Activity Outcome
THCDC celebrates 11th Hakka Coming-of-Age Ceremony with 400 students
- Source:客家文化發展中心
- Publication Date:2026/07/15
- Last updated:2026/07/15
- Count Views:9
The Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center (THCDC) of the Hakka Affairs Council held the “Hakka Coming-of-Age Ceremony” at the Taiwan Hakka Museum on June 18, bringing together nearly 400 graduates from 14 elementary schools in New Taipei City, Hsinchu County, and Miaoli County.
The event was attended by Miaoli County Deputy Magistrate Lai Hsiang-ling (賴香伶), Gongguan Township Mayor Ho Tsai-Hsin (何在鑫), Tongluo Township Representative Council Chairman Lin Chiu-tai (林九炲), and representatives from Shei-Pa National Park, the Taichung Branch of the Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, the Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, CPC Corporation’s Exploration & Production Business Division, Tung-hsiao Tourism Park under Taiwan Taiyen Biotech, and National United University Department Head Yu Lung-tung (俞龍通).
The event featured six ceremonies: “Messages to the Future,” “Tea Offering in Gratitude,” “Blessings and Encouragement,” “Carrying Loads,” “Youth Resonance,” and “Soaring Wishes,” guiding graduates into a new stage of life with both blessings and responsibility. This year’s program blended tradition with innovation, highlighting the meaning of growth and responsibility by reviving the “Carrying Loads” ritual, which honors Miaoli’s Hakka predecessors who once carried daily necessities on shoulder poles across the mountains. It also introduced the “Soaring Wishes” ritual, in which students tossed colorful ribbons after delivering their graduation declarations, symbolizing a new chapter in their youth.
Since its launch in 2016, the ceremony has entered its 11th edition, accompanying more than 6,000 students through graduation and becoming a major cultural tradition among Miaoli County elementary schools. This year, Fulong Elementary School in Xinfeng Township, Hsinchu County, and Daguan Elementary School in Banqiao District, New Taipei City also joined the event.
Beyond marking a milestone in the students’ growth, the ceremony also provided a stage to showcase their achievements. During the “Youth Resonance” segment, the harmonica ensemble from Wenfeng Elementary School in Tongluo Township, Miaoli County, performed the theme song “Marching Forward” (大步向前行). Through these rituals, the event underscores respect for teachers and parents, personal growth, and gratitude—core values of Hakka culture and ethics.
THCDC Director-General Hsieh Sheng-hsin (謝勝信) said the coming-of-age ceremony is more than a graduation celebration; it is a way to deepen young students’ connection to the land and language through rituals rich in cultural meaning, while emphasizing gratitude and responsibility at a turning point in their lives. It was also his first time attending the event since taking office, and he reaffirmed his commitment to continuing support for local children through the center’s wide range of programs. He added that he hopes students will speak more Hakka at home, since home is the best place to learn the language and help pass Hakka culture on to future generations.
During the summer school break, THCDC will host a theater summer camp to strengthen Hakka cultural identity through Hakka theater, cuisine, lifestyle, culture, and games. For more information, visit THCDC official website and Taiwan Hakka Museum Facebook page.
