The Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center, Hakka Affairs Council hosted the ‘Hakka Burden Carrying Coming-of-age Ceremony’ at the Taiwan Hakka Museum today (13^th). The theme of Hakka burden carrying, symbolizes that the children are old enough to carry their own burdens. A total of sixteen schools signed up for the event, with the application of around seven hundred graduating students. Apart from local schools, the Center promoted the activity across counties, attracting the participation of graduating students even as far as those from primary schools in New Taipei City. The event offers good-will gifts for the children with the combined resources of local communities and business sponsorships, including assistance and sponsorship from different sectors such as Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Shei-pa National Park Headquarters, Miaoli County Government, Toufen Township Office, Houlong Township Office, Tongluo Township Administration, Shihu Township Administration, Farmer Association of Tongluo, Tungluo Township Representative Council, King Yuan Electronics Co., Taimide Tech. Inc, etc.

　　Jin-Liang, He, director of the Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center stated that Hakka coming-of-age ceremony has three main themes: ‘tea ceremony of appreciation’, ‘coronation of the scarf of wisdom’ and ‘inheritance of burden carrying’. The ‘tea ceremony of appreciation’ combine blessing of growth, with the cultural tea spirit of presenting tea for guests and appreciation of the Hakka, allowing graduating students to show gratitude to teachers and fellow students through the ceremony. The student representative would then deliver words of appreciation in fluent Hakka, promising that all graduating students will keep earnest teachings in their hearts. After the tea ceremony, Director He would lead all guest elders to present scarfs of wisdom for graduating students, encouraging them to face challenges in life with wisdom. The graduating students would also tie the knot of their scarfs of wisdom in pairs, as blessing from fellow students. Finally, to welcome a new stage in life, the guest elders will give their burdens to the youngsters. The inheritance of burden carrying in Hakka tradition, represents the delivery of the spirit of hard work and responsibilities of past ancestors to future generations, as well as their expectation for the younger generations to cultivate a fruitful and rich life for themselves.

　　Director He also said that, “every year, the Hakka coming-of-age ceremony is infused with the positive energy of Hakka people. It also calls on the blessing from all sectors of the community, accompanying the growth of our future generation. This year, we made new records by leading nearly seven hundred graduate students to experience the Hakka coming-of-age ceremony. We will continue to host this event in the future, in hope to continue the inheritance of Hakka spirits.”

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