Cultural Affairs Bureau, Hsinchu County Government

This book reviews the cultural governance and public services of the Hsinchu County Cultural Affairs Bureau over the thirty years since its establishment. The content uses axes such as cultural heritage, venues, local knowledge, reading, festivals, arts grants, performing arts, and action partners to connect important policies, restoration projects, publishing achievements, exhibition and performance activities, cultural equity, and honorary milestones. It presents how the Cultural Affairs Bureau, starting from local history, has constructed a cross-domain collaborative and future-oriented cultural network.

Starting from the Bogong (Earth God) faith and daily life in Hakka villages, this book records the cultural landscape of stone-plate Bogong shrines in the Hsinchu, Taoyuan, and Miaoli areas. Combining field investigations, oral histories, and research into stonework craftsmanship, the author explains the spatial forms, ceremonies, naming conventions, couplets, and 'reappointment rituals' of Bogong temples. It also explores the stone-cutting settlements along the Touqian River, the techniques for creating stone-plate Bogong, nursery rhymes, enigmatic folk similes (xiehouyu), and cultural preservation actions, presenting the living wisdom of how Hakka faith and the local environment coexist.

This book is the systematic result of Hitay Payan's decades of field research, consultations with tribal elders, literature review, and over six hundred hand-drawn illustrations. Centered on 'Gaga,' the book unfolds from the Atayal people's animistic beliefs, taboos, and ethical norms, delving into daily life, production education, naming conventions, marriage, migration, social organization, hunting, and oral traditions. It establishes a knowledge system of Atayal culture from an indigenous perspective, serving the purposes of cultural heritage, language learning, and academic reference.

This book features interviews with 20 elders and outstanding figures who were born in, lived in, or made significant contributions to the development of Hsinchu County. Spanning the fields of art, literature, education, industry, politics, technology, medicine, and public service, the book preserves the social changes, professional achievements, and Hakka spirit of 20th-century Hsinchu through life histories and first-hand oral accounts, turning personal experiences into precious documents for understanding a century of local development.

The second volume of Fires of Heritage, Bamboo Light continues the life history project of century-old figures in Hsinchu County, featuring another 20 individuals who have deeply cultivated fields such as business, medicine, agriculture, education, technology, literature, art, and public affairs. Through interviews and historical data, the book presents personal choices, setbacks, and contributions amidst changing times, preserving local wisdom and establishing an oral history foundation for future generations to understand Hsinchu's diverse society.

This book is a special exhibition album for "Tsai In-tang: The Artistic Wanderer," documenting the artistic journey of this Hakka artist born in Xinpu, Hsinchu in 1909. It covers his life from his enlightenment through Japanese education and participation in the Taiwan art scene to his residence in the United States and his travels across Europe, America, and Asia for sketching. The book is organized into themes such as Enlightenment and Learning, Homeland and Eras, Portraits, Cross-domain Innovation, Wandering Sketches, and the Homecoming of Art. Accompanied by art criticism, historical documents, and a work index, it presents his significant life trajectory spanning 20th-century Taiwanese art and highlights the significance of his family's donation of 707 artworks and over 1,500 documents back to his hometown collection.

The theme of this issue is "Cultural Revitalization of the Chuchien Tribe," featuring results from ethnic identity journeys, documentary projects, surveys of tombstones and family photo archives, interviews with elders, and oral traditions regarding the migration of the Liao Hao-mai branch. Through fieldwork, oral history, and artifact research, it presents the historical memories, family networks, and contemporary cultural revitalization practices of the Taokas people of the Chuchien Tribe. It also includes a special article in memory of the sculptor Li Lung-chuan.

Based on the original 2000 edition of the old photo collection, this book has been revised and re-edited with images from local collections and the 'Hsinchu Zhudong Nostalgia' social media community. The photos and oral histories cover Zhudong's people, streets, transportation, education, sports, agriculture, forestry, mining, glass, and commercial life. It presents the urbanization process of Zhudong as it transitioned from a Hakka agricultural settlement into an inland industrial town, while preserving collective memories of markets, theaters, railways, irrigation canals, medical care, and cultural activities.

Against the backdrop of the nearly 230-year history of the development of the Kansai region, this book profiles 70 local figures from the Qing Dynasty, the Japanese colonial period, and the post-war era. The author utilizes genealogies, local gazetteers, ancient documents, Governor-General archives, old photographs, and interviews with elders to organize the birth and death dates, family backgrounds, official positions, deeds, and works of these individuals. Through the life histories of both ordinary people and local gentry, the book outlines the long-term development of Kansai's society, clans, education, industry, and Hakka culture.

The theme of this issue is "Cultural Revitalization of the Tek-chham Society," featuring achievements such as ethnic identity processes, documentary projects, surveys of tombstones and family heirlooms, interviews with elders, and oral traditions regarding the migration of Liao Hao-mai's descendants. Through fieldwork, oral history, and artifact research, it presents the historical memories, family networks, and contemporary cultural revitalization practices of the Taokas people of the Tek-chham Society. Additionally, it includes a special feature in memory of the sculptor Li Long-quan.