by Project Student, Rita
Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages' University Social Responsibility Practice Program, "OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project”has initiated various collaborative communities this semester.The "Cultural Experience Design Community" has planned two themed activities for this session. Join us for this event on "Shinyō Wagashi" exploring the story of the Shinyō Special Attack Unit, an integral part of old Zuoying with a mysterious and sorrowful history. Beyond listening to historical narratives, participants will engage in a hands-on experience of making Japanese wagashi, enhancing their understanding of this historical period and deepening their familiarity with Zuoying's culture and development.
For this event, we are honored to invite teacher Jiang Zhouhang to Wenzao. Mr. Jiang is not only a pastry chef but also a long-time local food education promoter and literary pastry writer. He weaves together pastries and literature, transforming them into more charming and unique literary works. He hopes to combine his expertise with local characteristics, allowing participants to not only recognize the natural ingredients nurtured by the land but also deeply feel the cultural cultivation of the land and people. Mr. Jiang shared many of his personal experiences with us, such as using the "Five Elements" in his hometown of Liougue, through pottery, woodworking, dyeing, cooking, and other means, to make full use of local elements, allowing children and adults to learn while doing and recognize the beauty of this land. For this event, Mr.Jiang also collaborated with Kaohsiung Cultural Association to come up with the highlight of the event - "Shinyō Wagashi ," using red bean paste and longan as fillings to create a pastry with a strong Japanese dessert flavor, allowing participants to feel novelty and surprise during the experience.
While waiting for the pastries to bake, Mr. Chen, the manager of Kaohsiung Cultural Association, shared the story of the Shinyo Special Attack Unit. "Shinyo" originated in Japan during World War II, when a suicide attack unit was developed to resist the U.S. military. The connection between the Shinyo Special Attack Unit, Taiwan, and Zuoying is a base found near the ruins of Zuoying West Gate. After investigation and verification by historians, it was discovered that during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan, a unit called the Shinyo Special Attack Unit was stationed in Zuoying West Gate for a period of time. However, after the war ended, the unit withdrew back to Japan. This news surprised the local residents of Zuoying, who exclaimed, "So there was such a history!" The aforementioned base was built by the unit members as a shrine to comfort their hearts, long for home, and pray in the midst of fear. After listening to the entire story, the participants felt a sense of heaviness, but at the same time, they gained a deeper understanding of Zuoying.
The second session, "Design and Ideation," invited participants to extend their creativity based on the first session's content. Both groups enthusiastically shared their creative concepts and sources of inspiration.The first group titled their project "Zuoying: Past and Present, Reflections of Shinyō ," using a layering technique to juxtapose images of Zuoying a century ago with its present-day appearance on a folder. This visual comparison clearly contrasts the past and the present. Additionally, the first group created several illustrated cards related to the Shinyo Special Attack Unit's story, which can be further developed into stamps or stickers.The second group, inspired by the story of the Attack Unit stationed in Taiwan, designed handwritten thank-you cards. The goal was to encourage participants to empathize with the feelings of the members in the army or their families at that time, understanding the indescribable sorrow and longing. Through role-playing, participants conveyed their emotions through these cards, allowing them to deeply experience this historical period and grasp the meaning of "expressing love in time."
The first session, which included an experience and a listening session about the history and culture, and the second session, where group members brainstormed ideas, both helped participants gain a deeper understanding of the old Zuoying culture. Through such activities, we hope that more people will be willing to learn about their hometown and invest their efforts in promoting it. The 113 cultural experience design activities have now come to an end. Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages’ Social Responsibility Project team will continue to organize activities in the future, and we look forward to meeting you all with more diverse, innovative, and locally-themed events!
Teacher Jiang Zhouhang introduces food farming education-the five elements.
Chen Zhenrong, Manager of Kaohsiung Cultural Association, explains the story of the Shinyo Special Attack Unit.
Participants are diligently making Japanese " Shinyō Wagashi."
Participants of the second session designed a folder with superimposed images of Zuoying, both past and present.
