2009年北美地區台灣傳統週

實踐大學高雄校區羅漢門文化劇團」訪團簡介

一、羅漢門表演團隊背景資料

(一)         團員背景:實踐大學高雄校區羅漢門文化劇團之團員皆為本校各學系在學學生,包括觀光系宋江陣、觀光系原住民文化服務隊、時尚系學生及校內歌唱比賽優勝學生。

(二)         羅漢門文化劇團簡介:羅漢門文化劇團於2008年成立於實踐大學高雄校區,本校區座落之高雄縣內門鄉(又名羅漢門)為台灣本土文化匯萃之地,不但是台灣藝陣文化重要聚集地,且臨近客家文化濃郁的美濃鎮,及原住民文化豐富的茂林、三地門等原住民鄉,在本土文化薰陶下,羅漢門文化劇團乃應運而生。本劇團以推展民俗技藝自許,盼藉地區文化之統合,使學生體驗本土文化之美,同時推廣文化觀光。

二、表演內容意涵:整體演出內容融合閩南、客家和原住民文化特色,包括宋江陣、客家山謠及原住民表演藝術等,展現台灣多元族群與文化藝術樣貌,並體現台灣文化之美。表演方式係以歌曲演唱搭配舞蹈展演為主,精選具特色與代表性之歌曲、舞蹈與藝陣,以呈現台灣早期移民蓽路藍縷開墾史,及與原住民之互動

三、演出內容介紹:為展現南台灣高屏大旗美地區多元族群與文化藝術樣貌,實踐大學羅漢門文化團融合閩南、客家和原住民文化特色,包括宋江陣、客家山謠及原住民表演藝術等,以結合台灣本土文化之藝術展演形態,體現台灣文化之美。整體表演形式係以歌曲演唱搭配舞蹈展演為主,精選閩南、客家和原住民三族群各具特色與代表性的歌曲、舞蹈與藝陣,由本校高雄校區學生以音樂演唱劇場形式,呈現台灣文化的風味。節目區分「台灣民俗文化快覽」、「台灣史詩」及「台灣組曲」三部分。

(一)           台灣民俗文化快覽:

1.          演出大綱:實踐大學高雄校區所處之高雄縣內門鄉羅漢門地區,先民以務農為主,故有濃厚之農村氛圍,特別是客家庄農忙時之山歌以及原住民祈福歌舞,深刻體現出當時之生活景況,此一部分演出旨在展現先民的打拼活力。

2.          展演形式:表演者穿著傳統服飾,分別以原住民舞蹈、客家山謠進行十五分鐘的台灣文化快覽,由客家山歌古調引入表演內容,繼以原住民舞蹈,觸動觀眾內心對先民刻苦耐勞精神之感動。

(二)           台灣史詩:

1.      演出大綱:早年羅漢門地區山賊橫行,閩、客先民為求自衛紛紛習武,衍生出如宋江陣等的民俗藝陣,其中又以八卦陣法特別受到矚目。在原住民協助下,山賊陷入宋江陣法即插翅難飛,類似的民俗藝陣過去是先民齊心禦敵的展現,今日則是台灣精神的文化體現。

2.      展演形式:以「風」、「火」、「雷」、「電」四陣,呈現氣勢磅礡的先人打拼精神,其中的雷電效果,係以敲擊台灣傳統大鼓及原住民木鼓方式呈現,而風與火的速度感,則以原住民老鷹舞蹈及宋江武藝宋江獅的交錯表演展現,整體內容旨在表現台灣人民不屈不撓的奮戰精神。

(三)           台灣組曲:

1.      演出大綱:由青年音樂創作家冉天豪先生以精緻曲目,重現台灣經典樂音,藉由年輕學子青春歌聲,結合傳統與現代,詮釋屬於台灣的經典天籟。組曲選擇耳熟能詳並能引起共鳴的鄧雨賢先生作品,「四月望雨」-「四季紅」、「月夜愁」、「望春風」、「雨夜花」為音樂背景及主軸,結合全新創作曲目及改編創作之客家與原住民歌曲,展現台灣文化生命力。四首曲目分別代表「喜悅」、「哀愁」、「希望」、「破滅」四種情感,象徵台灣人民歷經苦難但卻堅毅不拔的精神。

2.      展演形式:以音樂演唱劇場方式呈現,藉由肢體動作與舞蹈的結合,同時在視覺與聽覺上,傳達組曲內含精神的穿透力與渲染力,讓觀眾得以近距離感受歌舞者的聲動氣息,透過敘事性肢體動作、舞蹈與音樂的凝結,展現台灣「聲影」與「身影」之美。

四、宋江陣簡介:宋江陣是三國以來漢人的民間自衛組織,北宋時期,水滸傳知名人物宋江聚集眾人於梁山泊,帶領民團對抗官軍而聲名大噪,後人將此民團通稱為宋江陣。明末鄭成功軍師陳永華(即小說家所稱之陳近南)將宋江陣引進台灣,並教導各部落學習,藉以強身健體及抵禦外敵,因此清朝末年台灣民團抗日活動,都以宋江陣為主力。此一時期台灣幾乎每個庄頭都有宋江陣,負起保衛庄頭及對抗日軍的責任,當時宋江陣威力十分強大,已足以抵禦外侮。惟隨武器及戰術演進,宋江陣逐漸褪去戰爭色彩,演變為台灣南部民間廟會最重要的活動,並成為台灣最重要的民俗資產及觀光資源,每年三月的宋江陣嘉年華,更成為臺灣觀光局推動的重點文化活動。


The Ro Han Mem Taiwanese Cultural Troupe

1. About the Troupe

(1) Members:

   The Ro Han Mem Taiwanese Cultural Troupe consists of students of Shih Chien University at Kaohsiung Campus, including members of the Sung-Jiang Battle Array and the Indigenous Cultural Service Team of the Department of Tourism Management, students of the Department of Fashion Styling and Management, and the winners of singing contests on campus.

(2) Background Information:

The Kaohsiung Campus of Shih Chien University is located in Neimem Township, Kaohsiung County.  Neimem, formerly known as Ro Han Mem, is inhabited with different cultural groups that include southern Fukienese, Hakka, and Indigenous people.  In 2008, Shih Chien University established the Ro Han Mem Taiwanese Cultural Troupe to foster students’ interest in learning about the diverse cultures surrounding them.  In addition, the Troupe aims to reinterpret and enhance Taiwanese performance art in a creative and inspiring way.

2. Program Introduction

The performances include the collection of local performance art via the Sung-Jiang Battle Array, Hakka folk songs, and Indigenous songs and dances to present the diversity and beauty of the Taiwanese culture.  The musicals contain a variety of songs, dances, and battle array performances that are representative of the Fukienese, Hakka, and Indigenous cultures, giving a portrayal of the early settlement in southern Taiwan and the interaction among these different cultural groups.

 

3. Program Introduction

The diverse cultural groups, located in the greater Cishan-Meinong areas of Kaohsiung City, Kaohsiung County, and Pingtung County of southern Taiwan, helped shape the program presentation.  Shih Chien University’s Ro Han Mem Taiwanese Cultural Troupe performances incorporate the collection of local performance art via the Sung-Jiang Battle Array, Hakka folk songs, and Indigenous dances to present the beauty of the Taiwanese culture.  The Troupe, which consists of students from the Kaohsiung Campus, performs musicals containing a variety of songs, dances, and battle array performances that are representative of the Fukienese, Hakka, and Indigenous cultures.  The program is divided into three parts: Taiwanese Folklore, Taiwanese Epic, and Taiwanese Musical.

Taiwanese Folklore

Introduction

Neimem, formerly known as Ro Han Mem, is located in Kaohsiung County as an ancient agrarian community.  In the early days, most residents in this area earned their living by farming.  The Hakka people would sing while they worked; the Indigenous people would sing and dance during their harvest time.  Each ethnic group’s music and dance would highlight the merriment of this ancient agrarian community, whose diligence was well rewarded by Mother Nature at the end of a year.

 

Performance Features

The performers, clad in traditional cultural costumes, will begin with ancient Hakka songs followed by Indigenous dance performances.  Their portrayal of the ancient agrarian community emphasizes the remarkable endurance of the Taiwanese people.

Taiwanese Epic

Introduction

In the olden days, the Fukienese and Hakka residents in Ro Han Mem had to learn martial skills to defend themselves against outside invaders.  Thus, they developed strategic martial art tactics like the Sung-Jiang Battle Array, which included the exceptionally well-renowned Eight Trigrams battle array.  With the assistance of the Indigenous people and other local residents, they united together to fight against these outside intruders.  Their use of the strategic battle array would immediately trap invaders. In the past, the battle array was used to defeat invading enemies.  Now, it is a cultural event that embodies solidarity.

 

Performance Features

The performers demonstrate the indomitable spirit of the Taiwanese people through the use of percussion and dance.  The mixture of rhythmic beats and bodily movement symbolizes a collaboration of “wind”, “fire”, “thunder”, and “lightning”.  The magnificent effects of the thunder and lightning are created by the dramatization of traditional Taiwanese drums and Indigenous wooden drums.  The swift movement of wind and fire are expressed by the Indigenous Eagle dance and the traditional Taiwanese Lion dance.

Taiwanese Musical

Introduction

Through their youthful rendition, the performers interpret classic Taiwanese songs recomposed by the young musician, Mr. Tienhao Jan.

 

The performance features the familiar and touching series of “April Rain” by Mr. Deng Yuxian, Father of Contemporary Taiwanese Music.  The performance is composed of four songs: “Love Song of Four Seasons”, “Sorrow on a Moonlit Night”, “Longing for a Spring Breeze”, and “Flowers on a Rainy Night”.  These songs simultaneously reveal the emotions of “happiness”, “sadness”, “hope”, and “disillusionment”.  As a whole, the keynote of the series manifests the great perseverance of the Taiwanese people in the face of hardships and challenges.  The performance also includes original compositions as well as adaptations of traditional Hakka and Indigenous songs, showing the vitality and growth of the Taiwanese culture.

Performance Features

This unique musical performance uses symbolic bodily movements and dance to convey the tenacious and influential rhythm of each song.  The fascinating sights and sounds of this presentation illustrate the choreographic beauty of Taiwanese art.

 

4. Introduction of the Sung-Jiang Battle Array

The formation of the battle array dates back to the Three Kingdoms period, when the Han people organized the militia to defend themselves.  In the Northern Song Dynasty, as the epic novel Outlaws of the Marsh has it, the legendary figure Sung Jiang made himself famous by leading the outlaws gathering on Mount Liang to fight against the imperial forces.  Afterwards, the group was called the Sung-Jiang Battle Array.  In the late Ming Dynasty, Chen Yong-Hua (also called Chen Jin-Nan by novelists), the military consultant of Koxinga, brought the strategic tactics of the Sung-Jiang Battle Array to Taiwan and taught local tribes to practice the battle array for health and self-defense.  In the late Ching Dynasty, the Sung-Jiang Battle Array became the major force against the Japanese army.  At that time, almost every township established the Sung-Jiang Battle Array in an effort to defend its townsfolk from Japanese attack.  The Sung-Jiang Battle Array indomitably deterred the vehement attack of the foreign invaders.  However, with the progress of time, the Sung-Jiang Battle Array no longer appears as a military formation in battlefield.  It is now one of the most important cultural events of temple festivals in southern Taiwan and is regarded as a precious cultural heritage and tourism resources. The annual Sung-Jiang Battle Array Festival held in Neimen every March has been designated by the Tourism Bureau as one of the twelve major folk festivals in Taiwan.