Zhunan Shekiao Ancient Kiln Ecological Museum Introduction
When hearing about a snake kiln, one might easily associate it with snakes and mistakenly think that its shape is also serpentine. However, the snake kiln is actually elongated, without any divisions in the middle. In early Taiwan, snake kilns were found throughout various regions and were common pottery kilns used for firing daily-use ceramics. Due to their poor preservation, very few snake kilns remain in Taiwan today. The Zhunan Snake Kiln was established in 1972 (the 61st year of the Republic of China), and initially, it stretched 23 meters long, but now it is only 17 meters. It is one of the few well-preserved snake kilns in Taiwan and still produces ceramics today. Therefore, in 2001, it was selected as one of the National Historical Buildings by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and is also listed as a historical building in Miaoli County, emphasizing its value. Although it has traditional architecture, the management philosophy of the Zhunan Snake Kiln is not traditional at all. It integrates innovative ideas into ancient pottery-making techniques, transforming the position of the snake kiln from merely a firing kiln to a platform for promoting traditional ceramic culture. The kiln owner not only dedicates efforts to teaching and producing traditional pottery but also regularly holds pottery exhibitions to actively promote pottery art. This not only preserves traditional craftsmanship but also delivers impressive performances in modern art. With the infusion of new spirit, it can be anticipated that the fire of pottery-making techniques will not extinguish but will be sustainably passed down to future generations.
