Jingzi Pavilions (also called "Respect Words Pavilions") are a commonly seen structure in Hakka villages. Jingzi
Pavilions are not temples used to worship deities, but are pavilions with
furnaces particularly used for burning paper with written words. The origin of
Jingzi Pavilions can be traced to customs brought over to Taiwan by a great
number of Chinese immigrants during the Ming and Qing Dynasty. Scholars who
wished to express their respect and appreciation for paper with written words
built such structures to burn such paper. The cylindrical-shaped Jingzi
Pavilions are used solely for burning books and paper with written words, and
are usually located at street corners, inside a shuyuan (Academies of Classical
Learning), or within temples. Some local gentry or rich families also build
them within their courtyards.
(Photo: CNA)
In general, the exterior design of
Jingzi Pavilions comes in two forms: one is a triple-layered tetragon, the
other is a triple-layered hexagon. The first layer forms the base, and is a
container to collect the burning ashes, with an opening to clear the ashes at
the back or at the side. The second layer consists of an opening to a furnace,
and at the top of the opening is a horizontal plaque with Jingzi Pavilion or
other names imprinted on it. To the sides of the opening are rhymed couplets.
The third layer is set with a shrine placed with memorial tablets of gods
related to knowledge or academia, such as Cangjie, Wenchang Wang, Confucius,
and so on. The roof is often built in the shape of a hexagonal pyramid, and the
rooftop is gourd-shaped (symbolizing fortune and prosperity). A design of a
dragon’s head also adorns the roof. It is clear from the design of a Jingzi
Pavilion that it was greatly influenced by traditional temples.
(Photo: CNA)
The establishment of Jingzi Pavilions
was to convey the respect that scholars had for paper with written words;
advocates of Jingzi Pavilions are mainly the gentry with higher levels of
education. This practice gradually spread to the general public, and eventually
become a common folk belief. People of the past deemed words as sacred, and
coupled with the fact that it was not easy to obtain paper in ancient times, it
was thought that paper with words written on it should not be disposed of
carelessly, but instead should be collected and then sent to a Jingzi Pavilion
to be burned to ashes. Additionally, ceremonies would also be held to scatter
the collected ashes into rivers. A Jingzi Pavilion is a symbol of reverence
towards words, and the belief in the passing on of knowledge.
(Photo: CNA)
In a time of universal education,
where information is readily available, paper is not as difficult to obtain as
it used to be. Though Jingzi Pavilions are not as crucial as it used to be, the
conservation of this tradition can still be observed by residents of some Hakka
settlements in Taiwan. Through understanding its historical significance, we
can derive that for the Hakka people, Jingzi Pavilions represent the spirit of respect
and reverence for their ancestors and for knowledge.
(Translators: Patrick Lin, Eric Zhang, Vivi Cheng, Charles Tang
In collaboration with Fu Jen Catholic University, Department of English)