In conjunction with Shihsanhang Museum’s Exhibit on ‘The Song of Life on Tamsui River’, TKU’s Maritime Museum (MM) will ‘sail’ model boats, The King Ho Li and Sampan from Tamsui River to Shihsanhang at Ba Li. Ms Chiu Rui-ling, the Chief of MM said with a smile, “The two sides (of the Tamsui River) has started sailing!” The Exhibit starts today and ends on October 31.
Shihsanhang Museum originally planned to borrow 9 model boats from TKU. With the duration of the exhibition being more than seven months, and in order not to affect MM’s regular exhibit, TKU agreed to lend The King Ho Li and Sampan. This act marks the first major cooperation between these two renowned museums. Such cooperation will enhance TKU’s reputation as a major force in maritime history and collections as Shihsanhang Museum has flyers introducing TKU available for visitors.
Junk King Ho Li was one of the commercial boats sailed between Jia yi/Bu Dai and Hsia Men/Fu Zhou after the recovery of Taiwan (from the Japanese occupation). Sampan was the foundation of Taiwan’s fishing industry and is still used by the local fishermen. Sampan is made from Nanmu wood and cypress unique to Taiwan with its construction and the painting embodying many Chinese colors and styles. Even today, they are a common sight at the banks of Tamsui River.
The other seven model boats that Shihsanhan planned to borrow are: The Cutty Shark, The Astrolabe, The Yacht Mary, The Spanish Galleon, Ching Dynasty Battleship, The De Liefde, Cheng Cheng-kung Chung-chun Boat which are all currently ‘docked’ at MM. No students should miss this golden opportunity of appreciating these magnificent ships up close. Among them, The Cutty Shark was one of the fastest ships carrying cargo between Europe, China, Ceylon, and India at the beginning of the 18th century. The record was 669 Kilometers (KM) in one day. The Cheng Chen Kung Chung-chun Boat, on the other hand, was modeled after an even older Chinese military command ship.
These ships have certainly made the Exhibit on “The Song of Life on Tamsui River” particularly historical and meaningful.
UPDATE： 2010/09/27
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