that the purpose of wrapping zongzi is never just to eat. He is not making a mistake in science and engineering education, but in reducing everything to a single function.

The professor likened Ko's logic to suggesting that marriage is too much trouble and a contract should suffice. While logically sound in terms of legal formality, it ignores the ceremony and emotional significance of a wedding. Similarly, the meaning of zongzi extends beyond simply filling one's stomach. Lee concluded that viewing zongzi as just a bowl of rice is not a reflection of engineering thinking but rather a misapplication of utilitarian rationality to all aspects of life. A good engineer, he stressed, first asks about the user's true needs before rushing to optimize costs.

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The question of zongzi is that it's too high in calories!