Old Chinese bridal palanquin gets new look

Recently, Wu Wen-jie (吳文杰), Yang Ming-zhong (楊明鐘) and Liu Ming-zhi (劉明智), three elderly bamboo artisans from Chiayi County, finally finished constructing a traditional Chinese bridal palanquin. In addition to their own personal childhood memories, the three artisans interviewed many local elderly women and searched extensively outside the community to compile all the necessary construction information.

Following age-old construction methods, the traditional Chinese palanquin took around 15 days to complete; the procedure included choosing and cutting the bamboo; building the seat frame; and weaving the bamboo wickerwork. On completion, many local women excitedly put aside their work at hand and rushed over to take a peek at the newly styled palanquin.

“The emphasis is on trying to reestablish the feel of Taiwan’s farming communities in the 1960s and this activity follows on from another recent traditional craft activity - ‘Silvergrass Brush’ making. We are confident that through lending the bride palanquin to not only young couples in the local community, but also to those further afield in other communities, interest in the traditional Chinese marriage ceremony will be rekindled, providing young couples with some wonderful wedding memories. We are currently in the process of recruiting palanquin pole bearers and finding Beiguan musicians to create an authentic traditional wedding procession,” said Luo Qing-zhou (羅清洲), Secretary General of Anjing Community Development Association.

Old Chinese bridal palanquin gets new look
URL:http://www.peopo.org/news/113437

(以下是中文對照)
老轎新作喜洋洋 影音

照片

嘉義安靖耆老吳文杰、楊明鐘、劉明智等三位竹藝工藝師，憑藉著兒時記憶，訪談聚落長輩婦女及外地考察資料，日前合力打造完成一頂「老式新轎」，三位老師傅從選竹、剖竹、轎型考究、竹編、竹椅皆親手親為，僅15天時間即完成復古新轎，其造型與工法均按古法工序，新轎的完成震撼山城，很多聚落婦女都放下手邊工作，趕來一睹新轎的風采。

安靖社區發展協會理事長羅清洲表示：找回台灣50年代的農業社會印象，是社區的年度重點計畫，這是繼安靖「芒花掃」之後，又一項傳統溯源，未來這頂新轎除了提供聚落新人借用之外，待管理辦法擬定完成後，也將出借外縣市，目的是鼓勵年輕人以傳統婚嫁儀式，完成終身大事，相信會讓很多新人留下美好的回憶，目前社區也正在招募「轎班」成員，未來也將結合北管樂，形成一支極具傳統的婚嫁迎娶隊伍。

為擴大服務範圍，自2010年4月起，PeoPo每周精選三則公民報導及相關活動與發展，翻譯成英文摘要，讓更多關心台灣公民新聞的朋友，瞭解台灣在地大小事。