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	<title>國立傳統藝術中心入口網</title>
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			http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/main/index.aspx
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		<description>傳藝新聞Rss訂閱</description>
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<title>Celebrate Tradition and Fun Youth! The "2012 Phoenix Flowers of Traditional Arts Joint Graduation Exhibition" Will be Marvelously Presented from May 5!</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMzk=</link>
<pubDate>2012/5/6</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Supervised by the CCA and organized by the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts, the &quot;2012 Phoenix Flowers of Traditional Arts Joint Graduation Exhibition&quot; will be launched on May 5! It is hoped that through the contemporary youths&amp;apos; passion towards traditional arts and their brand new interpretation, we will be able to applause the emerging force of Taiwanese traditional art together, as they will bring about surprises and the infinite propagation of the youthful charisma of traditional art!

The first Phoenix Flowers of Traditional Arts Joint Graduation Exhibition invited three schools and seven colleges to participate; this was expanded to five schools and nine colleges during the second year, and six schools and nine colleges in the third year. This year’s “2012 Phoenix Flowers of Traditional Arts Joint Graduation Exhibition” saw enthusiastic participation from five schools and nine colleges. The NHTTA especially devised the theme of “Celebrate Tradition and Fun Youth” so as to let everyone be astonished by how contemporary youths and students celebrate tradition and their youthful exuberance. This year, the invited schools and departments include the TNUA School of Music Department of Traditional Music, PCCU’s Department of Chinese Music Master’s Class, TNUA School of Music Department of Traditional Music, TNNUA’s Department of Chinese Music and five departments from the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts such as: Department of Taiwanese Opera, Department of Peking Opera, Department of Traditional Music, Department of Acrobatics and Dance and Department of Hakka Opera.

This year, the performance is still done by splendidly attired students from various departments in the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, including “The Gold Star” from the Department of Taiwanese Opera, Beijing Praise 101 -“Triple Stealing the Nine-dragon Cup”
“The Heavenly Maid Scattering Blossoms” from the Department of Peking Opera. The Department of Hakka Opera, which has been invited to perform for the first time, is also the only college in Taiwan dedicated to Hakka Opera. For this performance, they mobilized the entire teach staff and student body to participate in the event, bringing classics such as “Worshipping the Moon” and “Triple Beating of Xue Ping-gui”. Through the unique “Nine Tones and Eighteen Tunes” of Hakka tradition, they will interpret the contemporary ambiance of traditional Hakka opera.

The music programs converges the five major traditional music departments n Taiwan to successively demonstrate the diverse facets of traditional music. The National Taiwan University of Arts’ “Wind, Forest, Fire and Mountain”, the TNNUA’s “Southern Wind – Southern Art Affection”. The graduates from PCCU’s Department of Chinese Music Master’s Class&amp;apos;s &quot;Chinese Orchestra Joint Performance Concert&quot;, the TNUA School of Music&amp;apos;s Department of Traditional Music especially planned the &quot;Fun Four Music Party Concert&quot;, the Department of Traditional Music, while the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts&amp;apos; held the &quot;Thirteen Sounds – Opera Music Feast&quot;, which only demonstrated the three major themes of Hakka opera, Taiwanese opera and Peking opera, but also re-created the dramatic tension of the opera through rich musical notes.

In addition, the astonishing folk acrobatics program was performed by second year graduates from the Department of Acrobatics and Dance of the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts this year. They interpreted the story through a series of acrobatic performances and re-created the iconic “Night market life” in Taiwan using diverse performance method of acrobatics, thereby creatively expressing Taiwan’s authentic hospitality. Furthermore, they also successfully composed a story of resplendent dreams to bedazzle the audience with Taiwanese culture and folk skills!

The Taiwanese opera &quot;The Gold Star” was performed by the Department of Taiwanese Opera, National Taiwan College of Performing Arts on May 5. It is an adaptation of an ancient play. The &quot;Thirteen Sounds – Opera Music Feast” was performed by the Department of Traditional Music of the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts on May 6; it presents the three major musical elements of Hakka Opera, Taiwanese Opera and Peking Opera through the form of solo and chamber ensemble to demonstrate individual mastery and mutual understanding of the impeccable team performance. The repertoire includes three major themes of Hakka opera, Taiwanese opera and Peking opera, and recreated the dramatic tension of the opera through rich musical notes.
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<title>"Speak of the Dragon" Hanlin Talking and Singing Art Troupe Invited as Resident Performers at the NTCFA</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yNDA=</link>
<pubDate>2012/5/6</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ 
In May, the NCFTA invites the resident Hanlin Talking and Singing Art Troupe to perform the dazzling &quot;Speak of the Dragon&quot; performance, where four languages including Chinese, Hakka, Minnan and English are used to perform ten programs such as Chinese comic dialogue, storytelling, ventriloquism, drama, two-man comic show and bamboo clapper kuaishu. The diverse, dazzling performances include themed Chinese comic dialogue, folk story, interesting countryside tidbits, slang tutoring etc. Through easy-to-understand interpretations, visitors are welcome to roam freely in the world of the dragon on 10:00, 13:30 and 16:00 everyday between May1 and May31. 

Troupe leader Wang Zhen-quan performed the rare Shandong Kuaishu, where iron clapper and Shandong accent are utilized to interpret &quot;Playing Chinese Chess&quot;; the exquisite skill provided the visitors with pleasant surprises. Shandong Kuaishu is a form of Chinese talking and singing Quyi that originated from the Luzhongnan and Luxinan regions of Shandong Province. The performance is done in the Shandong dialect, where crescent-shaped clappers (two semicircle iron clappers) are used as a clapping instrument, hence the name, iron clappers. Later, the iron clappers are replaced by bamboo clappers to evolve into &quot;Bamboo Clapper Kuaishu&quot;.

The comic dialogue &quot;Lucky Dragon&quot; is portrayed by two &quot;dragon fanatics&quot; who have given a thorough interpretation of the word &quot;dragon&quot;; everything in their lives, such as food, clothing, accommodation, transportation, education and entertainment must be associated with the word &quot;dragon&quot;, including, Longan, steamed buns, dragon fruit, chayote, Longquan kaoliang, wearing the imperial robe, living in the imperial palace, taking the dragon ship, dragon boat. They even only watch films starring Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Ti Lung and Stallone, who also feature the word &quot;dragon&quot; in their names (when translated into Chinese). Through the method of answer-reply, abundant blessing is conveyed to wish everyone flourishing prosperity and to be as lucky as a dragon!
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<title>"Clown Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival" - Taiwan Kunqu Opera Theatre's Classic "The Sea of Desire, Sifan and Xiashan"</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMzU=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/29</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Organized by the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts, the &quot;Clown Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival&quot; will be held between April 5 and May 5 in six cities/counties around Taiwan. The NCFTA&amp;apos;s holiday series event over the past three weeks were jam-packed. For this Saturday and Sunday&amp;apos;s finale (4/28~29) at the Jiang Wei-shui Performing Arts Center, the Taiwan Kunqu Opera Theatre is invited to perform the most famous two scenes in the classic, &quot;The Sea of Desire, Sifan and Xiashan&quot;. The repertoire is easy to understand, and the interaction between the Chou (clown) and Dan (confidante) makes it a very popular opera. 

Kunqu opera is given the laudatory title of &quot;Mother of all Operas&quot;. In 2011, it was proclaimed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Kunqu opera is characterized by elegant, lingering and touching tunes, and in terms of performing techniques, it focuses on control of the voice, rapid and slow pause and transition in rhythm and speed and particularity of pronunciation. Kunqu Opera incorporates poetry, music, song, dance and opera to form the most exquisite and elegant opera. 

The Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts organized six &quot;Kunqu Opera Heritage Programs&quot; from 1991 to 2000, where outstanding Kunqu performers from China were invited to promote and pass down the heritage of Kunqu opera. In addition to regular students, art student classes are also organized, where troupe performers from GuoGuang Opera Company and National Fu Hsing Chinese Opera Troupe are invited to study Kunqu opera. In 1999, the first group of art class students who participated in the program formed the first professional Kunqu opera troupe in Taiwan - Taiwan Kunqu Opera Theatre, which has accumulated over 50 opera excerpts and nine reconstructed opera performances. Moreover, between 2005 and 2011, publically performed operas were produced, including &quot;Absolute Beauty&quot;, &quot; Dreaming of Butterflies in Fairy Land&quot;, &quot;Beautiful Mind and Tender Mood&quot;, &quot; Taiwan Kunqu Opera Theatre All Stars&quot; and &quot;Sending Affection over the West Wall&quot;. The operas offer a fusion of tradition and innovation, hence the troupe was selected as a CCA-supported group for eight years between 2004 and 2012. 

In resonance with the theme of &quot;Clown Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival&quot;, Taiwan Kunqu Opera Theatre invited the outstanding Wu Sheng (main male role) and Wu Chou (male clown) actor from the GuoGuang Opera Company, Mr. Liu His-jung and renowned Kunqu actress Yang Li-chuan to perform the two operas &quot;The Sea of Desire, Sifan and Xiashan&quot;. According to traditional Kunqu Opera actors &quot;Men are most afraid of interpreting fleeing at night, Yeh Pen, while women are most afraid of playing thinking of going back to the mundane world, Sifan, because they are the most difficult scenes for the Wu Sheng and the Dan to interpret, which consists of mostly monologues. Sifan depicts the story of a little nun named Sekong, who was sent to a Buddhist temple by her parents. She has lately been brooding with increasing intensity over the boring life of being a nun. One day, she decides to leave the temple for good to resume a secular life and pursue happiness as a true woman. The entire opera is played by one individual, where the first half mainly involves delicate aria and transformation of mentality, while the second half emphasizes aesthetics of the body and acrobatic skills, making this a daunting challenge for Dan actors. 

For &quot;Xiashan&quot;, the story revolves around Benwu, who complains about his parents&amp;apos; superstition that caused them to send him to a Buddhist temple to become a monk. One day he seizes the opportunity of being left alone in the temple and flees down the mountain. On his way down, he runs into Sekong, the Buddhist nun, who also has just fled from a nunnery. As they talk, they find that they share a desire to resume a secular life. In the end, they fall in love and marry each other. The opera features humorous dialogues, exaggerated performance and vivid body aesthetics; it also showcases skills of the clown role in a Kunqu opera such as coiling prayer beads, footwork, piggyback and boot-throwing etc. This is an essential program to experience the charm of the traditional clown role!

Taiwan Kunqu Opera Theatre&amp;apos;s &quot;The Sea of Desire, Sifan and Xiashan&quot; will be performed at the NCFTA Jiang Wei-shui Performing Arts Center on this Saturday and Sunday (4/28~29). Two performances will be held daily at 13:00 and15:30.
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/565738112414_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="台灣體院">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/788538112415_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="台灣體院">]]></description>
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<title>Recruitment of "Puppets at the NCFTA – 2012 Hand Puppet Children's Summer Camp" Underway </title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMzY=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/29</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ In order to enrich children&amp;apos;s summer vacation and encourage people to become familiar with the art of traditional hand puppet art, the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts especially invited boys and girls from the youthful, energetic and creative Taipei Puppet Theater to embark on a journey of &quot;Puppets at the NCFTA&quot; in August!

The event will be held between August 6 (Mon.) and August 10 (Fri.) 2012. The preparatory office has invited the leader of the Taipei Puppet Theater, Mr. Lin Yung-chih and puppet master Mr. Huang Chiao-wei, as well as outstanding teachers from other disciplines to provide classes to the students. We have designed a diverse array of dazzling courses such as introduction to Taiwanese hand puppets, hand puppet language, puppet knowledge, painting, costume tailoring, puppet manipulation and performance experience etc. to share with everyone. 

The camp is expected to recruit 30 children (class will only be opened for 20 or more students). Students advancing to grade 4, 5, 6 in elementary school or grade 7 of junior high school after August 2012 are welcome to enroll. Each student is required to pay a fee of NT$1,500 (including free accommodation, three meals and two puppets). Talk about a value!

Children&amp;apos;s enrolment method: Please read the camp brochure description (can be downloaded from the official website at http://www.ncfta.gov.tw. Contact number: 03-9705815 ext. 1307 (Ms. Chen, Section Two of NCFTA). Registration begins now and closes on June 20, 2012, and the list of successfully registered students will be announced on June 28, 2012. Please pay the registration fee before July 6, 2012. After registration, the preparatory office will verify the children&amp;apos;s qualifications and the list of successfully registered students will be published based on the children&amp;apos;s qualifications and the order in which they submitted their registration. No additional students will be admitted after all vacancies are filled. This summer, let us embark on a journey of hand puppet theater!
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/664447104441_A.jpg" border="0" width="159" height="240" alt="學員作品">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/620347104441_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="172" alt="學員發表創作感言">]]></description>
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<title>Thousand People Wash Their Parents' Feet – NCFTA Mother's Day Gratitude Repayment </title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMzc=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/29</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ In collaboration with the Yilan County Respect Parents and Teachers Alliance, the NCFTA appealed to a thousand people to wash their parents&amp;apos; feet at the NCFTA on May 13. Renowned Taiwanese Opera actress Tang Mei-yun also turned out for the event. She not only burst into tears while singing the theme song &quot;Eternal Baby&quot; but also washed her mother&amp;apos;s feet for her. According to Tang Mei-yun, her mother always pampered and protected her, therefore when she washed her mother&amp;apos;s feet for the first time, she was overwhelmed with emotion. 

The Wei Family, which features five generations under one roof, has participated in the event for five consecutive years. During the Taipei press conference on April 26, the 18 month old great-great grandson Chen Ching-yuan and two year old great-great granddaughter Chen Chia-yu both washed the feet of their 91-years-old great-great grandmother Wei Wu A-yu. The Wei family believes that the filial event is extremely meaningful; hence, all five brothers returned home from all over the world to partake in the event, and they extended their invitations to everyone to join them. The President of the Examination Yuan Wang Chien-shien also appealed to the people of Taiwan to participate in the &quot;Wash Your Parents&amp;apos; Feet&quot; event in order to express piety and love towards your mother by washing her feet. The event is open for registration from now, those who register before May 8 will be entitled to enter for free and receive the &quot;Wen Chang Blessing Rice&quot;. Everyone is welcome to register and join the filial movement. 

When was the last time you held hands and took a stroll with your parents? Have you ever washed your mom&amp;apos;s toiled and beautiful feet? &quot;Gently ease both feet into the water, dad and mom, your feet are the prettiest. Soak the feet in warm water to express gratitude towards the parent&amp;apos;s care.&quot; The Yilan County Respect Parents and Teachers Alliance has promoted the &quot;Wash Your Parents&amp;apos; Feet&quot; event for five years. each year, many people join the event to wash their parents&amp;apos; feet, making it a touching piety movement. This year, the Yilan County Respect Parents and Teachers Alliance joined forces with the NCFTA &quot;Public Welfare Year – Love for Traditional Arts&quot; event, where the activity was relocated to the NCFTA, so that children were not only able to wash their parents&amp;apos; feet, they can also admire various exhibitions and performances demonstrating the beauty of Taiwanese traditional art at the NCFTA. 

According to the Director-general of the Yilan County Respect Parents and Teachers Alliance Chu Ju-wen, the event should not only be held in Yilan, it should be propagated to the rest of Taiwan and the world, where people can express gratitude towards their parents through actual actions. In turn, we can recover the touching sentiment that is gradually disappearing in the society; if everyone can do so in their family, the event will exert a positive influence in cleansing the social mood. 

Wang Wen-kuei, the Chairman of the Taiwan Traditional Arts Promotion Foundation also suggested, the joint efforts by the NCFTA and the Yilan County Respect Parents and Teachers Alliance in promoting the movement is in resonance with the social responsibility and mission of the PCSC, therefore, in addition to preserving, enhancing and glorifying the traditional arts of the NCFTA, which is operated by Uni-President Yi-Lan Art &amp; Culture Corp, the intention is also to perform the responsibility and mission of enterprise social contribution. Consequently, a series of public welfare activities will be organized for &quot;The First Year of Public Welfare – Love for Traditional Arts&quot; beginning from 2012. For this reason, the Uni-President Yi-Lan Art &amp; Culture Corp. commissioned the foundation and the Yilan County Respect Parents and Teachers Alliance to organize the &quot;Thousand People Wash Their Parents&amp;apos; Feet&quot; event. This is an extremely meaningful filial event, everyone is welcome to join us to thank our parents for raising us since childhood. 

The &quot;Thousand People Wash Their Parents&amp;apos; Feet&quot; event welcomes participation from the public, especially families with 4th and 5th generations under one roof. The first 500 applicants before May 8 will be entitled to enter for free and receive the &quot;Wen Chang Blessing Rice&quot;. Registration hotline: (03) 938-5252. Yilan County Respect Parents and Teachers Alliance is recruiting 200 volunteers, everyone is welcome to join us. 

At the same time, on May 13, the Yilan County Respect Parents and Teachers Alliance will also be holding the &quot;National Photography Contest&quot; and the first &quot;Propagation of Love&quot; small journalist camp. All photography enthusiasts are welcome to partake in the event; through the lens of the public, many moving, dazzling pictures are expected to be captured at the event venue. 

The first &quot;Propagation of Love&quot; small journalist camp intends to allow junior high school and elementary school children to actually participate in news interview and writing, as well as to let them appreciate the sense of piety in modern society. All junior high school students and grade 5~6 elementary school students are welcome to join the camp. The entire event is free of charge and only 30 little journalists will be invited. The event is divided into two tiers; the first tier consists of &quot;Course Research and Study&quot;, which will take place at the NCFTA Outdoor Theatre between May 5 and May 6, while the mock press coverage of the &quot;Thousand People Wash Their Parents&amp;apos; Feet&quot; event will take place on May 13. Graduation certificates will be awarded after completion of the course. 
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/677755103424_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="來ㄨㄢˇ關西">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/244855103425_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="159" alt="參觀情形">]]></description>
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<title>Sino-Japanese Interchange - Masayo Fuchigami and Kagoshima Taiko Percussion Group Gratitude Concert</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMzg=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/29</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ In celebrating its 7th anniversary, renowned five-star hotel in Yilan County, the Hotel Royal Chiao Hsi, spared no expense in inviting the Japanese national treasure, maestro Enka performer Masayo Fuchigami and the Kagoshima Taiko Percussion Group to perform in Taiwan during April 28~29. At the same time, the NCFTA also invited Masayo Fuchigami to perform at the Jiang Wei-shui Performing Arts Center between 13:00 and 16:00 on May 1, hoping to introduce more beautiful feast of art to the people in Taiwan through the Sino-Japanese art interchange. 

Masayo Fuchigami&amp;apos;s enchanting voice, vivid, confident appearance and humble, friendly attitude was praised by Miyako Harumi, the legendary Japanese Enka performer, as the most talented emerging Enka star. Masayo Fuchigami has been reported on numerous occasions by Japanese TV and magazine media; through many years of endeavor, she has also broken through the ranks in popular music to release her brand new EP album &quot;おまえさん&quot; in 2011. She is expected to continue her touring performance around the world. Masayo Fuchigami believes that Japanese Enka singers are an essential and precious ancient culture. Through techniques such as ornament and vibrato, as well as the exquisite melody of the ancient music, an entirely different style of Enka is presented. She hopes to express Japanese people&amp;apos;s gratitude towards Taiwan through the tender sentiments of the Japanese folksongs. 

The 250 years ago, in order to celebrate success in water control, each household either contributed money or labor to celebrate through Taiko. Therefore, since then Taiko has become more than just the sound of a musical instrument that is used for warding off evil spirits during rituals and for boosting moral to defeat the enemy. Rather, it has become a resolute spirit full of energy and faith. Currently, the Taiko percussion group consists of 30 members, with the youngest being three years old and the oldest being 70. Each year, they hold 60 public performances in Japan, and their performances in Taiwan are also well received. It is a rare opportunity for them to take to the stage in Taiwan this time; everyone is welcome to come to the NCFTA to appreciate the beauty of traditional Japanese Enka on May 1. 
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<title>Burden of Happiness – NCFTA Resident Artisan Chu Yi-cheng's Contemporary Issue-inspired Creations</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMzQ=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/28</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The 2012 Second Season of NCFTA Children&amp;apos;s Festival theme event will be held between April 1 and June 30, and renowned clay sculptor Chu Yi-cheng was invited to become the resident artist of No.9 Minyi St. Workshop. Inspired by contemporary issues, Chu Yi-cheng created a clay sculpture called &quot;Burden of Happiness&quot; to portray the toils in maintaining a family, as the price of commodities are all increasing, only salaries remain the same. Therefore, mortgages, car loans, children&amp;apos;s education expenses and parents&amp;apos; expenditures are all becoming a &quot;burden of happiness&quot; for the father, who is the family&amp;apos;s main provider. On the other hand, the mother also needs to help her husband in supporting the family, so as not to plunge her husband into overwhelming debt. 

During the creation process, Chu Yi-cheng also likes to interact with visitors. Nineteen-year-old Lin Fang-ping from Yilan was invited to partake in Chu Yi-cheng&amp;apos;s creative process; not only did she help to engrave characters, she also acted as a model and became the center of attention. According to Lin Fang-ping, she was pleasantly surprised to be able to work with the artisan on a creation besides having so much fun at the NCFTA, and she was thrilled to be involved in the creative process!

Artisan Chu Yi-cheng began his clay sculpting career as an apprentice in 1975; he received the 4th Folk Crafts Award (Ceramic) from the CCA in 1995 and has been invited to become the resident artist for three years at the NCFTA since 2005. Furthermore, he also participated in art creation events such as the 2011 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival and the Fulong Sand Sculpture Festival. 

Chu Yi-cheng&amp;apos;s creative style is often based on current social circumstances and offers insights and observations of the contemporary issues as if Chu were a social observer. May 1 is Labor Day; Chu Yi-cheng sighed with emotion and said, &quot;Previously, we only had to labor for five years to buy a house; now the younger generation has become slaves to their 20-year mortgages. Besides the mortgages, modern people are also burdened by car loans and other life necessities such as water, electricity, gas etc.” 

Most people only have one child due to economic pressure; in the future, when the single sons and daughters form families, their burden to raise both sides&amp;apos; parents will be much heavier.&quot; However, Chu Yi-cheng has engraved words of encouragement onto his artworks to inspire people to &quot;Work happily and bear the burden willingly. If rice runs out, you can always cook sweet potato soup. Don’t worry, the doc said everything will be peachy.&quot; Everyone must embrace the future with enthusiasm and optimism! 

In addition, Chu Yi-cheng also indicated that don’t think you are not familiar with art, because we are living in it. Most of the art workers draw inspiration from everything in life to make their creations; therefore, we are all nutrients of art. Consequently, Chu Yi-cheng also likes to interact with people during the creation process, so as to be inspired and inspire others in every aspect of life. It is for this reason that art is &quot;living&quot; and also an expression of life. Everyone is welcome  to the NCFTA before June 30 to experience art creation and exchange life experiences with Chu Yi-cheng at No.9 Minyi St. Workshop. 
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<title>Wu-Song Three Funny Brothers, NCO Young Star Top 4, and the Clown Master of Gaojia Opera CHI, YA-FU are All Getting Together at the National Center of Traditional Arts!</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMzM=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/14</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Organized by the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts, the 2012 Traditional Performance Festival will be held from April 5th to May 5th in the National Center of Traditional Arts in Yi-Lan. Following the theme this year - Clown Around - the National Chinese Orchestra (NCO) Taiwan under the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts will present traditional music in an innovative way. The 2011 NCO-Young Star Top 4 are all invited to give a series of Young Star Concert on April 14th and 15th. In addition, Wu Song Da WHO, a musical suitable for families, will be performed by the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan and the Paper Windmill Theater. Another program on April 15th will be The Arts of Gaojia Clown: the Demonstration Performance by CHI, YA-FU presented by the Jin Liansheng Gaojia Opera Troupe of Xiamen City. 
The Young Star Concert on April 14th at Chiang Wei-shui Performance Hall is performed by the 2011 NCO Chinese Instrument Young Star Top 4, who have the most potential in the Chinese traditional music. In the series of Young Star Concert, Sheng and Chinese Flute will be respectively performed by CHEN, PO-YUAN and SUN, YEN-HSIANG, who are both students of the Department of Chinese Music, Tainan National University of the Arts. The repertoires include Huxuan Dance and Rhapsody of Mt. Tianshan. Huxuan Dance is a Flute concerto characterized by cheerful tunes with various turns, and is therefore suitable for wind instruments to show the superb skill of circular breathing. In Rhapsody of Mt. Tianshan, a Sheng concerto, the newly-developed skill of flutter tonguing is applied. The tunes of Rhapsody of Mt. Tianshan are sometimes light and sometimes easy to sing along with, which makes Rhapsody of Mt. Tianshan extremely popular among the young audience. 
KUO, MIN-CHIN, a new generation of Tzen performer in Taiwan, will perform The Eternal Sorrow of Linan, a lamented Tzen Concerto describing the fate of a hero. The Zhongruan performer PAN, YI-TUNG has inherited the skill from the well-known Liuqin performer LIU, HSING and is now studying the Art of Chinese Traditional Instruments Performance at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She will perform Talking to Myself, one of the most difficult Zhongruan solos. These four young stars, together with the National Chinese Orchestra, invite you to the new world of traditional music and listen to their unique music stories.
Wu Song Da WHO, performed on April 15th, is a story full of comedic spirit. Overturning the fundamental key of Water Margin in traditional Chinese literature, the story of Wu Song Da WHO describes how the royal orchestra, played by the National Chinese Orchestra, sent four musical grand masters: Wu no. 1, Wu no. 2, Wu no. 3, and Wu no. 4, to secretly help Wu-Song capture a tiger. While the public is carrying the tiger back to the inn for a full-tiger meal, Wu-Song, who knows the tiger language, uses love and wisdom to save the gentle tiger.
Wu Song Da WHO is conducted by NCO member CHEN, CHUN-HSIEN and directed by deputy director of the Paper Windmill Theater LIN, YU-CHUN and senior theater director WANG, LI-AN in cooperation with composer LIU, CHIH-HSUAN. Through interesting interactions among actors and newly composed Chinese music tunes, the audience can not only find the freshness of the whole story but also experience the attractiveness of Miyazaki Hayao in the way of classical Chinese music. Moreover, “the Wus funny three brothers” – Wu Song, Wu Shih and Wu Pai, characters created by the Paper Windmill Theater, are going to bring the funniest moments to the audience and create the most amazing “laughing” effect to drive adults and kids crazy.
In addition to Wu Song Da WHO by the Paper Windmill Theater and NCO, The Arts of Gaojia Clown: the Demonstration Performance by CHI, YA-FU will also be performed by the Jin Liansheng Gaojia Opera Troupe of Xiamen City on April 15th at Chiang Wei-shui Performance Hall. CHI, YA-FU is the National First-Level Actor of the People’s Republic of China and the heir of Gaojia Opera, which is part of the intangible national cultural heritage. The performance style of marionette clowns and glove puppet clowns created by former artists of the Jin Liansheng Gaojia Opera Troupe of Xiamen City has now become the most unique feature in Gaojia Opera. Moreover, due to the influence of the Budai Zi Marionette Theater and the String Puppet Theater, many of the movements and postures used in Gaojia opera are similar to those of puppet theatre. This performance style is especially obvious in Gaojia clowns. Distinctive from other folk operas, Gaojia clowns have a unique appearance and various types of roles, namely gongzi chou (“prince clown”), dadu chou (“big-bellied clown”), poshan chou (“torn-shirt clown”), kuelei chou (“puppet clown”), sha chou (“foolish drunkard”), wu chou (“martial clown”), lao chou (“old clown”), meipo chu (“matchmaker clown”) and jiapo chou (“mother-in-law clown”). Additionally, Gaojia clowns make use of five body parts in their movements; that is, head, shoulders, hands, feet and buttocks. As the type of clowns differs, the movements and postures will be different as well. All of the Gaojia clowns in the performance have a striking appearance, exaggerated movements, and mirth-provoking antics. The Gaojia Opera is therefore a must-see for those who love Chinese Opera.
The performance sessions of Clown Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival are as follows: 
	Young Star Concert: April 14th (Sat.) 13:00 and 15:30 at Chiang Wei-shui Performance Hall
	Wu Song Da WHO: April 15th (Sun.) 10:30 and 15:00 at Chiang Wei-shui Performance Hall
	The Arts of Gaojia Clown: the Demonstration Performance by CHI, YA-FU: April 15th (Sun.) 13:00 and 16:30 at Concert Hall.
For detailed performance information, please contact the National Center for Traditional Arts: +886-3-9507711, or visit the website of Clown Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival: http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/2012performing_arts/index.asp
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/512222171940_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="160" alt="送神">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/462122171940_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="160" alt="送神">]]></description>
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<title>‘Clown.Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival’: Opening ceremony</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMzI=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/10</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Since its establishment in 2008, the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts has overseen 5 agencies; the Guo Guang Opera Company, Taiwan Banzi Opera Company, the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan, the Center for Performance Arts and Taiwan Music Center, and promotes the traditional arts. In its 2nd year in 2009, it launched the Traditional Performance Festival. It is the 4th year of the festival this year. The ‘Clown.Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival’ uses clowns as the main theme. Clowns from Taiwanese opera, Hakka opera, Peking opera, Yuju (Banzi) opera and puppet shows are going to be performing the most classic, the most modern and unique shows between 5th April and 5th May, at 6 various places around Taiwan.

The Taiwan Banzi Opera Company presented an excellent first show, ‘San Da Tao San Chun’, at the opening ceremony on 7th April. In the show, the clown, a county official, leads 6 guards to travel through mountains. During this journey, the clowns exaggerated body movements while ‘climbing the mountains’ results in a lot of laughter. Moreover, Mr CHIN BU-HUAN, the director of the Yuju opera group based in Hebi, Henan Province in China and is regarded as the ‘Eastern Chaplin, will present one of his best known work ‘Qi Ping Zhi Ma Guan’, as the chancellor of Qingyuan County, Tang Cheng. In the story, the chancellor, who is funny, humorous yet maintains a professional image as an official, makes his way to visit his local communities as soon as the character starts his career as the chancellor. On the opening day, the organizer welcomed 24 kindergarten children and provided the traditional clown face painting. These children were counting down with the professional clowns and it was hoped that such activity helps promoting the event.

Mr CHO, HUNG-TAO, the deputy head of the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts, stated, there are 15 performance groups taking part in the ‘Clown.Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival’, there are 46 shows, seminars and workshops scheduled. There are 19 shows scheduled for weekends at the main site of the festival, the Center for Traditional Performance Arts. The participants include CHEN, SHENG-TSAI (an A-list Taiwanese opera clown), CHIN BU-HUAN (one of the best Yuju opera clown in China) and CHI, YA-FU (one of the most respectable actors and also a Gaojia opera clown master). During weekends and holidays, activities such as mask paintings and face paintings are available for family groups to enjoy the event. During weekdays, arts education sessions are organized for junior high school and elementary school pupils. Currently, 18 arts education sessions have been scheduled.

As for the around-Taiwan tour, groups associated with the organizer will be performing large-scale comedies in places such as Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung. These shows include ‘Wu Song Da “Who”’ (by the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan and the Paper Windmill Theatre) and ‘The Queen and Her Clowns’ (by Guo Guang Opera Company). Moreover, CHI, YA-FU (Gaojia opera master), LIN, PING-HUAN and YANG, HSIU-HENG (both experienced Chhot Pa Hi performers) will be visiting colleges and universities in Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu for 6 sessions of seminars and workshops.

‘Clown.Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival’ is open between 5th April and 5th May. During this period, famous clowns across the strait are gathered in Taiwan and there are plenty of opportunities to see the clown character in various classic and inspiring works from Taiwanese opera, Peking opera, Kunqu opera, Banzi opera, Gaojia opera, puppet shows and Hakka Chhot Pa Hi. These performances are inspiring and satisfying to every taste. For more details, please contact the Center for Traditional Arts (03)9507711 or visit the website at www.ncfta.gov.tw


<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/88902217656_A.jpg" border="0" width="179" height="240" alt="直上青雲">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/93622217656_B.jpg" border="0" width="181" height="240" alt="彩繪春牛">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/38752217657_C.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="疊羅漢">]]></description>
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<title>‘Clown.Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival’</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMzE=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/9</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Organized by the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts, the 2012 Traditional Performance Festival, held between 5th April and 5th May, is an annual event involving traditional performance and music industries. The theme of this year is ‘Clown.Around’. Many famous clowns starring in Chinese opera from Mainland China and Taiwanese performance groups will take turns present the most classic, modern and unique works in Taipei, Yilan, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung and Kaohsiung, so that the whole Taiwan can experience the charm of clowns, around the whole island.

Ms. LUNG YING-TAI, Minister of the Council for Cultural Affairs, hosted the press conference on 3rd April. She paid respects to artists presented on the day and stated, clowns is a crucial part in both eastern and western comedies. Traditionally, clown wit is reflected in sarcasm and humour when criticizing the imperfection of reality. Meanwhile, their clumsiness and awkwardness contrast well with their optimistic personality. With the 4th one just around the corner, the annual Traditional Performance Festival, organized by the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts, uses a clear theme for each year. Young and experienced actors and actresses from both eastern and western countries are invited to perform during the festival. This year, clowns from the Yuju opera (formally known as Henan banzi), Gaojia opera, Taiwanese opera and Hakka opera will be presented in order to satisfy different audience groups.

The deputy head of the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts, Mr CHEN CHAO-HU, indicated that this year’s performance will be divided into 3 areas. Groups associated with the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts, such as GuoGuang Opera Company and the National Chinese Orchistra Taiwan, are responsible for large-scale performances in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung. The National Center for Performance Arts, located in the festival main site, is responsible for weekend performances starred by performers across the Taiwan Strait. Another 5 state funded performance groups will be touring around junior high schools and elementary schools during weekends giving demonstrations to school pupils. As for the Taiwan Music Center, which is part of the Preparatory Office of the National Headquarters of Taiwan Traditional Arts, will be visiting colleges and universities in Taipei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu, so that students and staff of relevant disciplines can directly learn from these clown masters.

The Center for Traditional Performance Arts welcomes 1.2 million visitors each year and is the best place to promote the arts. During the festival in April, there will be 19 performances available during weekends. The participating performers include CHIN, BU-HUAN (the master of Yuju opera clown in China), CHI, YA-FU (the A-list actor and a famous Gaojia opera clown) and CHEN, SHENG-TSAI (A-list Taiwanese opera clown). These are all very skilful and experienced performers. In addition, the classic comedy ‘San Da Tao San Chun’ will be performed by the Taiwan Banzi Opera Company, a music suitable for juniors named ‘Wu Song Da “Who”’ will be performed by the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan and the Paper Windmill Theatre, Long Hsing Ger puppet show Troupe will be showing a sci-fi thriller ‘Golden Eagle’s Life’ and the ‘Si Fan’ and ‘Xia Shan’ parts of the romantic comedy ‘Nie Hai Ji’ will be performed by the Taiwan Kunqu Opera Theatre. Chinese opera face painting, which is suitable for family visitors, will be available on Saturdays and Sundays. Parents and their children can have a chance to act on the stage together with their painted face.
 
Apart from the comedy performed by famous clowns during the weekends, arts education is in the focus this year. For the first time, the National Center for Traditional Performance Arts offers 18 lessons at various junior high school and elementary schools. These lessons are designed especially for school pupils by the Guo Guang Opera Company, the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwaan, Taiwan Banzi Opera Company, the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts’ Acrobatic Troop and the Lanyang Taiwanese Opera Company. It is hoped that these ‘clown around’ sessions help promoting performance arts.

One thing worthwhile noticing is, in addition to the above mentioned clowns, the Taiwan Music Center also invited two Hakka opera clown masters, Mr LIN, PING-HUAN (aged 84) and Mr YANG, HSIU-HENG (aged 73), to host sessions at colleges and universities. They will demonstrate various forms of the famous Chhot Pa Hi, including Hakka mountain songs, Hakka narrative, chariot and drum parade (chegu), lion dance, monkey show and magic shows.

 
‘Clown.Around: 2012 Traditional Performance Festival’ is open between 5th April and 5th May. During this period, famous clowns across the strait are gathered in Taiwan and there are plenty of opportunities to see the clown character in various classic works from puppet shows, Taiwanese opera, Peking opera, Kunqu opera, Banzi opera, Gaojia opera and Hakka Chhot Pa Hi. Those who are interested in traditional arts are advised not to miss the gathering that is the most looked forward to. For more details, please contact the Center for Traditional Arts (03)9507711 or visit the website at www.ncfta.gov.tw 
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<title>Amulets and Pens Free to Exam Candidates </title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMzA=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/8</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ During May and July each year, various exams are held for pupils who want to study further. In order to assist the exam candidates who are due to take part in exams in 2012, the National Center for Traditional Arts is organizing the ‘exam candidates’ blessing festival (考生祈福祭)’ event and will be saying prayers for exam candidates, at the Wenchang Shrine. It is hoped that, via folklore rituals, exam candidates can not only feel calm while preparing for their exams but also be able to stay calm and perform well when taking their exams. During the event, between 21st April and 30th June, upon showing exam candidate card or student cards, exam candidates can participate in the ritual and collect a writing kits and an amulet, a good luck charm for exams.

The Wunchang Shrine at the National Center for Traditional Arts is the only place that officials officially worship. In order to promote Wenchang and folklore beliefs, the ‘exam candidates’ festival’ is planned. Wenchang will be worshiped by officials for exam candidates. The event is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm daily, between 21st April and 30th June (72 days in total). Exam candidates who are taking part in exams in 2012 are able to collect an amulet and a writing kit (including one 2B stackable pencil and one blue ballpoint pen). There are only 5000 sets and a ‘first come first serve’ policy is operated.
During the festival, between 22nd  April and 30th June, activities such as ‘Carp leaping the dragon gate’, ‘Saying a little prayer’, ‘Turning the wheels’ and ‘Winning essentials’ will be conducted. Exam candidates can walk through the corridor next to the dragon figure. It reenacts the ‘carp leaping the dragon gate’ folklore story and symbolizes the exam candidates will be work hard and be able to obtain a satisfactory exam result. Then, candidates ‘Saying a little prayer’ in front of Wenchang and ask for good luck during exams. Afterwards, candidates put a completed card into a 6-side wheel and turn it. Each side of the wheel is filled with paper amulets provided by Wenchang Shrine. ‘Turning the wheel’ symbolizes candidates now have their turn to have good luck. Lastly, candidates will walk out through an arch gate decorated with spring onions, garlic, and white radishes, or so-called, ‘winning essentials’. The Mandarin names of these vegetables sound similar to smart, full and winning. Therefore this activity symbolizes candidates will do well during their exams. An abbot will host the opening ritual on 21st April, as well as rituals on 19th May and 16th June. On these 3 days, special ceremonies will be held at Wenchang Shrine to ask for good luck for exam candidates. It is hoped that candidates can become intelligent and stay calm as a result.

Those who would like to take part in rituals between 9th and 15th April, between 7th and 13th May or between 4th and 10th June, should complete their registration beforehand and will be able to receive an extra gift. For further details, please visit the Tourist Information Center for Traditional Arts at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/ or our Facebook site, http：//art.pcsc.com.tw/fb. Alternatively, you can also telephone customer services (03)950-7711, ext.228
 

<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/89351618344_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/66781618344_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="">]]></description>
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<title>National Center for Traditional Arts’ Family Event Spinning Top Competition on Children’s Day </title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjk=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/6</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ To celebrate Children’s Day, the National Center for Traditional Arts organized a family event, Spintop Competition, on 4th April, Children’s Day. 50 teams were formed by parents and their under-12 children and had to hit a certain area with the spinning top. The youngest contestant, HSIEH, CHENG-JUI, is only 2 years and 9 months old and drew a lot of attention on the day. Because this contestant was competing for the third place in the end, the whole crowd was cheering for him.

The participants of the Spinning Top Competition painted their spinning top in the morning. At 12:30pm, pupils from Xian Ming Elementary School, Yilan, demonstrated their spinning top skills and explained various techniques. These were followed by the main competition. Participants scored depended on where the spinning top land and how far the spinning top is landed from a particular metal plate, within a fixed timeframe. Participants able to land their spinning top in the iron plate 2.5 meters in front of him/her can proceed to the second round. Those who entered the second round were required to land their spinning top onto 3 iron plates, which were at different heights and carried different scores. Only 5 attempts were permitted. Scores could be won depended on which plates the spintop was landed. In the event of a tie, participants played one on one to compete for the first 3 places. Mr Tseng, Kuo-hua, the spintop coach at the Xian Ming Elementary School, Yilan, indicated that, the string has to be tight and the hands have to be in a good position. It is when the strike strength and the timing of pulling the string away are appropriate, which are the two most important and difficult things to estimate, it is then possible to land the spinning top onto a particular area. 

HO, PO-YI has won the first place, CHIEN, YU was in the second place and CHANG, SHU-YU bagged the third place in this competition. They were received a certificate and a spinning top -shaped trophy each, made by Wood House (禪木工坊). They and their classmates can choose one day to visit the National Center of Traditional Arts as a school trip for free, by the end of this year. 

For more event information, please visit the Tourist Information Center of Traditional Arts at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/, its facebook page at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/fb, or phone customer services（03）950-7711, ext. 228

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<title>The National Center for Traditional Arts invites you to experience the Coming of Age ritual at Seven Star Goddess Kiosk</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjg=</link>
<pubDate>2012/4/2</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Coming of Age ritual is one of the traditional Taiwanese folk rituals. It symbolizes a child has grown into an adult and a new stage of life begins. However, the Coming of Age ritual has been gradually forgotten. As such, the National Center for Traditional Arts has organized a Coming of Age event on 12th and 14th April to promote folklore tradition and share the meanings and introduce the process of the Coming of Age ritual to teenagers. The Coming of Age ritual is one of the most important events in life that symbolize children become adults. After the ritual, the participants have to be responsible for what they do as they are in a new stage of their life. Registration is open for groups (300 places) and individuals (100 places). Those who are currently attending the first grade at senior high schools are welcome to register. Group participants are required to be registered through their schools and this event will be held as part of extracurricular activities. There is a registration fee of NTD 300 for individual participants.兩位同行的成人（一張全票150元）與報名的學生可免費於當天入園參與活動。 
The event will be held twice. The first one, on 12th April, is open to 300 group participants. The registration should be through participants’ schools. The event will be part of extracurricular activities. The second one, on 14th April, is open to 100 individual participants, with a NTD 300 registration fee each. Parents are welcome to take part in the Coming of Age ritual. 
According to tradition, the Seven Star Goddess protects children. Before children become recognised as adults, they have to complete a ritual, which requires them to crawl under her kiosk. The activity symbolizes that these children have become adults and do not need her protection anymore. Meanwhile, they are expected to be responsible for what they do. With this formal ceremony, children are expected to learn that they have grown and should be responsible. The event, organized bytThe by the National Center for Traditional Arts, focuses on the worship procedure of the Seven Star Goddess. The participants will have to crawl under the Seven Star Goddess Kiosk, which symbolizes that they are no longer protected by Seven Star Goddess, and have to be responsible from then on. After coming out of the kiosk, the participants will have to show their gratefulness to their parents’ time and efforts to bring them up and have their pictures taken with their parents. Before the whole event is completed, traditional performance will be available to encourage the participants to know more about arts. 

Registration is open now and ends when places are all filled. Registration forms can be downloaded from the Tourist Inforamtion Center of Traditional Arts website http://art.pcsc.com.tw Please return the completed form via email bella19858@art-pcsc.com.tw or fax (03)950-3174 to Ms Tseng, Wen-Yun. A confirmation will be made (either by email or telephone) before the registration process is completed. The organizers reserve the right to change any of the terms and conditions mentioned above.
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<title>Stop Drooling in the Fourth Month and Grab Life on the First Birthday: Rites of Passage at NCFTA</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjc=</link>
<pubDate>2012/3/14</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The NCFTA invites more than 200 infants aged four months to one year to experience the “stop drooling in the fourth month” and “grab life at the first birthday” rites at the House of Huang on March 10 and March 11. In the “stop drooling in the fourth month”, traditionally, folks would prepare twelve or multiples of twelve crispy cakes to help babies to stop drooling. Now, the NCFTA prepares eleven traditional crispy cakes and one doughnut from famous donut maker to accomplish the mission, in order cope with the times and combine tradition with modernity. In the “grab life at the first birthday”, apart from the traditional items that a child will grab, like spring onion, chicken leg, and abacus, the NCFTA prepares a smart-phone representing modern technology and a basketball to meet with the global fashion of Linsanity. Besides experiencing these rites of passage in the human life cycle, citizens can bring extra-value baby stuff home.

According to Taiwan folk customs, when babies begin drooling in the fourth month from birth, the “stop drooling” rite is held to help babies to stop drooling as soon as possible and to grow up healthily. On an April day, grandma in law will send their grandchildren an apron, a green top, a pair of red pants, a pair of open-crotch pants, red peach, crispy cakes, a baby sedan chair, and a wooden pony. They must prepare twelve crispy cakes or the multiple of twelve in a ring shape, hang the cakes on the baby’s neck, and visit the neighbors and friends. Everybody takes a cake from the baby’s neck and dry the saliva with the cake, saying at the same time, “stop drooling and dry your saliva, say ‘dad’ next year,” or “stop drooling and dry your saliva, bring a brother next year,” or “grow up man” to bless the baby grow faster. After this, people who practice the rite must eat the cake. From this day on, the baby puts on the apron and open-crotch pants from grandma. In that evening, parents will hold a feast to treat friends and relatives and send them red peaches to bless the baby child together and to share the joy of the host family.

The anniversary, commonly known as “passing one year”, is an important rite of passage to a baby. The “grab life”, or commonly known as “trial life” is an interesting rite of the anniversary began in the Northern and Southern Dynasties of China.
The content of the ceremony is more or less the same in different places. In general, it is held in the sitting room. After worshipping ancestors and deities, people will remove the offerings and put a large woven bamboo sieve on the table. In the sieve, there are twelve different objects each representing one profession. Next, they put the baby inside for him to select one of these objects to predict his future profession and aptitude. At the NCFTA, we will prepare a book, a color pen, a chop, an abacus, a gold ingot, a chicken leg, a baseball, a music instrument, a ruler, a piece of spring onion, a stethoscope, a smart-phone, a grass raincoat and hoe, and a basketball inside the sieve. In addition to the “grab life” rite, we also prepare the “stepping on a red steam-rice cake” to wish babies longevity.
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<title>“ONE for all and all for ONE”: NCFTA donates NT$ for every work of NCFTA Art Contest 2012</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjU=</link>
<pubDate>2012/3/11</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Solicitations for the NCFTA Art Contest 2012 is on! This year, the organizer has planned two events for the contest, including the “Art Loves the World Coloring Contest” and the “NCFTA Children’s Fine Art Contest”. From kindergarten kids to junior high students, anyone who draws can join the event. Also, a wide variety of prizes are waiting for the winners, including convenience store gift vouchers, Arto Kids magazine and picture books, Wenzhang Dijun iCash amulet set, OPEN doll picture book or vacuum cup, NCFTA tickets and certificate of award, Ivy League Analytical English magazine, stationery, and many more. The biggest prize, one NT$5,000 7-ELEVEN gift voucher, will go to the first prize of the junior high school group. Also, when contestants contribute one work for the “Art Loves the World Coloring Contest”, the NCFTA donates “NT$1” to the World Vision Yilan. Therefore, we are inviting citizens to contribute for charity.

Applications
There are three groups for the “Art Loves the World Coloring Contest”, including the Kindergarten Group, First and Second Grader Group, and Third and Fourth Grader Group. Contestants are welcome to color the wonderful performances in the Legend of Tianding Liao flying across the eaves, twisting and turning, and appearing like a ghost on the Folk Art Street. Contestants can also tell us their story and fun at the NCFTA in the blank space. Please visit our site at http://www.ncfta.gov.tw or Tourist Information Center of Traditional Arts at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/ncfta/home/home.jspx?len=zh_TW to download the original coloring draft. Please print this draft on a piece of A4 paper (the thicker the better). There is no limit on color type, and contestants can use poster colors, color pencils, watercolors, crayons, pastels, etc. Works should be graphic-based, and one constant one work.

The NCFTA “Children’s Fine Art Contest” is organized for third graders to ninth graders divided into three groups: the Third and Fourth Grader Group, Fifth and Sixth Grader Group, and Seventh and Ninth Grader Group. Contestants can record on a piece of quarto paper (54x38cm) about the beauty of the NCFTA in their eyes or what they have seen at the NCFTA with watercolors, crayons, prints, patchwork, ink wash, color pencil, and other media, except 3D works. Contestants will not need to mount their works, only one entry per contestant. Contestants should not submit any group work. Also, no works will be returned, regardless if it wins or not.

Please submit your works from now on until April 22 (based on the date of the post stamp). Contestants should download the application form and attach this form to the lower right of back of their work. When everything is ready, please send us your work at:
Color Painting Contest Team
Taiwan Traditional Art Foundation
No.201, Sec. 2, Wubin Rd., Wujie Township, Yilan County 268, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

For more details, please visit the NCFTA official site at http://www.ncfta.gov.tw, the Tourist Information Center of Traditional Art website at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/ncfta/home/home.jspx?len=zh_TW, or call to Miss Chen at (03) 950-7711 ext. 129 and 218.
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<title>NCFTA Children’s Festival 2012: Application for the Dragon Turns Fate: Parent-and-Child Top Contest begins!</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjY=</link>
<pubDate>2012/3/11</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ At the NCFTA Children’s Festival 2012, the second thematic event of the NCFTA in 2012, the “Dragon Turns Fate: Parent-and-Child Top Contest” will be organized on the Children’s Day on April 4. The application to the contest will close on April 3. After the application is confirmed, a parent can enjoy free admission to the NCFTA with one child under the 6th grade on the event day. As there are only 50 vacancies, so please hurry up while vacancies last! Adult and little top aces are welcome to join us, and we have prepared both cups and certificate awards for the top three top players.

Event Agenda
At 11:00 a.m. the creative top painting event will come first. 
At 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., the top team of Xianming Elementary School in Yilan will present a top skill show. 
At 1:00 p.m., the Fixed-Point Toss Time Trial will begin. Contestants who can toss their top in the metal tray at 2.5m can enter to the next level. At this level, contests will be requested to toss their top to a small triangular metal tray overhead within 5 attempts. Top players with the highest, second highest, and third highest scores will win the first, second, and third prizes of the event. Each will be rewarded with a cup and a certificate of award. Winners and their class can enjoy a one-day free fieldtrip at the NCFTA by the end of this year.

Apply for the event over the phone at (03) 950-7711 ext. 229, from now on until April 3, everyday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also make the application over the Internet. From now on until 6:00 p.m. on April 3, you download the application form the Tourist Information Center of Traditional Art website. After completing the name, phone number, e-mail, and the related information, please submit the form to grace@art-pcsc.com.tw to complete the application.

For more information, please visit the Tourist Information Center of Traditional Art website at http://art.pcsc.com.tw or the Facebook site at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/fb, or call the visitor helpline at (03) 950-7711 ext. 228.
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/7545361144049_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="172" alt="秀琴歌劇團">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/3217361144049_B.jpg" border="0" width="179" height="240" alt="河洛歌子戲團">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/6888361144050_C.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="歡喜扮戲團">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/6544361144050_D.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="154" alt="哈旗鼓文化藝術表演團">]]></description>
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<title>Donate your blood and get a lucky bag on February 5</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjI=</link>
<pubDate>2012/2/10</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The NCFTA invites you to join us for charity! From 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on February 5 at the central entrance, please roll up your sleeves and support the blood drive. Then, you can get a NCFTA lucky bag for free. The three types of lucky bags include: (1) Starbucks coupon (limited 50 cups), (2) red bean tapioca coupon and park DIY coupon, and (3) Liao Tianding souvenir and park DIY coupon. By donating one pint of blood, citizens can get one of these three lucky bags.<br>]]></description>
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<title>School begins, get your mind ready! NCFTA lights up your future by lighting up the “school-starting lamp”.</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjM=</link>
<pubDate>2012/2/10</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ School begins, get your mind ready! The winter vacation is over, and students are needed to return to school. How to get your mind ready? The NCFTA has arranged the “School Starting Lamp Lighting Up Ceremony” at Wenchang Temple from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. every day during February 6 to February 19 by following the tradition of ancient tutoring school. The ceremony will be held exactly the same as it was in the past for forty students a day, in order to pray to Wenchang Dijun for the smooth study and bright future of students. At the central corridor of the park, the “Lantern Riddle Guess” will be held for citizens to send us the answers with postcard. An iPhone 4S is the biggest prize! You are welcome to join the riddle guess.

Wenchang Dijun is the main deity worshipped at the NCFTA Wenchang Temple. Known as the god of culture and literature, Wenchang Dijun rules the study of students. With the school-starting lamp lighting up ceremony at the Lantern Festival, we can pray for the smooth study for students and mark out the NCFTA’s mission to promote Taiwan’s folk culture. From February 6 to February 19, the “School Starting Lamp Lighting Up Ceremony” is held at Wenchang Temple from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. every day. There are 40 vacancies every day. The NCFTA lamp lighting officer will light up the school-staring lamp for students to pray for their smooth study and bright future.

Also, at 10:00 a.m. on February 4 and February 5 in front of Wenchang Temple, there is the Beiguan performance on the Decapitating the Gourd Wizard. By the hero lanterns at the central corridor, there is the Lantern Riddle Guess.

According to the tradition, students attending tutoring schools brought a lantern to school on the Lantern Festival Day and asked their tutor to light up the lantern for them to symbolize getting their mind ready when school begins and to pray for the smooth study and bright future of students. To this day, the “school-starting lamp lighting up ceremony” symbolizing lighting up a bright future has become the folk entertainment “carrying the lamp”. The lamps that used at the ceremony are all handcrafted by Mr. Qiaoqin Lin of E-Wang Community in Yilan from the Creative Lantern House on the park. These lamps have a red dragon and golden pattern as the backdrop to match the totem and image of the Year of the Dragon, hoping that the year would bring good luck to students.
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<title>First-time procession for Wenchang Dijun of NCTFA</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjQ=</link>
<pubDate>2012/2/10</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Wenchang Dijun ruling study and wealth is the main deity worshipped at the Wenchang Temple in the NCFTA. This year, the deity joins the Peace Procession of Jianba Village in Lize on the invitation of Yilan County Cultural Affairs Bureau and Jianangong Temple in Lize. Also, the stock subscription and labor recruitment of the event were conducted with the popular Facebook. The “Help Wenchang Dijun and Wenchang Dijun Will Help You” Facebook activity of the NCFTA recruited nearly 50 citizens to carry the sedan chair for Wenchang Dijun and the related fees, suggesting that locals are glad to invite Wenchang Dijun to join the procession.

At 6:30 p.m. on February 6, Wenchang Dijun started off for Yongangong Temple to join the procession. Parades orderly progressed across the Lize Community. When passing by the NCFTA, parades toured the park. After the procession was completed, Wenchang Dijun returned to Yongangong Temple in Lize for the traditional “sedan chair race” where four litter men carried the sedan chair and ran into the temple as fast as possible. This was the first time for Wenchang Dijun of the NCFTA Wenchang Temple to participate in folk procession and sedan-chair race. Besides realizing folk culture and folk religion in intangible cultural heritage, it was a great opportunity to promote coherence between the NCFTA and locals.

Please visit the NCFRTA FUN website at http://art.pcsc.com.tw or NCFTA Facebook website at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/fb, or call the tourist helpline at (03) 950-7711 ext. 228 for details.
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<title>Young Students of a Young Beguan Performing Group Present Decapitating the Gourd Wizard at NCFTA</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMTg=</link>
<pubDate>2012/2/5</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ To present the Beiquan operatic music and to demonstrate the training achievements, the National Headquarters for Taiwan Traditional Arts has invited the Beiguan Group D of the Traditional Music and Opera Training Program organized by the National Center for Traditional Music (NCFTA) and Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau to give performance at NCFTA this weekend (February 4 and February 5).

As it is also the Lantern Festival, the NCFTA arranged this performance on Beiguan operatic music at Wengchang Temple in the NCFTA, in order to partly extend the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year and partly demonstrate the educational achievements of cultural heritage and provide Beiguan students with more performance opportunities.

Students of the Beiguan Group D are recruited by Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau from the 70-year-old Yufengyuan (玉鳳園), a Fengwangong-Temple-based Beiguan amateur music club, in Wanzikou of Huantan Township in Changhua County. 

Although the group is quite young, as Yufengyuan has history of more than 70 years, members have received solid basic training. It is praiseworthy that besides adult students, there are grade school students and preschoolers in the group. They are all in high spirits and enthusiastic about Beiguan music. With members aged from 5 to 70, this group involving the elderly, middle-aged and young generation is huge.

The group presents Decapitating the Gourd Wizard (斬瓜), also called the Liu’s Victory over the Gourd Wizard (劉智遠戰瓜精) (excerpts). In the story, Lee’s sister-in-law orders Ziyuan Liu (劉智遠) and his wife Sannian Lee (李三娘) to take care of an abandoned gourd farm where the gourd wizard lived. One evening, the gourd wizard attacked Liu who was packing up the farming tools. A dreadful fight thus began. The fight is spectacular and interesting to bring fun to the Lunar New Year. Also, the group arranges young students and cute preschoolers to perform on the stage. If you want to see the competence and performance of these young Beiguan musicians and performers, you are welcome to join us to give them your support and encouragement.

At 10:00 a.m. this weekend (February 4 and February 5) in front of Wenchang Temple at the NCFTA, welcome to enjoy this rare Beiguan performance on Decapitating the Gourd Wizard.
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/7655337175724_A.jpg" border="0" width="174" height="240" alt="">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/9285337175725_B.jpg" border="0" width="173" height="240" alt="">]]></description>
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<title>Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with NCFTA at Peace-Praying Small Sky Lantern DIY</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMTk=</link>
<pubDate>2012/2/5</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Celebrations of the Lantern Festival will begin across Taiwan! The NCFTA located in Wujie of Yilan never plays the second role. Besides organizing the NCFTA Folk Lantern Fair on January 1 for visitors to experience the festive mood of the Spring Festival before Lunar New Year, the NCFTA has arranged the Peace-Praying Small Sky Lantern DIY activity on February 4 in the Dragon and Phoenix 101 NCFTA Show for the Year of the Dragon. Citizens are welcome to join us to experience the omnipresent charm of the dragon- and phoenix-related artifacts!

The dragon has been considered a prestigious and noble animal since ancient times, and Chinese even consider themselves as dragon descendents. In the Year of the Dragon (2012), the Dragon and Phoenix 101—NCFTA Show for the Year of the Dragon presents to you more about dragon and phoenix, including religions, Spring Festival rituals, lifecycle rituals and folklores, diets and clothes, and crafts, in order to show respective for the dragon and phoenix. With the information on the artifact notes, citizens can better understand the “dragon and phoenix” and their cultural contents. They can also make the “small peace-praying sky lantern for the year of dragon” in the DIY activity and write down their dreams and wishes on the lantern, in order to have them realized in the year of dragon. If you have new wishes for this year, why not join us at the NCFTA to make a sky lantern to let heaven know your wishes?

Peace-Praying Small Sky Lantern DIY will be organized at the Traditional Handcraft Artists’ Studios at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on February 4. There are only 30 free vacancies each session. The organizer also provides the required materials. Phone: 03-9705815.

Event News: Peace-Praying Small Sky Lantern

To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, the NCFTA has arranged the Peace-Praying Small Sky Lantern DIY activity in the Dragon and Phoenix 101 NCFTA Show for the Year of Dragon at the Traditional Handcraft Artists’ Studios at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on February 4.

Event Information
Time: 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on February 4 (two sessions)
Place: Traditional Handcraft Artists’ Studios, NCFTA
Visitor: General Public
Application: Onsite application on the event day. 30 vacancies each session. Free of charge.
Application Place: Information Desk, Traditional Handcraft Artists’ Studios.
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/322734016201_A.jpg" border="0" width="179" height="240" alt="泉州提線木偶-夏榮輝在北京奧運開幕式上演出">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/241334016201_B.jpg" border="0" width="187" height="240" alt="安溪茶藝">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/532834016201_C.jpg" border="0" width="173" height="240" alt="泉州市高甲戲劇團-連升三級">]]></description>
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<title>Praying for Turtle: Free Fortune Turtle Soaps from the NCFTA from Lunar January 4</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjE=</link>
<pubDate>2012/1/22</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ After welcoming the gods on lunar January 4 (January 26), the NCFTA will launch the “Praying for turtle” ceremony for 11 days consecutively from lunar January 4 to lunar January 14 at Wenchang Temple everyday at 10:00 am sharp.

Citizens can draw moon blocks at the Wenchang Temple in the NCFFA and get one limited edition “fortune turtle soap” with three “divine answers”. There are three varieties of the fortune turtle soap, including the great start turtle soap (bilochun green tea soap), fortune study turtle soap (lemon verbena soap), and peace turtle soap (tea tree soap). The NCFTA will deliver a total of 375 bars of soap, including 15 bars on weekdays (January 30-February 3) and 50 bars on holidays (January 26-Janury 29; and February 4-February 5). Please grasp this chance while stocks last.

Tea Soap House at the NCFTA provides a bar of fortune turtle soap (tea tree soap) of about 50 kg as an offering at Wenchang Temple. There is a character “義” (righteousness) on the bench under the turtle symbolizing the red turtle of “The Legend of Liao Tianding”, hoping to bring fortune and wealth to the public.

According to the NCFTA, the “Praying for turtle” ceremony is traditionally held before the Lantern Festival. At the ceremony, the temple provides different types of turtle-shaped offerings for believers to pray for fortune and peace. Common turtle-shaped offerings include the turtle-shaped noodle, turtle-shaped cake, sliced turtle-shaped pineapple, rice turtle-shaped cake, and others. Those who get the turtle (symbolizing fortune and peace) will need to present a turtle of the same or larger size at the ceremony in the coming year. To make folk culture more interesting, the NCFTA has commissioned the Tea Soap House to design and make three types of “fortune turtle soaps” for the Lunar New year, including the great start turtle soap (bilochun green tea soap) representing the start of good luck, the fortune study turtle soap (lemon verbena soap) representing smartness in study, and the peace turtle soap (tea tree soap) representing health and peace for the family. Citizens can pray for these soaps (turtles) for free as mentioned above.

The NCFTA suggests citizens who want to thank the god for the fulfillment of their vows made last year should prepare great rice as an offering with a devout heart. By donating the rice offering to charity groups or sharing luck, those prayers for peace can send their blessings to others. Wenchang Temple delivers fortune rice to show their respect for the deity and makes donations to send love to those praying for peace.
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/426534511616_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="160" alt="第一名陳聖昌_熱鬧迎親">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/185134511617_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="159" alt="第二名吳限_天人合一">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/235134511617_C.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="160" alt="第三名張詠貽_好手藝">]]></description>
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<title>National Cleanup Week begins: Sending off the god and grand cleanup at the NCFTA</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMTY=</link>
<pubDate>2012/1/21</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The saying says: Clean all over to let wealth in! Therefore, the NCFTA on January 14 (24th of the twelfth lunar month) launched the annual “Sending off the gods and grand cleanup to welcome spring and receive wealth”, with the EPA Minister SHEN Stephen Shuhung leading the “year-end cleanup to welcome spring” event and announcing the start of the “National Cleanup Week”. Also, the NCFTA called on Wanhegong Temple in Taichung and Fengtiangong Temple in Xingang of Chiayi to co-organize the “Sending off the god and grand cleanup” event to link up with the “year-end cleanup” across Taiwan.

EPA Minister SHEN Stephen Shuhung presided upon the “Sending off the god and grand cleanup” ceremony according to the traditional ritual at Wenchang Temple, and General Convener Wang Wengui of Taiwan Soji led nearly 100 personnel to clean up the temple and the House of Huang to display the folk customs and folk religions for Spring Festival.

The twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month is traditionally known as the “Sending Off the God Day”. On that day, people prepare fruit, vegetarian dishes, animal offerings, joss papers, and hell banknotes to send the Kitchen God back to the heaven for consultations. This process is commonly known as the “Sending off the god”. By preparing three varieties of offerings, the NCTFA send Wenchang Dijun to the heaven for consultations at the ceremony.

“筅黗” (“Xian Tun” wash the dirt) is also known as “清黗” (“Qing Tun” clean the dirt). “筅” (“Xian”) suggests cleaning tools made with the branches or root of plants. “筅帚” (“Xian Zhou”) refers to the special tool for cleaning cooking utensils. “黗”(“Tun”) means yellowish black. “筅黗” (“Xian Tun”) means to clean up the yellowish black grime on cooking utensils with a “筅帚” (“Xian Zhou”). Literally, this means to clean up the dirt. “筅黗” (“Xian Tun”) is not ordinary cleanup, as we are not supposed to move the deity statutes, the deity tablets, or joss stick burners before sending off the deity. During “筅黗” (“Xian Tun”), we also began cleaning up the center site and its surroundings, in order to remove the dirt and re-decorate the center for the Lunar New Year

Besides cleaning up the altar, people clean up their homes and surroundings. On the cleanup day, center shops also joined the year-end cleanup to welcome the Lunar New Year. The “Sending off the god and grand cleanup” is one of the NCFTA events for Lunar New Year. Citizens are welcome to enjoy Lunar New Year at the NCFTA.

Please visit the NCFTA FUN site at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/ or NCFTA Facebook site at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/fb, or call the tourist service helpline at (03) 950-7711 ext. 228 for details.
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/7392333143321_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="鴻勝醒獅團">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/8835333143321_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="160" alt="鴻勝醒獅團">]]></description>
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<title>Free monotype service for 5 styles of red envelopes for the Year of the Dragon at the Lunar New Year with the Dragon Printmaking Exhibition at the NCFTA</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMTc=</link>
<pubDate>2012/1/21</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ As the NCFTA theme event for the first season of 2012, the “Most Festive Place in Taiwan” begins on January 1. The event contains a series of activities, including the Lunar New Year with the Dragon Printmaking Exhibition held at Halls 4 and 5 of the Crafts Education Center where 31 printmaking works on Lunar New Year and other pieces are displayed. The exhibition was planned by Instructor LIN Renxin of the Department of Fine Arts, National Taipei University of the Arts. Besides emerging printmaking artists, 19 local printmaking artists such as PAN Jingrui and CHEN Wenzhi  join the exhibition. During the exhibition, citizens can enjoy the free monotype service for the “Year of the Dragon red envelopes”. There are five different styles of red envelopes, and citizens can enjoy the strong festive atmosphere of Lunar New Year from the monotype red envelopes.

LIN Renxin’s presents his Butterfly Kingdom in a new-type printmaking style in contemporary art. PAN’s Hold the Palm depicts the story of Carps Leaping over the Dragon Gate in a post-symbolist style. LAI Meihui’s Four Fortunes is the circle of “perfection” symbolizing “longevity, promotion, wealth, and auspiciousness”. LIN Wenzhi’s  Familial Peace depicts the cherished blessing with a cock and a hen eating the kitchen leftovers.

There are three zones planned for the Lunar New Year with the Dragon Printmaking Exhibition at Halls 4 and 5 of the Crafts Education Center. Citizens can experience the fun of monotype in printmaking at Hall 4, the monotype experience zone and printmaking tool zone. Dedicated works for Lunar New Year are displayed at Hall 5 where printmaking works on themes related to Lunar New Year are displayed.

A different style of red envelope for the monotype is launched every day. A total of five is available for citizens to collect. The red envelope monotype printmaking DIY activity is available from 1 January 2012 to 25 March 2012, every day from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Citizens are welcome to join the activity to experience the fun of a monotype.

Please visit the NCFTA FUN site at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/ or NCFTA Facebook site at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/fb, or call the tourist service helpline at (03) 950-7711 ext. 228 for details.
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/7304336135555_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="民俗版畫展示">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/4232336135555_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="民眾體驗版畫情形">]]></description>
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<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjA=</guid>
<title>Antiquarian Paintings and Curios Special Exhibition</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMjA=</link>
<pubDate>2012/1/21</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Antiques and curios have long been the favorites of artists and scholars, and the paintings painted according to antiques and curious are symbols of auspiciousness. At the Antiquarian Paintings and Curios Special Exhibition planned by the National Headquarters for Taiwan Traditional Arts, exquisite and wonderfully made antiques and curious beloved by artists and scholars will be displayed for citizens to enjoy the serenity and elegance in life by following the trace of artists and scholars during the festive Lunar New Year.

The term “antiquarian” in Chinese suggests being erudite and informed, or having great knowledge or learning. The term “curios” implies the appreciation of curios. Scholars have been shown strong preferences to these graces since ancient times. Therefore, they prefer decorating their living room and study with antiques, curios, and artwork. Besides decorating the space, these antiques, curios, and artworks allow people to create a graceful and classic atmosphere with the beauty of ancient culture. A wide variety of items will be displayed at the Exhibition in four major categories, including “antiquarian paintings”, “ornaments”, “scholar’s four jewels”, and “curios”, in order to express emotions by depicting objects and pass on traditions.

 “Antiquarian paintings” are auspicious patterns made according to antiques and curios usually coming with a frame. These patterns may contain single or multiple subjects and are highly figurative. “Ornaments” are ornaments decorating the living room or study. Some are put on the frame of where antiquarian paintings are placed, forming a treasure frame for decoration and appreciation purposes. The “scholar’s four jewels” include the writing brush, ink stick, ink slab, and paper. They are the basic writing and painting tools for scholars and important inventions in human history and civilization. “Curios” are valuable ornamental objects, generally referring to antiques or artworks. Their quality is usually high and workmanship is fine. Some have been transformed from utensils into collectibles and curios.

The Antiquarian Paintings and Curios Special Exhibition is held at the Traditional Handcraft Artists’ Studios from 20 January 2012 (Friday) to 17 June 2012 (Sunday) everyday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (closed on Mondays).
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/8009340172349_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="159" alt="碧霞宮-示範扶鸞過程">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/3495340172349_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="159" alt="碧霞宮-講解扶鸞儀式">]]></description>
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<title>NCFTA Annual Show 2012: The Legend of Liao Tianding</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMTM=</link>
<pubDate>2012/1/13</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The NCFTA annual show for 2012, the Legend of Liao Tianding brings a stunning surprise by integrating traditional Taiwanese opera with acrobatics presented by resident performing groups, including the Wuayi Taiwanese Opera Troupe and the performing group of the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts. At the premier of The Legend of Liao Tianding at NCFTA on New Year’s Day, 2012, the “Free Admission for Tianding” activity will be organized. Two performances of the Legend will be given each day from tomorrow until the end of 2012, including sunny day and rainy day versions.

The Legend of Liao Tianding integrates folk acrobatics, Taiwanese opera singing, and traditional operatic music design, with a setting of colonial Taiwan re-presented with the southern Fujian buildings in the park. Actors play the colonial police in Japanese costumes. The Legend is presented as “sunny day” and “rainy day fixed location” versions, depending on the weather. In the “sunny day version”, actors and actresses perform aerial acrobatics based on Taiwanese opera elements. In the “rainy day fixed location version”, although the aerial acrobatics are removed from the performance, large-scale martial art scenes, magic, lion dancing and other acrobatic performances are added to ensure the consistent surprise of The Legend.

The cast of The Legend of Liao Tianding includes Jianyuan Jiang as Director; Jianhua Lin as Playwright; Jianyuan Jiang and Dongshen Shen as Stage Supervisors; Jiayu Zhuang as Music Director; and Zhenwang Chen as Costume Designer. According to Jiang, this is the first time a drama is presented in the form of a film. Besides expanding the stage to the entire Folkart Street, there are dynamic acrobatic performances. Zhuang also pointed out that, since the traditional way of making a sound track would be unable to meet the musical needs of the show, a large amount of electronic music is used to transcribe traditional Taiwanese opera tunes.

For more details, please visit the official website of The Legend at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/ncfta/LiaoTianDing/index.html; the NCFTA FUN website at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/; or the NCFTA Facebook site at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/fb; or call (03) 950-7711, ext. 228. 
◆	Date: January 1st, 2012, to December 31st, 2012
◆	Time: 11:00 and 14:00 everyday
◆	Place
(1)	Sunny Day Version: Guangxiao HallFolkart StreetWenzhang Temple Square
(2)	Rainy Day Fixed Location Version: Wenzhang Temple Square
◆	Length: 40 minutes

<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/294232216926_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/241132216926_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="">]]></description>
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<title>Spring Festival with the Dragon Craft Exhibition at Taipei International Airport</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMTQ=</link>
<pubDate>2012/1/13</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Uni-President Yi-Lan Art &amp; Culture Corporation plans the Spring Festival with the Dragon Craft Exhibition at the Art and Culture Gallery of Taipei International Airport with a NCFTA commission to display the classic works of 9 internationally-renowned craft artists. These include works on the subject of “celebration of the year of spring” and the paper cutting works and Chinese New Year printmaking works of Lee Huanzhang, winner of the Cultural Heritage Award. A special exhibition on Lee’s paper cutting works is also held at NCFTA for the Chinese New Year in order to use art to connect with the world and communicate with travelers. At the grand opening on January 9th, NCFTA invited Chairperson Wu Wensheng of the Taipei County Calligraphy Art Society to write the couplet “Prosperity of the Taipei Airport Accumulates Wealth, Classics of NCFTA Presented to the Public”, which was hung at the Art and Culture Gallery of Taipei Airport to celebrate the Spring Festival.

The nine craft artists presenting works at the Spring Festival with the Dragon Craft Exhibition include Yu Zhirun, Hong Zhonghua, Cehn Jinwang, Huang Fuan, Zhu Yicheng, Lai Yongfa, Lan Weiwen, Wang Xianmin, and Wang Xianzhi. With colorful resin clay, bronze statues, lacquerware, pottery, glass sculptures, and pottery sculptures, these artists present the auspice of Chinese New Year and Spring Festival customs with different media and sculpturing techniques. Paper cutting is one of the main features of the Chinese New Year. Besides the paper cutting works of artist Lee Huanzhang, a total of 24 works, including the printmaking works based on the Spring Festival of four artists and the live calligraphy show of calligrapher Wu Wensheng, will be presented at the Spring Festival Special Exhibition. 

The “Fashion Mall”, occupying an area of about 1653 m2 at the International Terminal of Taipei Airport, was planned, designed and built by the 7-ELEVEN convenience store chain. Based on the concept of an artistic Taiwan and its connection with the world, four sites, including “Convenience Taiwan”, “Floral Taiwan”, “Art and Cultural Taiwan”, and “Excellent Product Taiwan”, are planned. At the “Art and Culture Shop” representing NCFTA on the second floor, crafts representing Taiwan’s images are sold to connect the world with the classic art of Taiwan.

Please visit the NCFTA FUN site at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/ or the NCFTA Facebook site at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/fb or call the tourist service helpline at (03) 950-7711, ext. 228, for details.
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/3226324175015_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="159" alt="八家將">&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/6112324175016_B.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="239" alt="八家將壁畫">]]></description>
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<title>The Most Festive Place in Taiwan: Spring Festival with the Dragon at NCFTA</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMTU=</link>
<pubDate>2012/1/13</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ There is a wide variety of activities, including the premier of the NCFTA Annual Show 2012 The Legend of Liao Tianding, free, comprehensive DIY folk art activities, the Auspice of Wealth and Fortune and Spring Festival with the Dragon paper cutting art exhibition, the Hakka, Fujian, and inland Chinese Culture Exhibitions, the year of the dragon printmaking special exhibition, and red envelop monotypes.


Fortune and Wealth in Year of the Dragon
	Lunar Month 1, day 1 to Lunar Month 1, day 6 (1/23 ~ 1/18): the Dragon Roars and Acrobats Shine performance presented by the performing group of the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts
	Lunar Month 1, day 1 to Lunar Month 1, day 7 (1/23 ~ 1/29): The Puff Spring with Beiguan, Auspice for Spring Festival presented by the Tingyuexuan Beiguan Music Troupe; the Dragon Flies and the Phoenix Dances Spring Festival Celebration presented by the People’s Opera Theatre; and the Spring Festival Comedy in Puppetry presented by the Taipei Puppet Theater. The century-old mansion of royal candidate Huang turns into a gambling village.
	Lunar Month 1, day 4 (1/26): At the Welcoming the Deity for Fortune and Praying at the Shrine for Auspice event, those who get three consecutive divine answers in the moon block drawing can get a natural health “fortune shrine auspicious soap”!

See The Legend of Liao Tianding in the year of the dragon for an Eee Pad and a 5-star hotel accommodation
Visitors can redeem a See Liao Tianding for Eee Pad in the Year of the Dragon raffle ticket with a receipt of their purchase of NT$101 and up in the park during January. At the lucky draw held at 16:00 on January 31st, there are many great prizes, including three ASUS Transformer Tablet PCs, accommodation tickets at the Hotel Royal Chiaohsi Spa, accommodation tickets at the Silk Place Yilan, a limited number of craftworks from 13 booths in Folkart Street, and more.


Farewell to the Deity and Elimination of the Weak, Welcome Spring and Get Fortune
On the Farewell Deity Day on Lunar Month 12, day 24th (1/17), “Farewell to Deity and Elimination of the Weak and Welcome Spring and Get Fortune” activity is held at NCTFA.
On January 7th and 8th and from January 14th to January 21st, the Taipei County Calligraphy Art Society and Kebalan Calligraphy Art Society will provide free Spring Festival scroll writing services at NCTFA.


Special Spring Festival Exhibitions at Crafts Education Centre: Printmaking, Paper Cutting, and Ethnic Culture Exhibitions
Based on the theme of “Spring Festival with the Dragon”, paper cutting artist Lee Huanzhang presents the “Paper Cutting for Window Decoration DIY”.
	Lee Huanzhang Paper Cutting Art Exhibition at Halls 2-3 of the Crafts Education Centre.
	Paper cutting class: 10:30 and 15:30 every day at Hall 3 of the Crafts Education Centre.
	Hakka, Fujian, and inland Chinese Culture Exhibition at Halls 2-3 of the Crafts Education Centre.
	Spring Festival with the Dragon: Printmaking Exhibition and free monotype of 31 prints for red envelopes at 09:30-12:00 and 13:30-17:00 every day at Halls 4-5 of the Crafts Education Centre.

Free NCFTA Green Bean Noodles for fans checking in at the NCFTA during the Dragon Lantern Exhibition
	The 13 dragon and hero lanterns made by prisoners of the Yilan Prison will be presented at the central corridor and Halls 2-3 of the Crafts Education Centre.
	At the “Fans for Fans” event from Lunar Month 1, day 1 to Lunar Month 1, day 7 (1/23 ~ 1/29), visitors checking in at the NCFTA or uploading a picture with the Liao Tianding Lantern can get a pack of Longkou Green Bean Noodles after authentication at the NCFTA service counter.


Transport and Opening Hours:
Free shuttle bus at 11:00-19:30 on Lunar Month 1, day 1 to Lunar Month 1, day 6 (January 23rd to January 28th).

Opening Hours during the Spring Festival:
Chinese New Year’s Eve (January 22nd): 09:00-13:00
Lunar Month 1, day 1 to Lunar Month 1, day 6 (January 23rd to January 28th): 09:00-19:00
Lunar Month 1, day 7 (January 29th): 09:00-18:00
*Free admission for Yilan citizens (with valid ID) on Lunar Month 1, day 1 to Lunar Month 1, day 2 (January 23rd and January 24th)

<br>]]></description>
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<title>Stop Watering in April and Catch Life on the Anniversary: Rites of Passage at NT$300 with extra value baby stuffs. Application begins from January 6th</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMTE=</link>
<pubDate>2012/1/7</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Known as the life cycle in folklore, there are countless rites of passage, such as birth, coming of age, in one’s life from birth to death. NCFTA invites citizens to experience the “stop watering in April” and “catch life on the anniversary”. Applications begin from January 6th and end March 4th. These rites will be held at NCFTA on March 10th and 11th. There are 50 vacancies for the “stop watering in April” and 150 vacancies for the “catch life on the anniversary”. The registration fee is NT$300. Participants can get extra value baby items to bring home.

According to Taiwan folk customs, when babies begin watering in the fourth month from birth, the “stop watering” rite is held to help babies to stop watering as soon as possible and to growth healthily. On an April day, grandmas-in-law will send their grandchildren an apron, a green top, a pair of red pants, a pair of open-crotch pants, roselles, crispy cakes, a baby sedan chair, and a wooden pony. They must prepare 12 crispy cakes or a multiple of 12 in a ring shape, hang the cakes on the baby’s neck, and visit the neighbors and friends. Everybody takes a cake from the baby’s neck and drys the saliva with the cake, saying at the same time, “stop watering and dry the saliva, say ‘dad’ next year,” or “stop watering and dry the saliva, bring a brother next year,” or “grow up man” to bless the baby to grow faster. After this, people who practice the rite must eat the cake. From this day on, the baby puts on the apron and open-crotch pants from grandma.

The anniversary, commonly known as “passing the year”, is an important rite of passage for a baby. The “catch life”, or commonly known as “trial life” is an interesting rite of the anniversary started from the Northern and Southern Dynasties of China.

Please visit the event official website at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/ncfta/parknews/news_content.jspx?n=152 or call the registration hotline at (03) 950-7711, ext. 211, for details and registration.
<br>]]></description>
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<title>Spring Festival with the Dragon Hakka, Fujian and Inland Chinese Culture Exhibitions and Paper Cutting Art Exhibition</title>
<link>http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/cindex100/enews0111.aspx?E=SWRlbnRpdHlJRD0yMTI=</link>
<pubDate>2012/1/7</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ The Cultural Taste of Different Ethnic Groups, the Experience of Traditional Paper Cutting Art
Spring Festival with the Dragon Hakka, Fujian and Inland Chinese Culture Exhibitions at Halls 2 and 3 of Crafts Education Centre is the theme event of “The Most Festive Place in Taiwan” from NCFTA for the first season of 2012. At the exhibition, visitors will return to their childhood, passing the Chinese New Year at their mother’s maiden home.
The Lee Huanzhang Paper Cutting Art Exhibition will be held at the Crafts Education Centre at the same time to present the paper cutting art of this national treasure artist, with such content from classical Chinese novels as the Dream of the Red Chamber, the Four Beauties, etc. The 86-year-old artist will demonstrate the “one cut star” (making a star with one cut”, “three-cut flower” (making a flower with three cuts), and a calabash cut to surprise the visitors.

To express concern for three major ethnic groups in Taiwan, including the Hakka, southern Fujian, and inland Chinese, antiques collector LIU Bangxian will display his private collection of artifacts from these three ethnic groups, recollecting their cultural impressions.
At the Lee Huanzhang Paper Cutting Art Exhibition, a total of 76 paper cutting works from national treasure artist Lee Huanzhang will be displayed at Halls 2 and 3 of Crafts Education Center. These works are mostly inspired from the scenes studied from Classics and calligraphy from when he was a child.

The Spring Festival with the Dragon Exhibitions at Halls 2 and 3 of Crafts Education Centre begin from now and end March 20th. The paper cutting class is held at Hall 3 of Crafts Education Hall every day at 10:30 and 15:30. Visitors can experience making the “four-sided, 3D 春”, “blessing globe”, “small animals”, etc. Also, artist Lee Huanzhang will give a paper cutting class on the first floor of Chiang Weishui Hall at 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00 on December 31st, 2011, and January 1st, 2012. Citizens interested in paper cutting art are welcome to join us.

Please visit the NCFTA FUN website at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/ or the NCFTA Facebook website at http://art.pcsc.com.tw/fb or call the tourist service helpline at (03) 950-7711, ext. 228, for details. 
<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_ce/Images/News/big/5106319154128_A.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="179" alt="電音三太子">]]></description>
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