General Education Center of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology has collaborated with Tainan City Cultural Association for three years on the Lantern Festival in Shennong Street. This year, in order to celebrate the 20th Lantern Festival in Chuangjie, Shennong Street, the local creativity groups of cultural heritage and the USR Project team at Shennong Street not only expanded the exhibition area of lanterns, but also designed a series of nine-round bursts of fun activities. It is hoped that as people are watching the lanterns, they can understand the suburban business culture of Shennong Street and Beishigang through the participation of the activities.
【The large mouse lantern at Shennong Street】
Last year, there was a shortage of larger lanterns. Therefore, the most anticipated item in this year's nine-round event was the Lantern Festival, which held a zodiac lantern show specially designed by the team for Shennong Street. To receive the lanterns on the Lantern Festival this year, visitors needed to use the AR camera developed by the planning team to take photos and upload photos of the lanterns in Beishigang District. Visitors could also use the lantern photos of Siluodian Area and fill in the wish card on the spot. The first 200 participants can get a mouse lantern, and the first 20 could participate in the lantern night tour to listen to the story of lanterns in Shennong Street.
【AR camera exclusive for mouse lanterns】
The small lantern for the Year of the Rat developed and designed this year continued the oval ball style of the Year of the Pig last year. In order to capture the cuteness of the mouse, the team especially took inspiration from Mickey Minnie's ears, plus the ball shape of Dharma from Japan, creating a special lantern for the Year of the Rat that combined the characteristics of Western, Japanese and Taiwanese styles. In addition to the mouse lantern, the project team also enlarged it to make a large mouse lantern, placed at the entrance of Shennong Street, and developed an exclusive AR camera for mouse lanterns to increase the characteristics of the entrance image. People were welcome to download the AR camera program and create a beautiful photo for themselves at the 2020 Shennong Street Lantern Festival.
【An expanded view of the mouse lantern for the year of 2020】
In addition, the bulbs of the mouse lanterns were replaced with colorful LED lights, and the plastic products were eliminated and replaced with DIY paper handles in compliance with environmental protection requirements. Owing to the limited fund, the number of mouse lanterns was limited to 200. When visitors received the lanterns, the message of fundraising could be seen on the DIY front page. If they were willing to support the festival cultural activities at the old street, they could pay attention to the message of fundraising. In addition, the public could also pay attention to the information of the nine consecutive events published on the paper version of the lantern, such as lantern riddles, photo contests, and so on.
【Shennong Street Lantern Festival Funding Promotion Card】
President Deng-Maw Lu of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology said that cultural preservation should become a daily life. The Lantern Festival at Shennong Street revitalized the atmosphere of the old street through folk festivals, inviting 54 households to hold exhibitions with their homes, making the Ching Dynasty suburban business culture a part of the life of Shennong Street. The people brought mouse lanterns to a night tour with lanterns, recreating the custom of the Lantern Festival; they not only reinvigorated life into the old street, but also embarked on the pace of sustainable management and preservation of precious suburban business culture.
【The appearance of the DIY mouse lantern after completion】
【Lantern Show in the Siluodian Temple】
【The Year of the Rat Lantern Show at the Intersection of Shennong Street】