From its legendary myth to the formation of industrial settlements, Yingge seems to have been destined for pottery making. Whilesearching for unique souvenirs in this smalltown, we witnessed a subtle revitalization in the area.
Chenggong Zheng, leading his army, bombardeda monstrous bird that vomited miasma. This bird, after shot down, turned into the Yingge Stone. This myth of Yingge has been wide spread.
There is also a side story in the myth: Chenggong Zheng led his army to this place. The soldiers' straw sandals got muddy and they felt bothered. Therefore, they stopped to tap the mud off their sandals. The falling mud piled up into a mountain and became Yingge’s Jianshan Hill ( i.e. a pointed hill). When Chenggong Zheng planned to attack "Yingge", he specifically pulled the iron cannon up to Jianshan’s summit in order to take a clear aim at the monster.
Yingge Stone is located in the northeast corner of this town while Jianshan is in the southwest corner. The center of the range where the cannon fire flies in the myth happens to be the current Ceramic Old Street. In contrast with the stone of that strange bird, the "Jianshan", composed of sandal mud, may be more emotionally connected to the locals. At least, before houseswere built so high and densely, you could easily see that plump hill when you looked up.
Across the whole town, two streets are named "Jianshan": the long "Jianshan Road" stretches from Jianshan all the way to Dahan River. Su's Handmade Tofu Skin (YongshunBean Curd Sheet Factory) on this road has been considerably popular among Yingge residents for more than seventy years. (Extended Reading Texts: The Cuisine Is Steaming As Early As Dawn In The Corner Of The Rammed-Earth House In Yongshun Bean Curd Sheet Factory, Yingge)
The other road, Jianshanpu Road, in this town is situatedon a adjacenthill. During early days, pottery makers built kilns along the gentle slope. Also, Jianshan black soil and Yongchang terracotta were perfect materials to make pottery. During the Japanese colonial period, Jianshan Kilning was widely praised. Jianshanpu was once clustered with kilns. All of these favorable factors pave the way for our current old ceramic street on Jianshanpu Road.
Open The Page of Dedication in Pottery Making Written by Yingge
Steve Shu, the fourth-generation of The Shu's Pottery, played in front of Jianshan Hill while growing up. His grandmother’s house was located at the foot of Jianshan Hill. Back then, it was still open country, where he remembered running and jumping as a child. In 1926, his great-grandfather Yinsi Shu started his tile making business in Jianshanpu.
Since then, Hsin-Wang Shu, the second generation, mass-produced household ceramics in Yingge, including the Dan Qing (green grazed) Bowls, Shui Qing (water blue)Bowlsand Yin Yang (bicolor)Bowlsthat were commonly seen in the early years. Later during the economic takeoff period, he worked with the third generation, Shunjie Shu, and introduced ceramic tiles under such brand names as Lighthouse Jin-Gang. The brand name Jin-Gang carries the expectation of being as hard as steel. The word "Gang" ( meaning 'steel') in the name of the fourth generation of Steve Shu is derived from the spirit of this brand.
Initially manufacturing tiles and household ceramics, and then incorporating architectural or industrial ceramics, many large-scale old ceramic factories in Yingge went through this typical process and thesetransformation stories are all full of barriers and challenges. There is a slang in the kiln industry: "Nine failures out of ten kilnings is not unusual." The kilning process is just like a wild gamble, which requires both skills and luck to win.
In 1965, the Shu family was dedicated to transformingits business to ceramic tiles but burned kilns 19 times in succession. Steve Shu recalled that, back then, his grandmother even pawnedhertrousseau jewelry for NTD 100,000 and boughtthebook The Secrets of Glaze in Beitou. Also, they hired experts for onsite guidance in Yingge. All these efforts together finally stopped the catastrophic "Burning the kiln 19 times in succession" and led the business to its eventual success. At present, the inner pages of that secret book, which contains "page after valuable page" are still displayed in Hsin-Wang Shu Ceramics Memorial Museum, which is located on the second floor of The Shu's Pottery.
During the 1980s, German and Italian kilning machines were in widespread use in Yingge. Foreign technicians often traveled all the way to Taiwan for on-site guidance. When Steve Shu was a child, he often saw foreign technicians appear in his home and he accompanied them to excavate the ground, survey and grade the kiln road. The engineers, while having dinner in Shu's family, would play guitar and sang impromptu. This is a glowing childhood memory. (Extended Reading Texts: The Oven Kiln in the lane of Yingge, Pottery Workshop During Japan Colonial Period)
Treasures in the Production Area
After taking over the family business, Steve Shu started to promote the business transformation again. The Shu's Pottery is not only a manufacturer, but also an integral part of local culture. It would like to sustain this legacy and contribute to the local ceramic industry in its own small way to share, thrive, and benefit together.
In 2010, he established a tourist factory and received approval from the New Taipei City Government after and assessment the first year. He transformed his grandfather’s old factory into a shopping mall and pottery studio to exhibit and sell the works of his own along with that of young potters, and provide professional pottery courses.
The Yingge Culture Festival began in 2016. Steve Shu recalled that he never touched a piece of clay during those six years in primary school. Now, the Shu's Pottery Club, during the culture festival, takes children to play with pottery in the school, and assist the local schools in Yingge with organizing pottery courses. (Extended Reading Texts: Can Cups Be Crooked? The Shu's Pottery Explores New Possibilities In Ceramics)
Every morning, as soon as the Shu's Pottery opens, and a group of tender babies arrivesin succession. Their parents hold them likeHollywood superstars and press their hands and feet on the pottery slab as mementos. Throughout this day, people, one after another, come to the pottery studio to mold and attend workshops.
The front display area shows classical green bowls, which are Steve's favorite gifts for friends. During early years, Dan Qing bowls were common household bowls in Taiwan. The distinctive feature of Shu's Dan Qing bowls is that it is printed with a 3D relief of bamboos, screens, cranes, and lychees. The lychee pattern, unique to Shu's family, conveys the blessing of fertility. (Extended Reading Texts: The Legacy Through Three Generations, Li-jing Pottery in Yingge Replicates The Ancient Style)
The Happiness Casserole, which won the Golden Pin Design Award, combines a wooden base and a wooden turntable. This is a perfect casserole for hot pot, porridge, soup, and chocolate pot and a wonderful piece of tableware to share cuisine and exercise your imagination.
An Amulet of Earth for Fortune, A Blessing From Pottery Deity
If you want to find secret souvenirs in Yingge, just pay a visit to the Pottery Deity in Fushing Temple of Yingge. Mr. Ming Luo, or Pottery Deity, the ancestor of hand-molding. In the early years, factories in Jianshanpu took turns to welcome the deity into the factory every year. After a while, they decided to consecrate it in Fushing Temple.
As soon as you step into the Temple, pay your sincere tribute to the rarely seen stone-sculpted Earth God and Pottery Deity. If you get a Yes after tossing divination blocks, you can make an offering and take a pottery amulet home. The Shu's Pottery requests the deity for approval of making these amulets and adds incense ashes during the pottery making process. (Extended Reading Texts: Fushing Temple Of Yingge, The Spiritual Center Of Pottery Makers In Jianshanpu)
When people visit Yingge, most of them might have an cursory impression that "they sell so many dishes here". However, if you really want to, it is highly advised to open the door of The Shu's Pottery or visit their Facebook fan page, Yingge Culture Festival. Alternatively, you can simply participate in the annual cultural festival and take an in-depth cultural journey guided by locals.Only by doing these will you know that the story of "Pottery Town" has been full of twists and can never be finished in one page.
* Author: Ziyi Bao, excerpts from Taiwan, With Wow Gifts, Smile Quarterly 2019, Winter Issue.
廣告
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Fun Side Trips in Yingge
▶The Train Speeded Into Yingge. Along This Town's Chimneys, A Pottery Road Has Been Paved For Two Centuries
▶Fuyuan Ancient Banyan Trail: Stroll Into A World Of Insect EncyclopediaAnd Enjoy Xanadu-Like Scenery While Having Tofu Pudding
▶So This Is Also Ceramic! Take A Trip To The Yingge Ceramics Museum And Discover The Secrets Of Life
The Shu's Pottery
Introduction
In 1926 , the Shu family, in Jianshanpu, started its business by make tiles in the bun-shaped kiln. In the late Japan Colonial Period, Hsin-Wang Shu established Xiexin Pottery and began its business by making bowls and expanded into ceramic tiles and building materials. Today, The Shu's Pottery symbols its legacy and Cocera signifies its innovation. After the establishment of Hsin-WangShu Ceramics Memorial Museum, The Shu's Pottery strives to cultivate new talents, pass on relevant skills, promote Yingge culture, and incessantly engage in localization.
Good Souvenirs: Classic Green Bowl
Dan Qing Bowl, with glazing color, was glazed, burned, and polished by grandfather Hsin-WangShu. Clays taken around from Jianshanpu, Yinnge were placed in the plaster mold carved with totem of the Japan Colonial Period and molded with the rotating lathe tool. Hsin-Wang Shu’s Dan Qing Bowl was at its heyday at that time. It is said that the amount of bowls fired accounted for 40% of the total amount of that in Yingge. It’s a pity that no handwritten or oral record regarding the formula of Dan Qing glazing color was left.At the present time, we can only repeatedly experiment on glazing with our fragmented memories to replicate those diligent good old days of Taiwan.
The Shu's Pottery
Address: 81, Jianshanpu Rd., Yingge District, Yingge, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-26789571
Pottery Course: The Shu's Pottery Studio
Fan page: Xinwang. Pottery at The Shu's Pottery / Pottery Cocera
A Journey To Yingge, The Origin Of Pottery
Su's Handmade Tofu Skin (Yongshun Bean Curd Sheet Factory) : buy bean curd and chicken rolls → Visit Yingge Ceramic Museum →Yingge Cake Shop: buy mung bean pastry→Yingge Fushing Temple: Requesting an amulet→Daqiantang/ Day Foodie: Dining stopover →Anta Kiln →THZ Gallery→ The Shu's Pottery→Li-jing Pottery→Teaday: Enjoy tea
Light Spot
Su's Handmade Tofu Skin (Yongshun Bean Curd Sheet Factory)
Address: No. 208-1, Jianshan Road, Yingge District, New Taipei City,
Phone: 02-26703208
Fan Page: Yongshun Bean Curd Sheet
Yingge Ceramics Museum
Address: No.200, Wenhua Rd., Yingge Dist., New Taipei City
Phone: 02-86772727
Fan Page: Yingge Ceramics Museum
Yingge Cake Shop
Address: No.169-1 , Guoqing Street, Yingge District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-26791289
Yingge Fushing Temple
Address: No. 63, Zhongzheng2nd Road, Yingge District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-26705580
Daqian / Daily Foodie
Address: 2nd Floor, No. 14-1, Jianshanpu Road, Yingge District, New Taipei City
Phone: 0958080143
Fan Page: Daily Foodie
Hsiniyuan Pottery Factory
Address: No. 13, Lane 55, Jianshanpu Road, Yingge District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-26792178
Fan Page: Hsiniyuan Pottery Factory
Anta Kiln (Flagship store)
Address: No.54,Jianshanpu Road, Yingge District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-26789301
Website: Anta Kiln
THZ Gallery
Address: No. 45,Jianshanpu Road, Yingge District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-26789698
Fan Page: THZ Gallery
Li-jing Pottery
Address: No.64 , Chongqing Street , Yingge District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-26791356
Fan page: Li-jing Pottery (Yingge Ceramic Old Street )
Teaday
Address: B1, 62-1 Chongqing Street, Yingge District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-26782782
Fan Page: Teaday
Editor in Charge: Pei-Hsuan Huang
Editor in charge: Huang Peixuan
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