The Precious Folklore in Taiwan

Wikipedia explains that folklore is “the expressive body of culture shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group.” Folklore includes traditions that are verbally handed down in the form of tales, proverbs and jokes. One such example is a well-known Taiwanese proverb — “if you eat too fast, you’ll break your bowl.” This means that when one is in the process of acquiring new skills or knowledge; one has to follow the steps without hurrying through them. Another aspect of folklore is “material tradition”. This is related to design in the form of architecture and costumes. Take Taiwanese temples for example, there are many colorful sculptures of Chinese gods and dragons on the roof and halls. These sculptures are actually not just decorative, but also symbolize the stories of gods or the history of the temples themselves. Folklore is also comprised of the forms and rituals of celebrations connected to festivals, weddings and initiation rites. The Lunar New Year, which is an important occasion for many Taiwanese families find themselves gathering for annual reunion dinners, fixing a time to sweep away ill fortune and bringing good luck by cleaning their houses and then decorating them with red couplets. In conclusion, folklore is a transmission from one region to another or from one generation to the next. It is not necessarily gained within one’s formal education, but one can proudly say its value is immeasurable.

by Robby