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Revisiting Whaling History: Kaohsiung Normal University Students Explore Hengchun's "Shanhai Shu" with Traditional Fire Ceremony

From Liberty Times · (8m ago) Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A local cultural and historical site in Taiwan hosted a group of university students and faculty for an immersive learning experience.
  • The event focused on exploring the forgotten history of the whaling industry in Taiwan's Hengchun Peninsula.
  • The initiative aims to connect higher education with local history and promote sustainable development discussions.

The "Shanhai Shu" (Mountain Sea Academy) in Hengchun, a hub for local culture and history, recently welcomed a delegation from National Kaohsiung Normal University (NKNU). Led by Dr. Liu Zhen-ning, the university's Vice President, a group of 42 master's students participated in an experiential learning program.

This fire symbolizes the passion of the peninsula's people, and it also carries the 'torch' of respecting local indigenous culture and inheriting historical memory.

— Nian Ji-chengDirector of Shanhai Shu, explaining the significance of the traditional wood-firing ceremony.

The academy's director, Nian Ji-cheng, a renowned local historian, personally ignited a traditional wood fire, a ritual symbolizing the warmth and hospitality of the peninsula's people. This ancient ceremony also serves as a "torch" for respecting indigenous cultures and preserving historical memory, aiming to imbue the students with a sense of the land's spirit through the fragrant smoke.

The program, themed "History and Remains of the Whaling Industry in the Hengchun Peninsula," delved into Taiwan's nearly forgotten whaling past. Nian Ji-cheng guided the students through precious old photographs and oral histories from elders, reconstructing the industrial footprint of the "Toyo Kyuho Co., Ltd." in Taiwan. He meticulously explained how the Kuroshio Current shaped the peninsula's life map, prompting students to reflect on contemporary issues of natural resource development and ecological sustainability through the lens of the whaling industry's rise and fall.

The activity successfully allowed knowledge to move from the classroom into the field.

— Liu Zhen-ningVice President of National Kaohsiung Normal University, commenting on the educational impact of the program.

Vice President Liu Zhen-ning expressed his deep appreciation for the program, noting its success in bringing knowledge from the classroom into the field. Students reported immense satisfaction, finding the hands-on exploration far more impactful than textbook learning. This interdisciplinary exchange between "Shanhai Shu" and NKNU has not only fostered a cultural dialogue but also marked a significant milestone in integrating local history promotion with higher education in Hengchun.

Hands-on exploration is more impactful than textbooks.

— StudentsDescribing their experience during the Shanhai Shu program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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