台灣民宅 Taiwan Homes (1 of 3)

The Chinese below was written by 劉思源 and the illustrations were by 彭大維.  The English was written/translated by me.  The text comes from the book 台灣民宅, which was part of the "Boar Forest" 野豬林 series published way back in 1989.

My school was going to throw these books away!  I thought they could use a little love...

台灣有各式各樣的民宅 , 你知道他們是用什麼材料蓋的嗎 ? Taiwan has all kinds of houses, do you know what materials are used to build each kind?

民宅就是一般人居住的房屋 .  人們因為受居住地方的物產 , 氣候 , 地理農境的影響 , 會選擇不同的材料來蓋屋 .  例如南投 , 竹山 , 台南一帶產竹 , 所以竹屋很多 .  而澎湖特產咾咕石 , 咾咕石屋就很多 .  台中 , 新竹等地少下雨 , 日曬充足 , 適合製造土埆磚 , 所以有很多土埆屋 .  而港口附近 , 有很多往來大陸的船隻 , 這些船隻會在船艙裡放些磚石 , 以免渡海時因船身太輕而翻船 .  所以港口地區利用壓艙的磚石蓋的磚屋 , 石屋特別多 , 而且港口運送木材方便 , 木屋也很多 . Most people live in private homes.  People choose building materials for their homes based on what's available locally, the climate and local geography.  There are, for example, many bamboo houses between Nantou, Zhushan and [east] Tainan because of the bamboo grown throughout those areas.  Penghu produces a lot of coral stone, so there are many coral stone houses there.  It rains less between Taichung, Hsinchu and other places, and this means that houses built from adobe bricks were preferred.  Near ports, there were many ships that traveled between Taiwan and Mainland China, and bricks and stones were placed inside these ships' holds to prevent their capsizing during ocean crossings.  For this reason houses near ports were often built with bricks or stones.  Ports are often used for transporting timber, so there are also many wood houses in these areas. (1)

漢人來台以前 , 台灣已經有很多先住民 .  他們住什麼房屋呢 ? Before the Han Chinese Arrived in Taiwan There Were Already Many Indigenous People [Living Here], What Kinds of Houses Did They Live In?

台灣先住民有高山九族和平埔十族 .  因為居住的環境不同 , 蓋的房子也不同 . Taiwan's indigenous peoples [consist of] nine mountain tribes and ten plains tribes.  They built their homes in different ways because they lived in different environments.

泰雅人住在台灣北部的高山上 , 很容易取得木頭和竹子 , 所以他們住的都是竹屋和木屋 .  屋子裡面 , 最主要的是床和灶 .  床不僅是他們睡覺的地方 , 也可當椅子 , 桌子 , 工作檯 .  另外他們的穀倉也很特別 .  她們為了防止老鼠爬進去偷吃 , 會用桂子把穀倉架高 , 而且在腳桂上端 , 裝設彎彎的長條形木板 , 稱為防鼠板 , 有防止老鼠偷吃的功能 . The Atayal people live in the high mountains of north Taiwan, where it's easy to find wood and bamboo, so they lived in wood or bamboo houses.  The most important items in these houses are the beds and the stoves.  The bed was not only a place for sleeping, but also a place to sit, a table and a workspace.  In addition, the containers for storing grain were very special.  To prevent rats and mice from climbing in and stealing their food, they raised up these storage containers on poles, and on the top of the pole they installed long, curved wooden boards which they called rat-proof boards.  These prevented rats and mice from stealing their food.

排灣人住在台灣南部的山上 , 那裏的板岩很多 , 又容易開採 , 排灣人就利用這些大大小小的板岩塊蓋房子 , 既堅固又耐用 . The Paiwan people live in the mountains of south Taiwan, where slate is plentiful and easy to procure.  The Paiwan people use slate blocks of various sizes to build houses that are both strong and durable.

排灣族的木雕藝術很發達 , 在貴族房屋的桂子 , 門 , 門楣上 , 都刻滿了蛇 , 祖先 ... 等圖案的木雕 . The Paiwan tribe has developed wood carving to a high level of sophistication.  The pillars, lintels and doors of the chief's home are full of carved [images of] snakes, ancestors and related motifs. (2)

早期的農家 , 住一字形的房屋 . Early Farmhouses were Rectangular.

早期從大陸來台灣的農民 , 會沿用以往在福建 , 廣東的舊習慣 , 使用紅磚 , 紅瓦 ... 蓋房屋 . The farmers who came to Taiwan from Fujian and Guangdong in China continued to use red bricks and red tiles to construct their houses.

最簡單的農家蓋成 "一字形" .  中間是正廳 , 用來供奉祖先 , 招待賓客 .  兩側是臥房 , 房內有床 , 桌子 , 椅子 , 洗臉架 ... 等 , 床下還備有澡盆和尿桶 .  以前沒有浴室 , 都是在臥房裡洗澡 , 而廁所蓋在房外 , 晚上出門上廁所很不方 , 便所以特別在房裡準備尿桶 . The simplest farmhouses were built in a rectangular shape.  In the middle of [these structures] was a space used for both ancestor worship [the family shrine] and for entertaining guests.  On either side [of this space] were the bedrooms.  Inside [these bedrooms] were beds, tables, chairs, washstands and other things.  Beneath the beds were washtubs and chamber pots.  In former times there were no [indoor] bathrooms, so bathing was done in the bedrooms.  The toilets were all outdoors, and as it was inconvenient to visit the outdoor toilet at night, chamber pots were kept [for this purpose]. (3)

掌灶代表掌握家庭的經濟 , 而古人認為左邊比右邊尊貴 , 所以廚房多蓋在左邊 . The person in charge of the stove/hearth was in charge of the family finances, and ancient people believed that the left was more noble than the right.  For this reason kitchens were usually built on the left side of houses.

人越來越多 , 房屋不夠住怎麼辦 ? How Could Small Houses Accommodate More and More People?

當人口增加時 , 便會在一字形房屋的兩側加蓋房間 , 按照長幼順序分配給家人 . As the population increased, rooms were added to both sides of houses, with rooms apportioned according to the ages of family members.

以前人還會在屋頂 , 門楣 ... 等地方 , 放置辟邪的圖案或雕刻 , 這些東西叫 "厭勝物" . In the past people would place "talismans" or auspicious patterns and carvings on the roofs, lintels and other parts of their homes. (4)

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1. I put the second half of this paragraph in the past tense because most people in those areas build their homes in a much more standardized manner now.

2. I don't believe people use the term 先住民 ("first inhabitants" or "settlers") much now.  As this section only describes the local indigenous tribes I used the term "indigenous."  Some of this section is also in the past tense for the reason explained in footnote (1) above.  You're not going to find many - if any - indigenous people building houses out of wood, bamboo or slate blocks now.

3. The chamber pots are long gone, but this mode of living can still be observed in more rural places.  My wife's grandmother in Yunlin lived in a way very close to the one described in this passage.

Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市左營區

Zuoying is north of Gushan and south of Nandze.  Like both Gushan and Nandze Zuoying is on the Taiwan Strait, though the military facilities in Zuoying prevent access to the ocean from this district. 左營位於鼓山的北部 、 楠梓的南部 。  左營、鼓山 和楠梓都緊鄰臺灣海峽，  只是左營的海岸屬於軍事基地，不讓民眾隨意進去的 。

"Zuoying" literally translated means "Left Barracks," "Left Battalion" or even "Left Army (Encampment)."  There are differing accounts of how Zuoying earned this name.  It has been a strategic point for centuries, and troops have been stationed there since at least the Qing Dynasty. 左營的地名由來有多個不同的故事 ， 但是它用於軍事基地的歷史可以追溯到清領時期。

According to the last census, 197,906 people live in Zuoying. 上次的人口統計表示 ， 左營的人口是197,906人 。

Just across the road from Gushan District is the Marine Corps. History Museum.  It's a SUPER detailed museum explaining the history of Taiwan's Marine Corps.  Some of the historical artifacts inside are interesting, but it's a really deep dive. 與鼓山區有一路之隔的海軍陸戰隊隊史館 。  這棟隊史館很仔細地介紹了陸戰隊的歷史 ，  有的展覽很有趣 ， 介紹的歷史事蹟源遠流長。

North of there is the Zuoying Military District Story Hall.  It's a very overlooked place, and worth visiting if you're interested in the history of Zuoying and/or Taiwan's military history in general.  The building doesn't look like much from the outside, and it can be a bit hard to locate, but I highly recommend it. 陸戰隊史館北邊有左營軍區故事館 。  我覺得很可惜的是很多遊客沒注意到有這個景點 ， 建議對左營區歷史或軍隊歷史有興趣的人來這裡參觀。 雖然故事館的外表不好看 ， 也很難找 ， 可是裡面的展覽很有趣 。

Nearby is the Taiwan Military Village Culture Park.  Of the three places near the military base discussed here, the Culture Park is probably the least interesting.  Many of the medals, flags and maps displayed here can also be found in the Military District Story Hall, so unless you're REALLY interested in local military history I'd give this place a miss. 再見捌捌陸 -- 臺灣眷村文化園區在附近 。  以三個軍區景點來說 ， 這裡大概是最無聊的 。  這裡展覽的好幾個勳章、旗幟跟地圖在其他兩所博物館也有 。  我建議對軍隊比較沒有興趣的遊客不用來 。

To the east of the military base and at the north end of Zuoying is the Kaohsiung National Athletic Stadium.  I ran my first marathon here, many years ago.  It's an interesting piece of architecture and there's an extensive park around it. 高雄國家體育場位於軍區的東部 、 左營的北部 。  我好幾年前在這裡參加了我第一場的馬拉松。  它的建築很特別 ， 體育場外面的公園也很大 。

Further east is Banping Mountain, also at the north end of the district.  The MRT passes through this mountain via a tunnel between the World Games and Zuoying stops.  Here's a story about Banping Mountain in case you're interested. 往更東邊是左營北部的半屏山 。  捷運列車經由隧道穿過半屏山連接起世運站和左營。  這裡有一個關於半屏山的故事 。

This is from the viewpoint atop Banping Mountain.  That's the World Games MRT station in the center of the picture, and the Oil Refinery Elementary School stop off to the right.  Zuoying is to the left, and Nandze is to the right. 這是在半屏山上的景觀台 。  世運捷運站在中間 ， 油廠國小捷運站在右邊 。  左邊那一半是左營區 ， 右邊那一半是楠梓區 。

The Banping Mountain Trail is a much easier hike than the Chai Mountain Trail in Gushan.  It's a steadier ascent with less stairs. 半屏山登山步道比鼓山區的柴山步道好走 ，  沒有那麼多的樓梯。

Lotus Lake is in the center of Zuoying.  In my opinion this place is slightly overrated, but it's still a good place for a walk or a bike ride if the weather's not too hot.  Local photographers labor over Lotus Lake, often making it look like something a step removed from heaven, but in my experience the reality can be quite different. 蓮池在左營區的中部 。  我覺得這個景點沒有很多網站講的那麼好玩 ，  天氣涼的時候可以來散步或騎單車 。  有的攝影師很努力地把這個景點拍的像天堂 ， 我去過好幾次 ， 我覺得還好 。

In the distance here is Turtle Mountain, and not far from there is Zuoying's Old City. 遠處有龜山 ， 離龜山不遠的是左營舊城 。

Many tourists, both foreign and domestic, visit Lotus Lake for the temples along its shores.  I will agree that these temples are cool, but on holiday weekends they're so crowded that they're not worth visiting. 許多國際和國內的遊客會來蓮池參觀池岸的廟宇 ，  我也覺得這些廟宇很酷 ， 可是大節日和連假的時候遊客太多 ， 不值得來這裡人擠人 。

These are the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas.  I'm guessing that everyone in Kaohsiung has visited these things at least once.  In the background is Banping Mountain. 這是龍虎塔 。  高雄市的居民都去過了吧 !  背景是半屏山 。

The (Xin) Zuoying Train Station, HSR station and MRT station are north of Lotus Lake.  Again that's Banping Mountain in the background. (新) 左營車站 、 高鐵站 和 捷運站都位於蓮池的北部 。  半屏山又當背景 。

This picture was taken from the train station, on the side opposite the entrance to the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store.  The Banping Mountain south trailhead is to the left, behind the white buildings and north up Highway 17. 這是在火車站 、 新光三越入口的另外一邊拍的 。  半屏山的登山口在左邊 ( 白色建築後方的台17線的地區) 。

The train line runs to Gangshan and other places further north.  Zuoying is a major transit point in north Kaohsiung, and just about everyone in south Taiwan has been through here at one time or another. 這個鐵道可以往北到岡山 ， 更往北邊到其他的地方 。  左營是高雄市的重要交通樞紐 ， 來過臺灣南部的人都會經過這裡 。

Further south, on the other side of Lotus Lake, is Zuoying's Old City.  There's some background on this place here.  The local government has put a lot of effort into restoring it, adding a system of trails and walkways between the Old City and nearby Turtle Mountain.  You can also find another of the old city gates within a traffic circle further south. 往南，蓮池的另外一邊是左營舊城 。  這個景點的歷史在這裡 。  市府花了很多資源整修這裡 ，在蓮池與龜山中間新增了許多步道 。 你也可以看到馬路中的圓環的更南邊也有另一座城門 。

The Guomao Community (sometimes called "Little Kowloon") is just south of the Old City.  There's not much here for tourists, but the scale of the buildings is worth admiring. 果貿社區 (有時被叫小九龍) 位於舊城南部 。  這個景點沒有那麼好玩 ， 可是建築本身真是又大又特別 。

The most popular thing in Zuoying is probably the Hanshin Department Store near the MRT Athletic Stadium stop.  I don't love this place, but I do seem to end up here a lot. 左營最受歡迎的景點大概是漢神巨蛋購物廣場 。  這裡靠近巨蛋捷運站 ，  雖然我不是很喜歡這個地方，可是我還蠻常來的。

The famous Ruifeng Night Market is also nearby.  It doesn't look like much in the daytime, does it? 很有名的瑞豐夜市在附近 。  白天的時候不怎麼樣 ， 對不對 ?

I feel compelled to say that the Ruifeng Night Market is my least favorite night market in all of Kaohsiung.  It's hot, it's crowded, and there's not much variety when it comes to food.  Walking through it can be extremely unpleasant on weekends. 我也想說瑞豐不是我在高雄最喜歡的夜市 。  瑞豐很擠、很熱， 料理也沒有那麼多選擇 ，  我覺得週末的時候走進裡面很不舒服 。

If you're looking to eat out in a similar setting I'd recommend the Longhua Market instead.  It's a good place to go if you're not sure what you want to eat. 如果想在類似的地方吃飯 ， 我建議你去龍華市場 。  龍華市場的食物種類選擇也很多 。

I should add, by the way, that if you're looking for a night on the town in Kaohsiung and you don't want to go to the Pier 1 Arts Center Zuoying is probably your best bet.  There are a lot of good bars and restaurants in the district, and a surprising array of international foods. 我覺得在高雄想晚上出門玩的讀者不一定要去駁二 ，左營也有許多餐廳 、 酒吧和國際美食 。

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Kaohsiung in the News 高雄的新聞 (East 東) 7

鳳山新城 , 鳳山 Fengshan's "New City"

鳳山原名陂頭 , 清代屬鳳山縣大竹里 .  乾隆五十一年 (一七八六) , 林爽文事變 , 南部莊大田響應 , 兩次攻陷鳳山縣縣治 (今左營) , 事後 , 清廷乃遷鳳山縣治於陂頭 , 植刺竹以為城垣 , 並建縣署 , 是為 "新城" .  嘉慶九年 (一八0四) , 知縣吳兆麟以石建六座城門 , 分別為大東門 (朝陽門) , 小東門 (鳳儀門 , 又稱東便門) , 西門 (景華門) , 南門 (安化門) , 北門 (平朔門) , 北門外郭之門 "郡南第一關" .  六門門壁上皆繪有龍虎圖案 , 以壯聲勢 .  一般而言 , 縣級的城牆只有四門 , 鳳山之所以多了一個 "東便門" , 實在是因為本地變亂甚多 , 由於縣署及火藥庫位於城東 , 在軍事用途的考量下及便於官眷的疏散 , 所以另開了一個小東門 .  由於海盜蔡牽侵擾台灣 , 其部將吳淮泗攻陷新城 , 左營地方人士乃運作將縣治重新移回舊城 .  未幾 , 知縣杜紹祈於任內病逝 , 舊城被視為不祥之地 , 遂又遷回新城 . Fengshan was originally named Pitou.  During the Qing Dynasty it was part of Dazhu District. (1)  

During the 51st year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1786) an uprising led by Lin Shuang-wen led to a similar uprising by Zhuang Da-tian in the south, both of which led to the capture of the government seat in Zuoying on two separate occasions.  After these events the Qing authorities moved the local government to Pitou, using a screen of thorny bamboo as a fortification.  A provincial government building was then constructed, and this came to be called the "new city."

In the 9th year of Emperor Jiaqing's reign (1804), the provincial magistrate Wu Zhao-lin built six city gates in stone, these being the Big East Gate (Chaoyang Gate), the Little East Gate (Fengyi Gate), the West Gate (Jinghua Gate), the South Gate (Anhua Gate), the North Gate (Pingshuo Gate) and the County Gate beyond the North Gate, also known as "the first county gate in the south."

The walls of the six gates were all painted with dragon and tiger patterns to make them more pleasing to the eye.  Most fortified provincial cities only have four gates, but the provincial government at Fengshan had a fifth gate to the east [not counting the County Gate] as a means of dealing with local disturbances.  The administration buildings and the gunpowder depot were located to the east of the city, and the Little East Gate was used for both military use and the evacuation of officials and their families [in times of distress].

After the pirate Tsai Qian assaulted Taiwan, his general Wu Huai-sse captured the New City.  Local people in Zuoying then began working toward moving the government seat back to Zuoying.  [Unfortunately for them] the provincial magistrate Du Shao-qi died while in office, and the "old city" [in Zuoying] came to be regarded as an "unlucky" place.  [For this reason] the government seat was moved back to the "new city."

道光十八年 (一八三八) , 知縣曹謹在新城城門上加建城樓 , 並在城牆四隅築砲台六座 , 城外開挖濠溝 .  咸豐四年 (一八五四) , 南路參將曾元福將原刺竹牆垣改為土牆 .  外圍仍環植刺竹 , 但土牆於光緒十八年 (一八九二) 倒塌 , 地方官員乃命人重修 . In the 18th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign (1838), the magistrate Tsao Jin built a tower over the [main] New City gate, added cannon emplacements around the four corners of the city wall, and had a moat dug outside the New City.  In the fourth year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign (1854), South Road Chief Dzeng Wen-fu replaced the original thorny bamboo wall with a wall made of earth.  The thorny bamboo wall remained planted around the perimeter of the fortification, but the earthen wall collapsed during the 18th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign (1892).  Local officials later ordered it rebuilt.

日劇時代 , 城牆及城門均遭拆除 , 至今只剩東便門及城外濠溝留存 .  矗立在鳳山市三民路四十巷中之東便門 , 經整修後已不復原有之樣貌 .  不但城樓已不知去向 , 整座城門還用水泥重新舖過 , 並刻意凸顯一小塊一小塊石頭模樣 , 好似軍營中之碉堡 .  門洞上方有一石匾 , 書 "東便門" 三字 , 為後人整修時以水泥鑄成 , 紅底金字 , 古味盡失 . The New City's walls and gates were demolished during the Japanese Colonial Administration, with only the Little East Gate and the moat/canal outside the New City left in place.  The Little East Gate, which now stands on Lane 40, Sanmin Road, in Fengshan District (2), has lost its original appearance due to subsequent "renovations."  In addition, the city tower [which stood above it] is gone, and the remaining gate has been resurfaced with concrete.  Small pieces of stone [on the gate's exterior] have been highlighted to make the structure look like a blockhouse in a military camp.  There's a stone plaque above the gate with the words "Little East Gate," but the ancient inscriptions [once present on the gate] -- gold characters on a red background -- disappeared long ago. (3)

門洞下方有道路通過 , 可連接三民路與鎮東街 .  東便門前有一東福橋 , 窄窄的橋面僅能容二部機車並行 .  底下汩汩而流的鳳山溪為昔日之護城河 , 如今水色如墨 , 今人不忍卒睹 .  東福橋為台灣唯一殘留下來的中國式石橋 .  其橋下六角形之橋礅甚有特色 , 其上舖以石板供通行之用 , 可惜光復後竟用鋼筋水泥將之補強 , 並加上紅色鐵欄杆 , 實為古蹟保存之錯誤示範 .  There's a road passing through the gate, connecting Sanmin Road and Zhendong Street.  In front of the Little East Gate is the Dongfu Bridge, which is so narrow that only two scooters, riding in parallel, can pass over it at any time.  The Fengshan River, gurgling underneath [the bridge] follows the course of the moat that was once there.  It's inky black now, which makes it difficult to look at.  (4)

The Dongfu Bridge is the only remaining Chinese-style stone bridge in Taiwan.  The hexagonal supports under the bridge are very distinctive.  It's been covered in stone slabs to accommodate traffic.  After liberating Taiwan [from the Japanese], the current government reinforced the bridge with concrete, and added red railings along its length, making the Dongfu Bridge an unfortunate example of how not to preserve a historic site. (5)

當年北門外郭 "郡南第一關" 之門額如今被收藏在舊高雄縣政府縣長室外 , 而東門門額則保存於曹公祠內 , 近來又在昔日各城門舊址立柱 . The plaque formerly outside the North Gate which reads "the first county gate in the south" is now kept outside the Magistrate's Office in the old Kaohsiung County Government building, while the plaque formerly outside the East Gate is kept within Tsaogong Temple.  Recently pillars have been erected at the sites of the old city gates.

道光十八年 (一八三八) 鳳山知縣曹謹於鳳山新城的城牆四隅構築六座砲台 , 現今尚有三座被保留下來 . In the 18th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign (1838), Tsao Jin, the Magistrate of the Fengshan Provincial Government, built six cannon emplacements at the corners of the Fengshan New City walls.  Three of these have endured to the present day.

位在曹公路二十五之三號之平成砲台 , 為鳳山新城西北隅之砲台 .  其結構體呈四方形 , 高約五公尺 , 台基係以咾咕石與三合土壘積而成 , 上有雉堞 .  西南北三面各有二個觀測孔 , 內寬外窄 , 孔後為砲位 , 安放三千斤以下大砲各一 , 東側則設紅磚階梯以供登臨 . The Pingcheng Cannon Emplacement can be found on Tsaogong Road #25-3.  It was the fortification at the northwest corner of the Fengshan New City.  It's square in shape and about five meters high.  The base of this emplacement was made of a traditional mixture of sand and soil, with a walled area on top.  There are two observation holes each for the south, west and north sides of the emplacement, all of which are wide on the inside and narrow on the outside.  Behind each of the pairs of holes are spaces for cannons weighing less than 3000 KG.  This emplacement can be accessed via a red brick staircase on the east side.

平成砲台目前由高雄水利會鳳山工作站負責管理 , 整體而言大致維持昔日舊貌 .  砲台後方有一棵老榕 , 枝葉及氣根向外攀爬 , 給這粗線條的建物增添了幾許柔和 .  而正面壁上刻有 "平成" 二字之橫匾 , 質材為花崗石 , 在一塊塊咾咕石顆粒中 , 更顯得莊嚴 . The Pingcheng Cannon Emplacement is currently maintained by both the Kaohsiung Irrigation Association and the Fengshan Work Station.  It retains its original appearance.  There's an old banyan tree behind the emplacement which has grown outward over the structure, softening its rigid appearance.  On the front of the emplacement there's a plaque reading "Pingcheng."  This plaque is made of granite and looks even more solemn than the emplacement itself.

鳳山新城西南隅之砲台為澄瀾砲台 , 地處復興路與立志街口 .  早些年砲台僅存幾面牆垣 , 附近居民不但將其佔用 , 還以水泥紅磚任意加蓋 , 導致澄瀾砲台處在屋簷鋼柱之間 .  但刻有 "澄瀾" 二字之花崗石橫匾猶存 , 只是被前方之福德正祠擋住 , 需費一番功夫才能尋獲 . The cannon emplacement at the southwest corner of the Fengshan New City is the Chenglan Cannon Emplacement.  It's located at the intersection of Fuxing Road and Lizhi Street.  Early on much of this emplacement was eroded or dismantled.  Not only did some residents occupy the structure, but others covered it with red cement bricks.  What is left of the Chenglan Cannon Emplacement is located between two steel pillars.  A long horizontal plaque with the words "Chenglan" engraved upon remains at the site, but it's obstructed by the main part of the Fude Temple complex.  It's difficult to find.

至於僅剩一片弧狀牆垣的訓風砲台 , 位於中山路五巷八號前 , 為當年城牆東南隅之砲台 .  雖然已成斷垣殘壁 , 但訓風砲台正面刻有 "訓風" 兩字的橫額周邊 , 其浮彫裝飾仍相當清晰 , 不知情者恐怕會誤認為此乃從前大戶人家之遺址 . As for the Shunfeng Cannon Emplacement there was only a curved wall remaining [prior to renovations].  This curved wall is to be found in front of #8 Lane 5 Zhongshan Road.  It was the emplacement at the southeast corner of the New City wall.  Even though it was [previously little more than] a ruin, you could still see the engraving which read "Shunfeng" on the front of the structure very clearly.  Those less versed in local history might have thought this engraving referred to some wealthy family that lived there in the past.

民國八十七年 , 高雄縣政府為了維護古蹟 , 將澄瀾砲台周邊違建拆除 ,附近闢為綠地 , 並以相同之石材修補訓風 , 澄瀾兩砲台 .  目前這三座砲台都呈現煥然一新之貌 , 堪稱地方特色 . On the 87th year on the Republic of China calendar [1998], the Kaohsiung County Government demolished illegal buildings around the Chenglan Cannon Emplacement to protect the historic site there.  A green space was opened up around this site, and both the Chenglan and Shunfeng emplacements were restored with the same type of stone.  All three emplacements have since been given brand new looks which accord well with the local surroundings.

Related Entries 相關的文章:

Kaohsiung in the News 高雄的新聞 (East 東) 5

Xinxing District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市新興區

Kaohsiung in the News 高雄的新聞 (West 西) 5

鳳山舊城 , 左營 The Fengshan Old Fortified City in Zuoying

NOTE 1: The Chinese text above was taken from "A History of Taiwanese Fortified Cities in Pictures" 圖說  台灣古城史 , published by 遠足文化 Walkers Cultural in 2014.  The Chinese was written by 載震宇 and the English was written by me.

NOTE 2: If you're looking for local history, the Fengyi Academy 鳳儀書院 is in the same area.  It's the Qing Dynasty equivalent of the American one-room schoolhouse.  It's been heavily "restored," but it does offer further insight into the time period.

1. I sometimes translate 里 as "village," sometimes as "district."  Since talking about one village as being part of another village is confusing, I opted for "district" in this instance.  Needless to say, 里 just refers to an administrative division.

2. The Chinese here reads "Fengshan City."

3. More of an ancient "flavor."  These inscriptions would have only dated back to the early 1800s, not sure if that qualifies as "ancient."

4. I linked the three places to their locations on Google Maps.  They're very close to one another, and if it's not too hot you could probably walk there from the Dadong 大東 MRT stop.  The picture above, by the way, is the Little East Gate.

5. Are we sure that it's the only remaining example of a Chinese-style stone bridge in Taiwan?  I dunno, that would be a tough one to research.  I seem to remember reading about other Chinese-style bridges in Kaohsiung and elsewhere, but maybe the other is using his own criteria.

鳳山舊城 , 左營 Zuoying's "Old City"

除了荷蘭人蓋的幾座紅毛城之外 , 台灣本島第一座中式城池 , 為康熙六十一年 (一七二二) , 於鳳山縣治所在地興隆莊 (今左營) 所築之土城 .  土城周圍八一0丈左倚龜山 , 右連蛇山 , 開四門 , 外有城濠 . Aside from the fortifications built [in Tainan] by the Dutch, the first fortified city built in Taiwan was the old fortified city built in what is now Zuoying [District, in Kaohsiung City].  The site [of this fortification] is in Xinglong Village, which was then under the administration of the provincial government in Fengshan.  It dates back to the 61st year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1722), and the area fortified was 810 feet around, with Turtle Mountain one side and Snake Mountain on the other.  The fortifications consisted of four gates and a moat. (1)

當初之所以興建鳳山縣城 , 乃是康熙六0年時朱一貴在台灣南部舉事 , 首先攻破鳳山 , 把總林富被殺 , 守備劉定國兵敗後自盡 .  在慘痛的教訓下不得不築城以自保 , 雖然該城在永正十二年 (一七三四) 加植刺竹 , 乾隆二十五年 (一七六0) 又在四門增設砲位 .  但是在乾隆五十一年林爽文 , 莊大田率眾蜂起時 , 依然被攻破 .  不過翌年即為海壇總兵郝壯猶收復 , 但未幾又再陷敵手 .  直到乾隆五十三年 , 才由福康安獲得最後勝利 . The Fengshan Provincial Government was located in that area as a response to Zhu Yi-gui's uprising [against the Qing government] in south Taiwan during the 60th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign.  Zhu Yi-gui's [forces] first attacked Fengshan and killed the general Lin Fu there, and the defending commander, Liu Ding-guo, committed suicide after the Qing forces were defeated.  [For the Qing forces] it proved a painful lesson, and the need for better fortifications became clear.

The city's [original] defenses consisted of thorny bamboo screens which had been planted there during the 12th year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign (1734), and four cannon emplacements were added during the 25th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1760).  In the 51st year of Qianlong's reign, Lin Shuang-wen and Zhuang Da-tian led another uprising and the Qing were defeated.  During the following year, commander Hao Zhuang-yu recovered it, only to have it fall into enemy hands again soon after.  It wasn't until the 53rd year of Qianlong's reign that [the insurgents] were finally defeated, and Fu Kang claimed victory for the Qing. (2)

在連年戰火的摧殘之下 , 這座土城早已面目全非 .  此時地方官員以為鳳山城倚山而建 , 易攻難守 , 又覺得興隆莊多兵災 , 為不祥之地 , 乃決議將縣治遷往大竹橋莊陂頭街 (今高雄市鳳山區) . After [multiple assaults] during successive years of war, the [original] earthen city had changed almost beyond recognition.  At this time the local officials felt that the city's position near the mountains made it too easy to attack and too difficult to defend.  They also felt that Xinglong Village was an ill-favored place due to previous disasters which had occurred there.  For these reasons they decided to move the provincial government to Pitou Street in Dazhuqiao Village (present day-Fengshan District in Kaohsiung City).

變更縣治所在並不能改變鳳山縣的噩運 .  乾隆六0年 , 當地人士陳周全與陳光愛興兵 , 雖為理蕃同知朱慧昌平定 , 但嘉慶十一年 (一八0六) , 自封鎮海威武王的海盜蔡牽 , 吳淮泗又陷陂頭街新治 .  清廷大員又認為此處 "土薄水淺 , 地苦潮濕" , 而且地勢又孤立無援 .  將軍賽沖阿乃奏請遷回舊城 , 閩浙總督方維甸亦有此議 , 但因經費無著而未獲淮 . Moving the provincial government, however, didn't change the Fengshan Provincial Government's fortunes.  During the 60th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, local agitators Chen Zhou-quan and Chen Guang-ai raised an army [and began another uprising against the Qing authorities].  Even though Li Fan's associate Zhu Hui-chang put down this uprising, during the 11th year of Emperor Jiaqing (1806) the pirate Tsai Qian, proclaiming himself "Great King of Zhenhai," and Wu Huai-sse overran the new seat of the provincial government.

Officials at the Qing Court also believed that this area had "thin soil, shallow water and a bitter and humid terrain."  They considered it an isolated and indefensible place.  Later still the general Sai Chong A-nai petitioned to have the provincial government moved back to its original position [in present day Zuoying], and Fang Wei-dan, governor of Fujian and Zhejiang had a similar proposal, but this plan was not approved due to a lack of funds.

道光四年 (一八二四年) 福建巡撫孫爾準來台勘估 , 在地方官民願分擔築城費用後 , 決定將縣治重新移回興隆莊舊治 .  同年 , 鳳山檳榔販子許尚謨反 , 陂頭新治又失守 .  在此情況下 , 遷縣治之議終於獲淮 . During the 4th year of Emperor Daoguang's reign (1824), Fujian governor Suen Er-zhun arrived in Taiwan to assess the situation.  After finding that local officials and other residents were willing to bear the cost of the enterprise, he decided to move the seat of the provincial government back to Xinglong Village.  During the same year betel nut merchant Xu Shangmo led another rebellion against the Qing government while it was still located on Pitou Street [in Dazhuqiao Village], and control of the area was lost again.  In the face of such a loss the Qing Court could only agree to move the provincial government back to its original location.

道光五年 , 官民集資 , 由知縣杜紹祈督工 , 擴大興隆莊舊城基址 , 向東北移動 , 捨蛇山 , 將龜山圍入城中 .  城垣俱用打鼓山石砌築周圍一 , 二二四丈 (約四公里) , 設四門 , 並於四隅各築砲台 , 以增強防衛 . During the 5th year of Daoguang's reign both the local government and private individuals raised funds, and local magistrate Du Shaoqi oversaw the work of building a new fortification in Xinglong Village.  The size of the original site was expanded, it was extended to the northeast, and both Snake Mountain and Turtle Mountain were enclosed within the city wall.  This city wall was built with stones from [nearby] Gu ("drum") Mountain, and the wall extended for about four kilometers.  Four gates were built, with cannon emplacements at each corner of the city for added defense. (3)

鳳山舊城全部工程於道光六年完工 , 但無巧不巧 , 知縣杜紹祈卻在這個當口得急病而亡 .  此一惡耗傳出 , 眾人同指興隆莊 "煞氣太重" , 根本是不祥之地 , 縣治則仍留陂頭街新城 .  這座舊城則從此荒廢 , 終至坍塌 . The "Fenghshan" Old Fortified City was completed during the 6th year of Daoguang's reign.  Unfortunately magistrate Du Shaoqi died of a sudden illness at the same time.  After news of this unfortunate even spread everyone began to see Xinglong Village as "an ill-favored place" that should be avoided.  The provincial government thus remained on Pitou Street, and the "old" [new?] city, went unused and ended up collapsing from neglect.

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"Good" and "Bad" Places in South Taiwan

Linyuan District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市林園區

Kaohsiung vs. Pingtung vs. Taitung vs. Pingtung vs. Kaohsiung

Mituo District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市彌陀區

NOTE: The Chinese text above was taken from "A History of Taiwanese Fortified Cities in Pictures" 圖說  台灣古城史 , published by 遠足文化 Walkers Cultural in 2014.  The Chinese was written by 載震宇 and the English was written by me.

1. Want to go see it?  The restored version can be reached on foot from the Zuoying Train Station.  Just take the local train south from Xin Zuoying.  After you exit the station walk south a little bit and you'll see it down a road to your right.

2. A big reason for this uprising was anger over taxes.  The Qing officials were very predatory about the taxes they exacted during this time, and many officials regarded the local population as a kind of "piggy bank" from which to fund their properties and family members back in China.  The Chinese text glosses over this fact, referring to the insurgents as "the enemy."  They had legitimate grievances.

3. Gu Mountain (Gushan) is just south of there.  It is the mountain for which Gushan District is named.

台灣地名故事 Taiwanese Place Name Stories 10

The Chinese text below was taken from "Taiwanese Place Name Stories" 台灣地名故事, published by Windmill 三暉圖書發行有限公司 in 2021.  The Chinese text was written by Windmill and the English text was written by me.

最可貴的自然資源 ---澄清湖

A Most Valuable Natural Resource: Chengqing Lake

有 "台灣西湖" 之稱的澄清湖 , 原本叫作大埤湖 , 後來改名為大貝湖 , 民國52年 , 先總統蔣介石先生命名為 "澄清湖" 後 , 就一直沿用至今 . As for Chengqing Lake, which is referred to as "Taiwan's West Lake," it was originally called Dapi Lake, and the name was later changed to Dabei Lake.  In the 52nd year of the Republic of China, the first President Chiang Kai-shek ordered the name changed to Chengqing Lake.  This name has endured to the present day. (1)

澄清湖是大高雄地區最大的一塊綠地 , 終年林木茂盛 , 湖水盪漾 , 區內又有叢林 , 灌木 , 空曠平地 , 是賞鳥與休閒遊憩的好去處 , 慕名而來的遊客絡繹不絕 . Chengqing Lake is the largest green space in greater Kaohsiung.  [You can visit its] lush forests and rippling waters year round.  Within this green space are jungles, shrubs and wide open spaces.  It's a great place to watch birds or engage in other recreational activities.  Tourists continually seek out this area. (2)

澄清湖位於高雄市鳥松區的大華里 , (古時候稱為山仔腳) , 因為附近有一座大貝山 , 所以原本稱為 "大貝湖" .  據說大貝山本身就是一座龍脊 , 大貝湖的水就是龍泉水 , 龍頭擺在現今的文山國中旁 , 龍尾跨在現在的高爾夫球場 . Chengqing Lake is in Kaohsiung City, Niaosong District, Dahua Village.  Its ancient name was "Shandzejiao."  There is a mountain nearby called Dabei Mountain, and so the original name was later changed to Dabei Lake.  It is said that Dabei Mountain is the spine of a dragon, and that Dabei Lake is a dragon spring.  The head of the dragon rests next to present-day Wenshan Junior High School, and the dragon's tail extends to the site of the golf course. (3)

以前山仔腳附近是一片平坦的平原 , 適合種植農作物 , 可是除了雨水 , 找不到任呵水源 , 一旦遇到乾旱季節 , 村民只能望天興嘆 , 一籌莫展 . Shandzejiao was once a flat pasture land, good for farming.  But aside from rainwater no other water source could be found in the area.  During the dry season the farmers could only look to the heavens and hope for rain.

於是村長召集村民 , 說 : "我們山仔腳是一塊肥沃的良田 , 可是只能靠天吃飯 , 這樣不是辦法 , 萬一老天半年不下雨 , 我們豈不是要坐吃山空 ?" [One day] the village chief called forth the villagers and said: "Our Shandzejiao is a fertile place, but we depend on the weather for the food we eat.  This is no way to live.  If it didn't rain for half a year or more, wouldn't we go hungry?"

一位村民說 : "村長 , 其實我們並不是沒有水源 , 只要引進大貝湖的水 , 就足夠灌溉農田了 .  可是 , 我們的祖先曾留下遺訓 , 說這裡是龍脈的所在 , 大貝湖正是龍泉水 , 絕對不可以開發 , 引用的 ." A villager said: "Village chief, it's not that we don't have a source of water.  We can use the water from Dabei Lake to irrigate our fields.  It's just that our ancestors commanded us not to use the lake water, because a dragon lives in the mountain and Dabei Lake is a dragon spring."

村長想了想 , 說 : "祖先雖然有這樣的遺訓 , 但是我們不能坐以待斃 , 現在唯一的辦法就是引大貝湖的水流過 "龍喉" 來灌溉 ." The village chief thought about this for a long time, saying: "Even though our ancestors commanded us thusly, we can't just sit here and do nothing.  Our only choice is to [dig a channel] from Dabei Lake to "Dragon's Maw" so that we can water our crops."

既然村長這麼說 , 村民就拿著鋤頭 , 鐵鍬 , 畚箕 , 一起來挖掘灌溉水道 .  可是挖到 "龍喉" 這個地方時 , 怪事發生了 , 村民今天挖好的溝渠 , 第二天卻被填平了 ; 村民再挖 , 隔天又被填滿 .  如此日復一日 , 村民心中既優愁又害怕 . After the village chief spoke, the villagers all took hoes, shovels, and dustpans to dig a new irrigation ditch.  But once they dug to the area around "Dragon's Maw" a strange thing happened.  The villagers would complete the channel one day, but on the next day they'd find it filled in.  They'd dig it again, and the day after it would be filled up a second time.  It continued on this way for many days, and [as a result] the villagers felt very anxious and afraid.

在無計可施下 , 村民決定聘僱一位老乞丐負責看守這個 "龍喉" 地帶 , 查清楚事情的真相 .  With no other options on the table, the villagers decided to hire an old beggar to watch the "Dragon's Maw" and learn what was happening.

當天晚上 , 老乞丐看到許多大龍 , 小龍聚在一起 , 小龍們傷心又痛苦的哭著說 : "他們天天在我身上挖來挖去 , 總有一天我會被挖掉 ." On the evening of the same day, the old beggar saw a big dragon and a little dragon together.  The little dragon mournfully said: "They dig into my body every day.  One day I will be all dug up!"

這時候 , 一條大龍安慰小龍們 : "不用怕 , 他們雖然有數百人在挖掘 , 但是我們有千萬隻在填補 , 到最後 , 他們一定會放棄的 .  我最擔心的是他們用銀針和黑狗的血來潑灑我們 ... ..." The big dragon consoled the little dragon, saying: "Don't be afraid, even though they dig in their hundreds, there are millions of us to fill the holes.  In the end they will certainly give up.  What I'm really worried about is them using silver needles to sprinkle black dog's blood over us..."

第二天 , 老乞丐把從大龍和小龍那兒偷聽來的話轉告村民 .  村民們喜出望外 , 拿來銀針和黑狗血 , 潑灑在 "龍喉" 上 .  剎那間 , 天崩地裂 , "龍喉" 地帶立刻裂開一條深溝 , 大貝湖的水源源不絕的從深溝流出來 , 灌溉著附近的農田 . On the next day the old beggar told the villagers what he'd overheard the dragons talking about.  The villagers were overjoyed at the news, and they produced silver needles dipped in black dog's blood, which they sprinkled over the "Dragon's Maw."  The heavens and earth shook, and a deep ditch opened from the "Dragon's Maw."  The waters of Dabei Lake then poured forth unceasingly.  Thus the farmers had water to irrigate their fields.

這個 "龍喉" 就是現在文山國中前面那條大溝渠 .  一直到今天 , 這條溝渠仍然灌溉著大華里附近所有的農田 . This "Dragon's Maw" is the big canal in front of Wenshan Junior High School.  The canal supplies water for irrigation to the area around Dahua Village (District) to this day. (4)

台灣地理

Taiwan's Geography

澄清湖的九曲橋

Chengqing Lake's Jiouqu Bridge

澄清湖位於高雄市鳥松區 , 舊名大貝湖 , 大埤湖 , 原本是高雄地區工業用水的水源地 , 民國43年開始整建 , 民國48年開放為風景區 , 至民國52年 , 先總統蔣介石建湖水清澈 , 改名為 "澄清湖" 後 , 沿用至今 .  澄清湖風景區佔地375公頃 , 湖面寬達103公頃 , 分為風景區 , 水源地 , 遊憩區三部分 ; 除水源區不開放外 , 其餘地區均可入內參觀 . Chengqing Lake is in Niaosong District, Kaohsiung City.  Its old names were Dabei Lake and Dapi Lake.  It was originally used as a source of water for an industrial area.  It was renovated (restored) in the 43rd year of the Republic of China, and in the 48th year of the Republic of China it was reopened as a scenic area.  In the 52nd year of the Republic of China the first President, Chiang Kai-shek, noticed how clear the lake water was, and renamed it Chengqing Lake.  It has retained this name until the present day.  The Chengqing Lake Scenic Area covers 375 hectares, and the lake surface takes up 103 hectares.  It's divided into three parts: a scenic area, a spring and a recreational area.  The spring is not open to the public, but the other two parts are open to all. (5)

澄清湖景點甚多 , 三橋 (九曲橋 , 鵲橋 , 吊橋) , 柳岸觀蓮 , 富國島 , 中興島 , 中興塔 , 千樹林 , 忠靈塔 , 三亭攬勝及得月樓等都是著名景觀 . Chengqing Lake has many scenic spots.  There are the three bridges (Jiouqu Bridge, Magpie Bridge and the suspension bridge), the view across the lotus pond, Fuguo Island, Jongxing Island, Jongxing Pagoda, Thousand Tree Forest, Jongling Pagoda, the Three Pavilions and Deyue Tower.  These are all famous spots.

三橋之一的九曲橋是台灣最長的九曲橋 .  這座橋是仿上海城隍廟的九曲橋建造的 , 民國49年 (公元1960年) 完成 , 橋長230公尺 , 寬2.5公尺 , 整座橋由七根枝柱支撐 , 灰色橋墩呈現質樸簡潔 , 橋面迴折九彎 , 因此稱作九曲橋 . Jiouqu Bridge is the longest "nine turn" bridge in Taiwan.  This bridge is a copy of the Jiouqu Bridge in Shanghai's City God Temple.  It was completed in the 49th year of the Republic of China (1960 on the Western calendar).  It's 230 meters long and 2.5 meters wide.  The entire bridge rests on seven pillars.  The gray surface of this bridge exhibits a simplicity of design.  Because it turns nine times it is called "Jiouqu Bridge." (5)

Related Entries 相關的文章:

台灣地名故事 Taiwanese Place Name Stories 9

Dzeguan District, Kaohsiung City 高雄市梓官區遊記

Kaohsiung in the News 高雄的新聞 (West 西) 1

台灣地名故事 Taiwanese Place Name Stories 8

1. But what about the other "West Lake," in Miaoli County?  The one near the West Lake Resortopia 西湖渡假村 in Miaoli?  All I can say is that this other "West Lake" is labeled as Dexing Pond 德興池 on Google Maps, and in terms of regional history most people would think of the real "West Lake" as being in Hangzhou, China.

2. "Greater Kaohsiung."  I'm not exactly sure what this means.  Downtown?  Everything west of the freeway?  It certainly doesn't include the mountain districts, where there are much larger green spaces.

3. 山仔腳 or "Shandzejiao" means something like "at the foot of the mountain."

4. Sometimes 里 is best translated as "village," sometimes as "district."  The administrative districts of Taiwan, whether city or county, don't really work the same way as they do in my country.  Suffice to say, every district, municipality and township is divided into 里 .

5. 澄清 means "to clarify."  It also means, funnily enough, "to defecate."  One wonders if President Chiang was making a joke.  I translated 水源 as "spring" to match the story, but I'm not sure if the lake is really fed by a spring.  水源 just means "water source."

6. 九 means "nine" and 曲 means "turn" or "bend."