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On August 21, 2021, Luo Dayou won the Special Contribution Award of the Golden Melody Award. /Visual China
On August 21, 2021, the 32nd Golden Melody Awards were held in Taipei, and Luo Dayou won the Special Contribution Award. This slightly dated name once again evokes our musical memories.
In 1982, Luo Dayou released his debut album "ZhiHu Zhi Ye", and the first song on the album was "Lukang Town".
"Taipei is not my home, my hometown has no neon lights", the song caused a sensation as soon as it was released, and it was once banned because it was contrary to the policies of the time.
Decades later, when young people who are wandering in the north, Shanghai and Guangzhou re-listen to this song, they can still feel it.
In fact, Lukang is not the home of Luo Dayou, Luo Dayou was born in Taipei, and he did not even go to Lukang when he created "Lukang Town".
But if you want to write about nostalgia, I am afraid it will be difficult to find a better place than Lukang.
The inspiration for the creation of "Lukang Town" came from Luo Dayou's chat with a young man in Lukang. It is said that this young man stole 20,000 yuan from his family and came to Taipei from Lukang to work hard. As a result, the money was squandered, but he did not make a name for himself, so he did not dare to return to his hometown. /Figureworm Creative
Lukang Town is located in Changhua County, known as the "Rice Warehouse of Taiwan", and was once a famous port city. The Taiwanese proverb "1 province, two deer, and three ships" refers to the three largest port cities on the island: Fucheng (in present-day Tainan City), Lukang, and Mengjia (in present-day Taipei City).
During the Qing Dynasty, Lukang, as an official designated port, frequent navigation with Quanzhou on the other side, and commercial exchanges were not busy, so that the accent of Lukang still retains a strong Quanzhou flavor.
Lukang and Quanzhou have been frequently navigated throughout history. / National Geographic Information Public Service Platform
It is such a prosperous and rich town, which is gradually declining under the impact of urbanization. Little Lukang can no longer tolerate the ambitions of young people, who leave their hometowns and go north to seek their dreams, but they have become a leaf of duckweed in the metropolis.
A town where "God lives"
The Mazu Temple, which is sung many times in the song, is the most important place in the whole of Lukang - The Tianhou Temple.
Even in the Mazu Temple throughout Taiwan, Lukang Tianhou Temple is an extraordinary existence.
During the Spring Festival, Lukang Tianhou Temple is particularly lively. / Lukang Tianhou Temple
In Taiwan's Mazu belief, only Mazu who was "invited" from the Mazu Temple on Meizhou Island in Fujian Province can be called "Kaiji Mazu", and the Tianhou Temple that receives incense from the Meizhou Ancestral Temple can be called "Kaiji Tianhou Temple".
The Mazu enshrined in the Tianhou Palace in Lukang was invited from Meizhou by General Shi Lang, the admiral of the Fujian Water Division in the early Qing Dynasty. Meizhou Ancestral Temple has a total of 6 Kaiji Mazu statues, which were invited to be enshrined everywhere, but only this one in the Lukang Tianhou Temple has been preserved today, which has a history of nearly 400 years.
Kaiji Mazu of Lukang Tianhou Temple. / Lukang Tianhou Temple
Because this unique statue of Mazu is too precious. It is said that pilgrims flock to the shrine, and the faces of the idols are blackened by incense.
The Tianhou Temple in Lukang also distributes incense to more than 70 Mazu temples across Taiwan, and on special occasions, the Mazu statues of these more than 70 Mazu temples will come to Luchung from all over the world to offer incense.
From 2006 to 2008, Mazu of Lukang Tianhou Temple went to the Ancestral Temple of Meizhou in Fujian province for three consecutive years to pay tribute to the ancestors. / Lukang Tianhou Temple
Lukang Town not only lives in Mazu, but also the "Buddha's residence" is not ordinary.
With its exquisite carvings and well-preserved historical buildings, Longshan Temple in Lukang has become a must-visit for tourists.
The dragon pillar carvings at Lungshan Temple are sleek and artistic. /Figureworm Creative
It is also the oldest Buddhist temple in Taiwan, built in 1653 and later relocated to its current location. At present, the layout of Longshan Temple was built in 1831, and later expanded and improved by the generation of famous teachers, becoming the most complete preserved Qing Dynasty building in Taiwan.
The doorpost of the flying crane and the carved window of the carp leaping dragon gate are vivid in shape and delicate in brushstrokes; complex and gorgeous algae wells, exquisitely designed stages, and paintings of the door gods that are not angry and arrogant... Keep architects and art lovers alike busy.
The Bagua Dome-shaped Algae Well at the top of the stage of Lukang Longshan Temple. /Visual China
A woodcut lion seat on the main bridge of The Dragon Hill Temple in Lukang. /Visual China
The town is lost, Renaissance
Ancient beliefs cannot hold back young people.
In the 1980s, Taiwan's economy developed rapidly, and it was called the "Four Asian Tigers" along with South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Under the tide of the times, young people in small towns have thrown themselves into urbanization and entered the neon-covered metropolis.
Losing young people, the once lively Lukang Old Street seems a little deserted.
Scene of Lukang Old Street. /Figureworm Creative
In the Qing Dynasty, Lukang Old Street was also a wharf and commercial center throughout Taichung, with ships constantly moving, transporting strange goods and bringing fresh information.
Industrialized trains rumble through, but the tracks do not choose this small city, and the former port city is declining at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Walking down the old streets, you can also find some traces of the old times: the roads are paved with quaint red bricks, the lintels of old houses can be seen everywhere, and some shops still retain the traditional pattern.
The residence of Lukang Old Street. /Figureworm Creative
The trade areas and residential areas that were once full of boats and sails and the sound of people are now tourist attractions with more foreigners than locals.
Although the commercial atmosphere is getting stronger, the endless stream of tourists has also brought more possibilities to Lukang Old Street.
Many tourists come here because of Luo Dayou's song "Lukang Town". /Figureworm Creative
A whole new community is breaking ground.
In 2009, a group of artists entered Lukang Guihua Lane to turn the idle and abandoned Japanese dormitories during the Japanese occupation period into workshops, galleries and performance venues, and the Guihua Lane Art Village came into being.
Graffiti in Osmanthus Lane. /Figureworm Creative
Artists need to apply to be stationed in the village, usually from six months to one year, with a maximum of two consecutive periods. If you still want to stay in the Art Village after two periods, you can apply again after one session.
This cultural and creative zone not only left a group of literary and artistic youth, but also brought travelers from afar, allowing local residents to contact more young blood.
Artistic activities in Osmanthus Lane. /Instagram@watery725
Today's Lukang, there are always young people who choose to leave, and there are always young people who are coming.
Lukang may be destined to be a small town that is not simple.