張佑竹
2024-04-22
The human touch of Taiwanese people
台灣人的人情味
After the Lunar New Year, it is still snowing heavily in Europe, America and Japan. Taiwan is located in the subtropical zone, and late spring in March is the season when birds are singing and flowers are fragrant.
Many foreign friends use spring break to travel to Taiwan, and the ancient capital of Tainan is often a must-stop.
Someone asked me about Tainan snacks, and I know a lot about them. After a feast for the eyes, when faced with Du Xiaoyue, coffin boards, shrimp rolls, oyster omelets, eel noodles, etc., it is inevitable to add fuel and jealousy. If we talk about Taiwanese folk songs, although some people think that Flowers on a Rainy Night and Looking at the Spring Breeze can only be regarded as song creations, the transition between peach blossoms and copper is the real folk flavor. However, when foreigners ask what Taiwanese culture is, they often can only ramble on. If they ask what is the difference between Taiwanese culture and Chinese culture? The answer is unclear, and even I feel ashamed. After several embarrassments, I decided to study Taiwanese culture carefully. Only then did I realize that Taiwanese society in the past was actually full of human touch. In fact, Taiwan's ancestors opened up new territories, and their descendants fought against natural disasters and earth changes and learned how to live in harmony with nature, thus shaping their optimistic, enterprising, persevering and tolerant character. It is precisely because of tolerance that there is love and justice.
The unique grassroots nature of immigration is the driving force behind today’s political and economic development. Here are several short articles that can express the essence of Taiwanese culture.
1. The sweet potato love of farmers.
Taiwan's land is narrow and densely populated. Sweet potatoes are drought-resistant, easy to grow and harvest, and are one of the country's main crops. A small piece of potato seed planted on the ground can grow several large sweet potatoes. Before and after World War II, Taiwanese people used this as their staple food. Sweet potatoes should be steamed or boiled, roasted or fried. Potato leaves are delicious and highly nutritious. On winter nights in Tainan, it is common to see roasted sweet potatoes in vats, and the aroma can be smelled for miles around.
As the Taiwanese saying goes, "Sweet potatoes are not afraid of falling to the ground and rotting. They just want their branches and leaves to bloom from generation to generation." The use of sweet potatoes symbolizes the Taiwanese people's perseverance and perseverance in the harsh environment, which is rare in other languages. At that time, farmers who planted sweet potatoes often left the sweet potatoes (small sweet potatoes) in the fields without harvesting them. Some poor people who came from the city to the countryside to escape the air raids used it to get food and clothing. Children who don't have money to buy snacks can just say hello to the farmers and collect local materials, then cook them in the kiln and take them back to share with their families.
2. Pull net fishing
When ancestors fished, they pulled nets from the shore, which is commonly known as "drawing nets". In the seventeenth year of Qianlong's reign, the "Revision of Taiwan County Chronicles" recorded that "The quail was more than a hundred feet long and wide. It took forty or fifty people to sail two boats and lowered the quail into the sea. It has the most fish and is called Pull net fishing. It can be seen that this traditional fishing method has been around for hundreds of years. The number of people who run the business of Pull net fishing are called "Net-heads", and those who participate in pulling strings or other chores are called "the feet of net". The harvested fish is divided into ten percent, with the Net-heads receiving 40 percent and the remaining fish being divided equally among the feet of net.
The main equipment for pulling net is fishing net, cable and bamboo raft. The silk net is one hundred and fifty Zen long (five feet is one Zen) and is woven with cotton threads. The edge of the net is fixed with ropes. The upper net is filled with wooden driftwood and the lower net is hung with Ceramic pendants. These accessories allow the fishing net to fully expand in the water, which is convenient for laying the net. Hunting is suspended every year except June and July of the lunar calendar. The rest of the day can be used.
In the past, many coastal tribesmen made a living by pull net fishing. The young and strong are welcome, but some business owners are willing to accept the old, weak, women and children who have no support in life. Their actual contribution is naturally limited, but it is fair for everyone. This kind of service is full of humane touch and takes into account both the giver and the recipient. The dignified traditional fishing method is a beautiful social welfare system. Nowadays, due to lack of labor and ocean pollution, it has gradually declined and disappeared.
3. Doctor's back door
In the early days, children from poor families were more likely to get sick due to poor nutrition. When they got sick, they had to spend money to see a doctor. If the family has no money, they can catch a chicken and bring some fruits and vegetables to pay for medical treatment. The doctor is still very happy, but the really poor people don't have money, and they don't dare to see a doctor when they're sick. Some considerate doctors deliberately open the back door to let people who can't afford medical bills sneak out. It not only achieves the purpose of practicing medicine, but also maintains the patient's self-esteem.
4. Serve tea
Taiwan is a treasure island with spring-like seasons all year round and abundant products. Just like beautiful swans, they were also transformed from ugly crows during the Japanese occupation era.
In the past, Taiwan was a miasmatic land with poor sanitary environment. At that time, mountain climbers often drank water from streams when they were thirsty. There are infectious diseases, so there are kind-hearted people providing clean boiled water beside the mountain road to quench the thirst of hikers. Later, there was also the custom of serving tea on the roadside in the countryside.
The above is the unique human touch of Taiwan. It is often said in Taiwan that eating a liter of people and give them back ten liters of repayment. Receiving a drop of water from someone and repaying it with a spring of water. This is the root of this traditional custom of truly putting oneself in others' shoes. It not only provides similar voluntary social benefits, but also develops a spirit of caring for strangers. It is definitely worthy of our raising our heads and publicizing it to the world.
How much traditional civilization and virtues does Taiwanese society still retain today? Having lived under martial law for decades and experienced white terror and the education of hating bandits and bandits, Taiwanese after World War II have carried too much Chinese nostalgia and sorrow. Can the distorted life be restored? I don't know, but I have three visions for Taiwan's future.
The first stage is the world of great harmony presented in the "Book of Rites - Liyun Chapter". The politics are clear and clear, and people are appointed based on their talents. Don't avoid relatives or enemies when doing promotions. The ruling and opposition parties each do their part and do not seek unity between the party and the country, but only give priority to Taiwan. With perfect social welfare, even people with physical and mental disabilities can be allowed to develop their strengths and make the most of their talents. Resources are used effectively, land is used to its best advantage, materials are put to their best use, and goods flow smoothly.
In the second stage, we hope that in the future Taiwan will no longer see cigarette butts or betel nut residue on the road; no one will ride a motorcycle and take their pets to the park to relieve themselves; and no one will run a red light in the middle of the night. People abide by the law not because they are afraid of being fined, nor because no one sees them. Mere laws are not enough on their own. We must rely on public morality and a sense of responsibility to establish a fair and just society. The further improvement of national moral standards symbolizes that the Taiwanese people regard Formosa as a place to settle down and live their lives.
In the third stage, I will use a short story as a metaphor: On an almost full commuter train, a local had to sit next to an unkempt, dirty homeless man in order to sit down. Later, the passenger next to the local got off the bus and an empty seat appeared. At this time, the passengers opened their eyes and looked at it, but the local was unmoved. In order to take care of the self-esteem of homeless people, he endures a little discomfort and put themselves in others' shoes. In this moment, the tram is filled with humanity and warmth.
If there are good citizens, there will be a good society. At this stage, I believe that even if it does not join the United Nations, it will still win international support and respect, because Taiwan is a civilized country with humanity.
農曆年後，歐美、日本依舊大雪紛飛。台灣地處亞熱帶，暮春三月，卻是鳥語花香的季節，
不少外國朋友，利用春假到台灣旅遊，古都台南，常是必經之地。
有人問起台南小吃，我知之甚詳。一飽口福之際，面對度小月，棺材板，蝦卷，蚵仔煎，鱔魚麵等口沫橫飛之際，難免加油添醋一番。 若是談起台灣民謠，雖然有人認為雨夜花，望春風只能算是創作歌謠，但是桃花過渡，銩銩銅可是真正的民謠風味。不過外國人問起，什麼是台灣文化時，往往只能東扯西扯，若是人家追究台灣文化和中國文化的差別在哪? 回答得不清不楚，連自己都覺得汗顏。幾度尷尬之餘，決心對台灣文化好好研究，這才發現，從前的台灣社會，竟是充滿人情味。其實台灣先民開疆拓土，後代子孫，披荊斬蕀，他們對抗天災地變，學習如何與自然圓融相處，因此塑造樂天進取堅忍不拔和寬容飄瞥的性格。 正因為寬容，所以有情有義。
移民特有的草根性，正是今日政經開展的原動力。這裡有數則短文，可以表現台灣文化的精髓。
一、庄腳人的蕃藷仔
台灣地狹人稠，甘藷耐旱，易種易收，是本土的主要作物之一。一小塊藷種落地，可以長出好幾大條蕃藷。二次大戰前後，台灣人以此為主食。蕃藷宜蒸宜煮，可烤可炸。藷葉鮮美，極富營養。台南冬夜，常見甕烤甘藷，香聞數里。
臺灣話「甘藷毋驚落土爛，只求枝葉代代綻」。用甘藷象徵台灣人篳路藍縷，不屈於惡劣環境的堅韌個性，是其他語言少有的。當時種蕃藷的農家，多會留蕃藷仔(小的蕃藷)，在田裡而不採收。一些從城裡來鄉下躲避空襲的窮人，藉此裹腹獲得溫飽。沒錢買零食的小孩、只要向農戶打個招呼，就地取材，便可爌窯，帶回與家人分享。
二、牽罟
先民捕魚，從岸邊拉網，俗稱「牽罟」。乾隆十七年，「重修台灣縣志」記載，「罟長百餘丈，寬丈，用四五十人，駕船兩隻，下罟於海，兩船分挽兩頭，攏至海邊淺處，得魚最多，名曰牽罟」。可知這種傳統捕魚方式，已歷數百年。經營牽罟的業者數人，稱為「罟頭」，參與拉罟或其他雜務者稱為「罟腳」。所得魚獲採分帳制，一般分成十分，罟頭得四成，其餘由罟腳均分。
牽罟的主要設備是罟網，纜繩和竹筏。罟網長一百五十禪(五尺為一禪)，用棉線編織而成，網緣有繩索牢固，上邊網裝木製浮木，下邊網掛的陶瓷墜子。這些配件使罟在水裡充分開展，利於佈網。每年除了農曆六七月停捕。其餘時日均可拉罟。
昔日濱海部落居民以牽罟為生者頗多。年輕力壯者固受歡迎，部分業者對生活無依的老弱婦孺也來者不拒，他們實際貢獻的力量自然有限，但也是公平的一人一份，這種充滿人情味，兼顧施與受者尊嚴的傳統捕魚方式，才是美好的社會福利制度。如今因勞力不足，海洋污染，已漸式微消失。
三、醫生的後門
在早期，貧苦人家的小孩，由於營養不好，當然更容易生病，生病看醫生，就得花錢。
家裡沒錢的，抓一隻雞，帶些蔬果，充作診療費，醫生還是很高興，但真正貧窮的人，三餐不繼，有病也不敢看醫生，有些體貼的醫生故意打開後門，讓付不起醫藥費的人偷偷溜走。不但達到行醫的目的，也維持病人的自尊。
四、奉茶
台灣是個寶島，四季如春，物產豐饒，就像美麗的天鵝也是醜小鴉變成的，日據時代
以前的台灣，是個瘴癘之地，衛生環境不佳，而那時爬山的人，口渴了喝溪水，往往容易
得到傳染病，所以在山路旁，就有善心的人提供乾淨的開水讓登山客解渴。後來連鄉間的路邊也有奉茶的習俗。
以上就是台灣特有的人情味。台灣常說，吃人一升，還人一斗，受人滴水，湧泉以報，正是這種真正設身處地為別人著想的傳統習俗的根源。不但有類似自發性的社會福利，也發揮了人饑己饑、人溺己溺的精神，絕對值得咱們抬頭挺胸宣揚給全世界的人知道。
現在的台灣社會還保有多少傳統文明和美德呢? 幾十年來在戒嚴法下生活，經歷白色恐怖和仇匪恨匪的教育，二次大戰後的台灣人承載了太多中國人的鄉愁與悲戚，被扭曲的人生，還能復原嗎? 我不知道，對於台灣的未來卻有三個願景。
第一階段如<禮記－禮運篇>所呈現的大同世界。政治清明，用人惟才。內舉不避親，外舉不避仇。朝野政黨各盡其分，不求黨國一體，只要台灣優先。社會福利完善，即使是身心障礙者，也能讓他們發展所長，人盡其才。資源有效運用，地盡其利，物盡其用，貨暢其流。
第二階段，希望未來的台灣，不再看到馬路上的煙蒂或檳榔渣；沒有人騎摩托車帶著寵物到公園大小便；三更半夜不闖紅燈。國民守法不是怕被罰錢，也不因沒人看見就違規。徒法不足以自行，還得靠公德心與責任感，才能建立公理與正義的社會。國民道德水準進一步的提昇，象徵台灣人民將福爾摩沙視為安身立命之所在。
第三階段，我要用一個小故事作為比喻：在幾乎客滿的通勤電車上，有個本地人為了坐下來，只好坐在一個蓬頭垢面，全身污穢不堪的流浪漢旁邊。後來旁邊的旅客下車，出現一個空位，這時乘客都睜大眼睛在看，本地人卻不為所動。台灣人為了顧及流浪漢的自尊，忍受一點點不舒服的感覺，設身處地為他人著想，這一瞬間，就讓電車裡充滿人性與溫情。
有好的國民，就有好的社會。到了這個階段，我相信就算沒有加入聯合國，依然會贏得國際的支持與尊敬，因為台灣是有人性的文明國家。
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