Plants and Hakka Life World : the Case Study of Da-ai Area

• Main Authors: Chen, Chun-Ming, 陳春敏
• Other Authors: Chang, Wei-An
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/24vf27

碩士 === 國立交通大學 === 客家文化學院客家社會與文化學程 === 107 === Plants have long been closely connected with human life in many aspects: foods, clothes, housing, transportation, entertainment, medication, festivals, industries, etc. In the world of nature, plants play the role of producer. By the experience of using plants in their living circumstances, every ethnic group develops its unique cultural wisdom. Based on the common plants in Da-ai area, this thesis tries to explore the life wisdom that the local Hakka people have in using them. Da-ai area is a low developed rural district. We can see no industrial pollution but only charming ecological landscape there. Through nature observation, life experimentation and experience passing down generation from generation, local Hakka residents have been closely linked to plants at their fingertips for a long time and thus have accumulated a good deal of life knowledge. However, in times gone by when education was not so universal, the knowledge of using plants could only be transferred orally in most cases whilst only few documents could be seen. Moreover, younger generation lives different economic lifestyle. For the sake of it, most of the experience of using ethnic plants in the daily life is being uprooted as time goes by. Plus the elderly are passing away one by one. Their life wisdom of ethnobotany is therefore inevitably being consigned to oblivion. To improve this phenomenon and deter this trend, I hope, through the research of this thesis, we can further understand how the local Hakka in that district satisfy their daily needs by applying the plants. Also, I hope this thesis can stir the public to pay more attention to this realm, to truthfully realize the intimacy between mankind and land, and to see clearly the ecological ethics of all species' mutual living and prosperity in the Mother Nature. Conclusion of this thesis: I think we should enhance the transmission of Hakka culture, especially that of plants implementation in daily life. Let us pass down the wisdom of ethnobotany to the next generation, In that way, let them have the chance to know the names of many plants around them and to know the relationship between plants and human being. From the experience of predecessors, we can see the value of plants to our life. Furthermore, if we perceive these plants can help satisfy our daily needs, we will cherish and try to know them more. As a result of that, we will more love and care our land, which will be an ecologically bountiful and everlasting promised land for our offspring. The knowledge equipment will not only enrich our daily lives, but also, when facing the modern industrialized society, help us think deeply of how to highlight the characteristics of Hakka area's local industries, create business opportunities, and allure younger generation into starting a business at home. Moreover, by starting a business at home, young people can seek opportunities of cross-border cooperation or seek funding from government. On the basis of local diverse ecological resources and predecessors' life wisdom, we can, by transference, activate local industries (or a more creative livelihood style). Da-ai district will thus be prosperous.