Luis國際資訊事務所

No matter where you go in Taiwan, there are lots of things to buy and look at, but you should be most curious about the items specially made in Taiwan. Many of these crafts have long histories. Some are traditions brought here by immigrants1 while others started locally. Taiwan's crafts show off the skills of its people and how unique this island is.

　　One simple yet special craft is making dough2 figures. Originally, these edible figures were made for temples. Aside from representing offerings3 to the gods, they can be famous characters or parts of scenes from legendary stories.

　　There are two ways to make dough figures. The first is to use colored dough to shape the figures. The second is to create the figures and then paint them. Today, these figures are collector's4 items that are adored by children and adults alike.

　　Over 100 years ago, a man moved an oil-paper umbrella workshop5 in Guangdong to Meinong. At that time, oil-paper umbrellas were used in daily life and also exported to Japan. These carefully crafted umbrellas are still popular today but are usually just for gifts and decorations. Making an oil-paper umbrella takes patience and care. The long process includes soaking the bamboo in water for at least one month. This gets rid of the sugar in the bamboo so that it won't mold6 and insects won't be attracted to it. For Hakka people, oil-paper umbrellas are given as wedding gifts to wish the couple good luck in having many children.

不論您到了台灣的什麼地方，總會有許多東西可買可看，但您最應該感到好奇的就是台灣特製的物品。這些手工藝品大多都擁有悠久的歷史。有些是外來移民引入的傳統，其它有的則是源於台灣本土。台灣的手工藝充分展現出島上人民的技能，以及這座島嶼是何等獨特。

一項簡單卻特別的手工藝就是做捏麵人。起初這些可食用的塑像是為了廟宇而做。除了可用來代表供奉給神明的祭品，它們也可以是傳奇故事中的著名角色或部份場景。

製作捏麵人的方法有兩種。第一種是用染好色的麵團捏出塑像。第二種則是先製作塑像再著色。如今，這些老少咸宜的塑像已成為了收藏家的收藏品。

一百多年前，一名男子把一間位於廣東的油紙傘工坊遷至美濃。在當時，油紙傘不但用於日常生活中，同時還出口到日本去。這些精心製作的傘如今依然深受歡迎， 不過通常都只作為禮物或是裝飾品之用。製作油紙傘需要耐心和細心。其漫長的製作過程包含了把竹子浸泡在水中至少一個月之久。這麼做能除去竹子中的糖分，如 此便能防霉避蟲。對客家人來說，油紙傘是結婚禮物，可用來祝福新人有多子多孫的好運道。

1. craft　n.（尤指傳統的手工）工藝；工藝品 & vt. 手工製作（本文中以過去分詞作形容詞用）
This glass artwork was crafted by my dad.
這件玻璃藝術品是我父親手工打造出來的。
2. edible　a. 可以食用的
Not all kinds of mushrooms are edible.
並非所有的菇類都可食用。
3. legendary　a. 傳說中的；非常有名的
The legendary monster is said to have lived in this lake.
據說那隻傳說中的怪獸曾棲息在這座湖中。
4. adore　vt. 非常喜歡
That singer is adored mostly by kids.
喜歡那位歌手的大多是小孩子。
5. export　vt. 出口
We exported our products mainly to the US.
我們產品的主要外銷地是美國。
6. process　n. 過程；程序
The process of writing a book is complex.
撰寫一本書的過程相當複雜。
7. soak　vt. 浸，泡
I always soak my laundry before I wash it.
我在洗自己的衣服之前都會先將它們浸泡一下。

get rid of...　　擺脫∕除去……
How do you get rid of ants in the kitchen?
你如何驅除廚房裡的螞蟻？

1. immigrant　n.（外來）移民
2. dough　n. 生麵團（本文中亦作形容詞用）
3. offering　n. 供品，祭品
4. collector　n. 收藏家
5. workshop　n. 工場；工作坊
6. mold　vi. 發霉

...that are adored by children and adults alike.
（……老少咸宜的……）
1. 此處的 alike 作副詞用，表『同樣地，一樣地』。
Friends and family alike are worried about Janet's health.
（朋友和家人同為珍娜的健康感到憂心。）
2. alike 也常作形容詞用，表『相同的，相像的』，通常置於 be 動詞後作主詞補語，而不可置於名詞前修飾。表『相似的，相像的』時，其前不可用 very 修飾，而應用 much。
Owen and his brother are much alike.
（歐文與他的兄弟很神似。）