Zhunan Snake Kiln Ancient Kiln Ecology Museum Introduction
When one hears the term "snake kiln," it is easy to associate it with snakes and mistakenly assume that its shape is also winding and curved. However, a snake kiln has a long, narrow shape and is not divided in the middle. In early Taiwan, snake kilns were quite common and used for firing everyday pottery. Due to the difficulty in preservation, very few snake kilns remain in Taiwan today. The Zhunan Snake Kiln was established in 1972 and originally measured 23 meters in length, although it now remains at 17 meters. It is one of the few well-preserved snake kilns in Taiwan and is still capable of producing finished products. Because of this, it was selected as one of the National Historical Buildings by the National Cultural Heritage Committee in 2001 and has been registered as a historical building in Miaoli County, highlighting its value. Despite its traditional architecture, the management philosophy of the Zhunan Snake Kiln is anything but traditional. It has incorporated innovative ideas into the ancient pottery firing techniques, changing the kiln's positioning from a mere firing facility to a platform for promoting traditional pottery culture. The kiln owner not only focuses on teaching and producing traditional pottery but also regularly holds pottery exhibitions and actively promotes ceramics. This effort not only preserves traditional craftsmanship but also showcases exceptional performance in modern art. With this new spirit infused, it is foreseeable that the skills of pottery will not extinguish but will continue to be sustainably passed down through generations.
