Hakka Cultural Museum Introduction
The Hakka Cultural Museum is located in Xishi Village, Zhukeng Township, Pingtung County. It features the distinctive "walled round house" architectural style typical of Hakka culture, representing the authentic appearance of Hakka indigenous architecture. The interior is divided into thematic spaces, including the Hakka immigration and reclamation exhibition area, Hakka rural life exhibition area, an overview of Hakka life, and a Hakka culture and heritage exhibition area. Additionally, it includes a Hakka cultural relics collection hall, an audiovisual hall, a special exhibition area, and a performance venue. A visit to the Hakka Cultural Museum allows one to understand the profound values of loyalty, respect for ancestors, frugality, hard work, and social harmony within the Hakka community. From the traditional Hakka architectural layout, one can observe the tendency of Hakka people to cluster. For the Hakka community, which consists of immigrants, "home" should be the strongest fortress capable of resisting external invasions. Thus, the architecture in the Lio-Chui (Liudui) area often has a strong defensive character. The "Huo Fang" (common living quarters) is a distinctive feature of Hakka architecture, where relatives from the same ancestry live under one roof, including the double-hall house, round house, and walled round house. The Hakka Cultural Museum adopts the earth building's walled round house layout, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the appearance of Hakka architecture and demonstrating the importance Hakka people place on familial connections. In the courtyard of the earth building, a large blue shirt hangs prominently, immersing visitors in the Hakka atmosphere as soon as they step inside. The blue shirt is a traditional Hakka garment, with design details varying based on social class and age. The museum displays a diverse array of artifacts and tools related to rural life, such as scales, rain capes, ox carts, and yokes; items associated with home furnishings in studies, ancestral halls, and kitchenware (large stoves, clay pots); or items related to clothing, including antique sewing machines, fabric pounding stones, blue shirt pattern diagrams, various traditional Hakka garments, belly wraps, and three-inch golden lotus shoes. Each displayed item is worthy of careful appreciation.
