Water Buffalo School Introduction
Art and Nature: Water Buffalo School Returns to the Countryside to Revive the Declining Culture of Ox Farming Located in Xinpulu Town, the "Water Buffalo School," run by Principal Li Chun-Hsin, aims to revive the dying culture of ox farming. He is dedicated to calling all children who possess childlike innocence to return to the countryside to bond with the buffalo and experience nature education that is friendly to the land. Written by Cai Shu-Tian, Photography by Shi Chun-Tai, Images provided by Li Chun-Hsin. Upon opening the iron gate of the red brick Sanhe courtyard, two tall and sturdy dogs immediately stood alert. In this house, besides Li Chun-Hsin and his four-and-a-half-year-old child, he also raises two cats, three dogs, seven buffaloes, and one pigeon. Perhaps due to his long years living in the hilly mountains, the over-forty-year-old Li Chun-Hsin speaks somewhat awkwardly, yet his laughter pierces the air gently among the trees. Originally an information engineer, he went to pursue further studies at Coventry University’s School of Art in England after working for two years. While abroad, he was often asked about his hometown and culture. He stated that artists must find their favorite elements. Ten years ago, he began establishing a personal studio in a small village in Xinpulu, exploring the local life essence in Taiwan. Reclaiming Traditional and Eco-Friendly Ox Farming Techniques In the tranquil years spent in the mountains, Li Chun-Hsin frequently communicates with local small farmers. He discovered that ox farming methods prior to mechanical farming were more friendly to the land's ecology. To experience sustainable farming, Li Chun-Hsin decided to start by raising buffaloes to observe their growth habits, foster relationships with them, and hone his ox farming skills while rediscovering the ox farming culture that has been forgotten by time. Modern machinery can quickly accomplish farming tasks, but traditional ox farming techniques at least require tools such as plows and rakes to effectively turn dry soil into sludge. Li Chun-Hsin meticulously outlines the processes and tools while gradually developing a profound bond with his seven buffaloes. He praises the buffaloes for their innate intelligence; they know to return home when they are full or when it gets dark. They recognize their owner, and only when they are hungry or it is too hot do they exhibit "buffalo temperament," much like humans get moody. As both "Buffalo Dad" and Principal of the Water Buffalo School, Li Chun-Hsin has a clear goal: to train all the buffaloes as working oxen and tailor instruction based on each buffalo's learning progress, employing repeated practice to cultivate their farming habits. Creating the "Water Buffalo School" to Promote Taiwanese Buffalo Spirit Analyzing the meaning of the pictograph for "life," Li Chun-Hsin expresses that "life" signifies "people" and "buffaloes" standing together on the "land," highlighting the important relationship of coexistence and co-cultivation developed by our ancestors with buffaloes. Moreover, the "buffalo spirit" symbolizes the resilient vitality of Taiwanese people working hard for their livelihoods. In founding the "Water Buffalo School," Li Chun-Hsin sees ox farming as his vocation, focusing on artistic creation as the main entity and promoting the cultural values of buffaloes through experience courses, continuing the essence of goodness, truth, and beauty. The Water Buffalo School conducts life education through a one-day experience camp and winter/summer camps. Courses include understanding various ox farming tools and natural farming methods, where young shepherds learn to lead, graze, ride, harness, massage the buffaloes, clean the cow sheds, prepare fodder, dry buffalo dung, and bond with the buffaloes. By interacting with the buffaloes and laboring alongside them, children feel the buffaloes' temperament and aura, discovering the mysteries of life and appreciating the land. In addition to ox farming, the school also plans activities like pigeon post, nature exploration, firewood collection, and cooking in the wild, as well as artistic activities like making incense and handmade paper from buffalo dung, rich in rural leisure; it provides opportunities for children to use tools and knots to construct traditional climbing houses, learning teamwork and enjoying the fun of using traditional tools. The Rope as a Brush: Dancing with Buffaloes in Art As an art master's graduate, Li Chun-Hsin connects buffalo ropes with brush strokes, aiming to guide the subtle power felt during the process of leading buffalo onto the land to create drawings. "Observing the changes in the buffalo rope while leading them reveals various tensions; when the buffalo relaxes, the rope loosens, and when they feel hungry, the rope tightens, showing reluctance to move. Transferring this into drawing lines results in more than just uniform thickness; it varies according to the different moods of the person and the buffalo, imbuing life into the artwork." Li Chun-Hsin's ox farming creations also involve using buffalo dung as fuel, for making paper, and crafting incense. He notes that buffalo dung, known as 'bai cao gao,' is produced by buffaloes fed a diverse diet of grasses and who get ample exercise, leading to healthy and high-quality dung. Powdered buffalo dung can be crafted into incense, which has a sweet aroma, and enjoying a good cup of tea allows one to savor leisurely rural moments. Starting with Nature, Rediscovering the Cultural Value of Buffaloes Since its founding, the Water Buffalo School has faced ups and downs, but Li Chun-Hsin humorously describes himself as persistently good-natured, and this learning experience increasingly attracts like-minded partners, along with many children eager to connect with nature and the land. The most fulfilling achievement comes when parents and children recognize and wish to learn the traditional spirit of ox farming together, reclaiming the cultural value of buffaloes. Li Chun-Hsin emphasizes that buffaloes are a significant part of land culture, yet Taiwan, having transitioned past agrarian society, has forgotten its historical memories of ox farming; many cultural festivals do not feature buffaloes as the main focus, and only through the silent practice of refraining from eating beef do people honor them. Now, he hopes to awaken people's attention to ox farming through the integration of farming and art. In the future, Principal Li Chun-Hsin of the Water Buffalo School will continue to search for lush, pollution-free farmland to bring his buffaloes to these promised lands, constructing with natural materials to realize his ideals, allowing humans and buffaloes to walk together.
