Water Buffalo School Introduction
Yuhyi Mountain Forest Buffalo School Returns to the Countryside to Rediscover the Declining Culture of Buffalo Farming Located in Xinpu Township, the "Buffalo School," led by Principal Li Chunhsin, has recognized the gradual decline of buffalo farming culture and is devoted to reviving it. He calls upon children of all ages who possess a youthful spirit to return to the countryside, interact with buffalo, and engage in natural education that promotes a friendly relationship with the land. Pushing open the iron gate of the red-brick three-in-one courtyard, two tall and strong dogs immediately stand alert. In addition to Li Chunhsin and his four-and-a-half-year-old child, he also raises two cats, three dogs, seven buffalo, and one pigeon. Having lived in the mountainous hilly area for many years, the over forty-year-old Li Chunhsin speaks somewhat awkwardly, yet his laughter resonates lightly through the trees. Originally an information engineer, he pursued further studies at the Coventry University School of Art in the UK after working for two years. Being in a foreign land, Li was often asked about his hometown and culture, leading him to believe that artists must identify elements they cherish. Ten years ago, he started building a personal studio in a small village in Xinpu, exploring the essence of Taiwanese local life. Rediscovering Traditional, Eco-Friendly Buffalo Farming Techniques During the tranquil years in the mountains, Li frequently interacted with local small-scale farmers and discovered that buffalo farming practices, which preceded mechanical farming, are more friendly to the land's ecosystem. To experience eco-friendly farming, Li decided to start by raising buffalo, observing their growth habits, developing a bond with them, and honing his buffalo farming skills to revive the buffalo culture forgotten by time. While modern machinery can complete farming tasks quickly, traditional buffalo farming techniques require plows and harrows to efficiently turn dry soil into mud. Li meticulously organizes the processes and tools, gradually cultivating a deep bond with his seven buffalo. He praises buffalo for their intelligence, noting that they return home on their own when full and when it gets dark, recognizing their owner and only displaying "buffalo temper" when hungry or overly hot, similar to how people can get grumpy. As both "Buffalo Dad" and Principal of the "Buffalo School," Li has a clear goal: to train all his buffalo to become draft animals, tailoring the training to each individual's learning pace, fostering their habit of working through practice and review. Establishing the "Buffalo School" to Promote the Spirit of Taiwan's Buffalo Li interprets the pictograph: "life" represents "people" standing with "buffalo" on "land," highlighting the vital partnership between ancestors and buffalo in cultivating land and coexisting. Furthermore, the "Buffalo Spirit" symbolizes the resilience of Taiwanese people working hard for a living. By founding the "Buffalo School," Li sees buffalo farming as his vocation, focusing on artistic creation while promoting the cultural value of buffalo through experiential courses, continuing the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. The Buffalo School conducts life education through day camps and summer/winter camps, with courses that include understanding various buffalo farming tools and natural farming methods. Young shepherds learn to lead buffalo, graze them, ride them, harness them, massage them, clean their barns, prepare fodder, dry buffalo dung, and bond with buffalo. Through interactions and labor with buffalo, children experience their temperament and energy, discovering the mysteries of life and appreciating the land. In addition to buffalo farming, the Buffalo School's curriculum also includes activities such as pigeon courier messages, nature exploration, gathering firewood and outdoor cooking, and creating incense with buffalo dung and handmade paper art, all rich in rural charm. It is also planned for the children to use tools and knotting techniques to build traditional climbing structures, learning teamwork and enjoying the fun of using traditional tools. The Art of Dancing with Buffalo Through the Leash As a Master of Arts, Li connects the buffalo leash with artistic brush strokes, hoping to guide the subtle power felt during the buffalo leading process onto the canvas. "Observing changes in the buffalo rope reveals varying levels of tension; when the buffalo is relaxed, the rope is loose, and when they are not full, the rope tightens and they are reluctant to move. This variability translates into not just uniform strokes but lines that reflect the different moods of both the person and the buffalo, adding vitality to the artwork." Li's buffalo farming creations also include buffalo dung fuel, buffalo dung paper, and buffalo dung incense. He notes that buffalo dung, known as the "Hundred Herbs Paste," is produced by buffalo fed a diverse diet of grass in nature and having ample exercise, resulting in high-quality dung that is well-shaped and solid. Grinding buffalo dung into powder creates incense with a sweet aroma, perfect for enjoying during a relaxing rural tea time. Starting from Nature to Rediscover the Cultural Value of Buffalo In the years since the establishment of the "Buffalo School," Li has faced both sweet and bitter moments, humorously stating that he sticks to his principles. This learning experience increasingly attracts like-minded partners and many children eager to connect with nature and the land. As long as parents and children recognize and wish to learn the traditional spirit of buffalo farming together, rediscovering the cultural value of buffalo becomes the most fulfilling accomplishment. Li emphasizes that buffalo are an important part of the cultural landscape, but after passing through agricultural society, Taiwan has forgotten the memories of buffalo farming. Many cultural festivals do not highlight buffalo, and people only silently acknowledge them by not eating beef. Currently, Li hopes to awaken people to the importance of buffalo farming through the combination of buffalo farming and art. In the future, Principal Li Chunhsin of the "Buffalo School" will continue to seek fertile, unpolluted farmland rich in water grass, bringing his buffalo to this promised land, building with natural materials, and realizing his ideals so that people and buffalo can continue their journey together.
