菜鴿不是台灣原生種，在現存史料中只能略知大航海時代經由荷蘭人引進，而地方耆老碎片拼湊的口述紀錄也難以釐清他的前世今生。從村民口中普遍獲得「這我爺爺時代就有了」，我們都叫他「土種仔菜鴿」這類的原生記憶，在田野踏查、耆老訪談的線索推測下，才驚覺菜鴿存在的價值僅剩下揹負著也漸孤鳴獨響的鴿笭。

為了填補對他的過度期待與想像所造成的遺憾，重返現場的獵奇搜集外，我還虛構改編一場因地域重疊他們也能參與其中，關於民族大義的史詩戰役—竹篙山之役。賦予菜鴿揹笭重任善用僅存的價值，密謀將秘密信息傳送到抗日義軍手上，為他們留下些許的歷史地位。最終義軍還是因武力懸殊戰敗，與村民們一路逃至蕭壠社。

註：現僅存於台南、嘉義縣界八掌溪以南，急水溪流域以北的地方民俗活動「放鴿笭」，鴿笭是裝在鴿子尾部，受風時會發出聲響的器具，每年農曆二月期間，村民利用菜鴿體型大能耐重，揹著鴿笭往返村庄競賽所從事的農閒娛樂。傳言起源明鄭，歷經清領、日殖，也曾因鴿笭聲像空襲警報聲而一度遭日明令禁止所有活動。


Meat pigeons, which are not native species in Taiwan, might be introduced from Southern Pacific regions during the Age of Discovery. Villagers commonly believe that the species came to Taiwan long time ago before their grandfathers’ generation. The memory about “indigenous meat pigeons” has been shared by the locals since our childhood. However, it is still hard to figure out their origin and historical background. Surprisingly, the remaining value of the meat pigeon for humans nowadays is carrying Red Feet Ling which makes the lonesome whistle, according to historical documents and narrations from the elders. In order to make up for the disappointment from the high expectation, apart from returning to the scene for the sight novelty, I also reproduce a historic theme full of patriotic sentiment, the Battle of Mt. Zhugao, for the visitors to participate in. I attempt to highlight the role meat pigeons have played in history as the indispensable Ling carrier and value their contribution for our tradition.

P.S. The folk activity “Pigeon Ling Racing”, said to be dated back to Ming-Zheng era, was the annual competition between pigeons carrying “Ling”, which made sound when wind blows through. Every February in lunar calendar, usually an off-season for farmers, villagers held the contest by sending meat pigeons, which were larger and better carriers, to carry Ling on their backs flying to another village and returning home, as winter-time entertainment. At the later stage of WWII, US army had launched air raids against Taiwan. Pigeon Ling was then prohibited by law because it sounded like air raid sirens. The folk tradition of “Pigeon Ling Racing” has thus faded away by time with only very few villages still holding the contests in a smaller scale.


竹篙山戰役與紅腳笭，蕭壠文化園區，台南台灣，2018 -
照片、剪報、收集
The Battle of Mt. Zhugao and Red Feet Ling, Soulangh Culture Park, Tainan Taiwan
photography, newspaper clipping, collection
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我只想要回家 @蕭壠文化園區，2018
I Just Want to Go Home @Soulangh Culture Park


空間設計：陳宣誠
Space design: Eric Chen / ArchiBlur Lab