The Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center held the fourth Hakka coming-of-age ceremony at Taiwan Hakka Museum in Miaoli on June 10. The ceremony celebrates the milestone of graduating from elementary school by having students perform traditional Hakka rituals, which include three major activities: serving tea to teachers, tying scarves for graduates, and carrying shoulder poles.

Over 20 elementary schools took part in the ceremony, including Miaoli’s Jiouhu Elementary School (九湖國小), Tunglo Elementary School (銅鑼國小), Shinglung Elementary School (興隆國小), Jungshing Elementary School (中興國小), Xinlong Elementary School (新隆國小), and Wenfeng Elementary School (文峰國小); Taguan Elementary School (大觀國小) from New Taipei City; and Tungshih Elementary School (東勢國小) from Taichung City. The number of the students who participated in this event was over one thousand this year, hitting a record high.

Director of Hakka Culture Development Center Ho Chin-liang (何金樑) and teachers led the students to carry shoulder poles, which symbolize carrying the burden of responsibility and passing down the spirit of dedication. Director Ho stated that thanks to wide-range support from government agencies to private enterprises, this year’s ceremonial event is accompanied by a special exhibition on century-old elementary schools.

The exhibition displays a period of history spanning over five decades, from the era of Japanese rule to present-day Taiwan. Some retired principals of the centennial elementary schools were also invited to join the exhibition and give their best wishes to more than a thousand graduates. The exhibition aims to let students understand the importance of school and the difficulty of pursuing an education in the past.

At the one-month exhibition, 17 elementary schools in Miaoli have loaned their old photographs and historical relics to reflect stories from the past. For instance, graduation pictures in different eras, student documents written with Chinese calligraphy, and footage of school games in the 1930s are all on display.

More information can be found on the Facebook page of Taiwan Hakka Museum.