Meishan Hanlu Arts and Ecology Center Introduction
Creating the Meishan Cultural and Educational Foundation "In a mountainous town where agriculture is the main economic force, a group of people believes that what is needed goes beyond economics; culture is the power to restore social harmony. In May 1994, a group of Meishan residents, who had long been engaged in education and culture, observed the increasingly chaotic society and felt the necessity for culture and education to assist. They wondered if it would be possible to establish a foundation as a base for organizing arts activities and promotion. After more than three months of effort, this group of initiators in Meishan managed to raise over NT$2 million, reaching the required legal establishment amount. On September 28, 1994, the Meishan Cultural and Educational Foundation was officially established at the gymnasium of Meishan Elementary School. In 1995, during the national arts season promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Meishan, under the theme "Meishan Hanlu," awakened local residents to revalue the ancient pathways. That year, following the establishment of the foundation, a cultural and historical workshop was created to explore the hidden local history and accumulate historical materials and documents, as this is the foundation of the locality. Starting from the old local names, they searched through the words and memories of the elders, excavating life experiences that had already been forgotten and revisiting the ancient paths lost in the grass. Courses: A Different Kind of Learning For the past fifteen years, the Meishan Cultural and Educational Foundation has gradually promoted various arts and cultural activities and historical material establishment in its hometown. Various clubs and workshops may seem unimportant to urban dwellers. However, in a resource-scarce mountainous town, having courses and activities to participate in allows people to step outside their homes and conventional daily lives, learning much more. Coming to the Meishan Cultural and Educational Foundation opens a window to different experiences and learning. Fundraising and Establishing a Home In 1997, fundraising was conducted to purchase land and build a permanent space, which was completed in 2001. From then on, this four-story building became the base for the Meishan Cultural and Educational Foundation. In 2003, the foundation was named the "Meishan Hanlu Cultural and Ecological Center," becoming the first cultural center in Chiayi County. The term "Hanlu" refers to Meishan, where the elevation difference is significant, and residents are scattered across the area. The only way to transport their agricultural products to market gathering places was through stone-paved paths. In an age without machinery to assist in road construction, these paths were created with a belief in human endurance. From the moment the foundation was completed, the Meishan Cultural and Educational Foundation utilized the precious space acquired through sponsorship to strengthen interactions with the community and schools, care for the locality, and host numerous cultural activities. This is a community-based public welfare organization established and shared by the people of Meishan. Year by year, accumulating stories from different themes, since 2009 they have rediscovered decades-old mountain dwelling narratives through the writings of local author Zhang Wenhui, integrating life, ecology, and production to reconstruct a new rhythm of life grounded in old memories of Meishan. Loving Hometown, Caring for Meishan The establishment of the Meishan Cultural and Educational Foundation may initially have stemmed from a sense of stubbornness. In 1987, the first township-level foundation in Taiwan was established in Xingang, Chiayi County. Since a neighboring town could do it, Meishan, which values culture, could certainly manage it as well. Thus, a group of local individuals who loved Meishan and were part of the education system began to mobilize. Teachers in remote areas often rotate every three years, leaving the locality after only a short time. However, those born in Meishan who returned home to serve after completing their studies are filled with enthusiasm for the land where they teach. The founding chairman of the Meishan Cultural and Educational Foundation, Shen Yaoxiang, now an honorary chairman, has been a crucial driving force in shaping the foundation. As an elementary school principal passionate about education, he deeply loves the land of Meishan and recounts the founding history and past of the foundation with fondness. His brother, Shen Yaoyi, has also contributed to the foundation alongside him. A Non-Profit Organization of Volunteer Contributions With the strength of many contributors, the Meishan Cultural and Educational Foundation is deeply rooted in the community. Since 1997, funds have been raised to establish a long-term home for the foundation. The cost of purchasing land and construction exceeded NT$20 million, which is no small sum. At that time, voluntary fundraising was organized in a manner akin to "picking money" for the construction of an artistic cultural "house." This non-profit organization initiated locally has been learning through ups and downs for over a decade, managing everything from large to small matters by themselves. Many volunteer contributors sometimes feel fatigued, but after a brief sigh, they continue to move forward. Automatically Seeking Answers, Understanding Meishan The initiative to seek answers is a characteristic of the Meishan Cultural and Educational Foundation. For example, several years ago, a geography department from a northern university came to create a map of Meishan. On the large topographic map, locals felt there were some discrepancies that needed confirmation. So they took it upon themselves to investigate. A small motorcycle ride of two hours was taken just to use GPS to pinpoint the most accurate answers for their hometown. Additionally, although many ancient paths no longer exist, the foundation actively conducts explorations, visits wilderness areas, interviews elders, and carries out field investigations, intertwining the stories of ancient paths with the lives of Meishan residents, making history no longer a thing of the past. The foundation has also employed the most resourceful methods to recreate and document a hundred old trades native to Meishan, inviting elder craftsmen to demonstrate, preserving the old skills through video, and conducting traveling exhibitions in various middle and elementary schools in Meishan to allow children to learn about Meishan in a casual manner. Looking at Hometown, Looking Towards the World Through the accumulation of history, cultural investigations, and the promotion of arts activities, the foundation seeks to uncover every bit of what Meishan has to offer, building thickness in its stories. Climbing to the top floor of the foundation reveals rare astronomical telescopes and equipment for stargazing in Meishan, where the stars shine clearly. From this vantage point, one sees not only the proximity of Meishan but also the motivation to look toward the world and the universe.
