To highlight the life stories and the importance of preserving the memories of the elders who sing traditional folk songs (Po-kua) in the South Penghu Marine National Park, the Marine National Park Headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior National Park Service (hereinafter referred to as "Marine National Park Headquarters") commissioned a professional team to produce the documentary “Echoes of Island Life: Po-kua Memories of South Penghu Four Islands”. The premiere event will take place on Sunday, October 27, 2024, aiming to showcase the cultural essence of the South Penghu Islands to the public.
Wandering through the islands, chanting the ocean.
The settlements of Penghu are inseparable from the ocean. Whether it's the thrilling life of fishing, the sweat of diligent farming, or the joys and sorrows of love and life, the people of Penghu skillfully use words, sounds, and melodies to sing the essence of their lives in the form of ballads, showcasing the customs and culture of the island. These works are known as “Po-kua”. In the South Penghu Marine National Park with its magnificent basalt landscapes, the island's elders and cultural workers present the details of fishing and island life through the form of “Po-kua”. The impromptu duets of “Po-kua” further attract the attention of tourists.
To highlight the importance of preserving the life stories and memories of the elderly ballad singers, the National Park Headquarters held the premiere of the documentary “Echoes of Island Life: Po-kua Memories of South Penghu Four Islands” on October 27, 2024, at the Ever Rich IN89 Luxury Cinema in Penghu. Distinguished guests attended the event, including Penghu County Mayor Guangfu Chen, Director of the National Park Headquarters Shao-Liang Hsu, as well as the village heads of Dongji Village, Dongping Village, and Xiping Village in the Southern Four Islands of Penghu. Many officials from various departments of the Penghu County Government, school principals and teachers, and NGO partners also actively participated. With over 150 attendees, this event demonstrated the shared commitment of the national park and local teams to cherish and preserve cultural memories.
Po-kua elders, ocean stories
The documentary “Echoes of Island Life: Po-kua Memories of South Penghu Four Islands” begins with a performance at the National Concert Hall, leading viewers to witness the rise of Penghu Po-kua on stage. Through its simple melodies and beautiful lyrics, the ballads recount the everyday life of islanders. In the film, elderly Po-kua singers share their life stories, and with the collaboration of local cultural workers, scholars, and experts in the national park, they engage in a series of activities such as fieldwork, recording, composing, and arranging accompaniment, all aimed at preserving and passing down this cultural heritage.
The premiere invited Director Wen-Bin Deng to share the process of filming the documentary, and featured a performance of original Po-kua works by Teacher Kun-Han Lu, an elder from Xiyupingyu, and Sheng-Wen Hsu, Chairman of the Penghu County Chinese Music Association. During the Q&A and interactive session, the audience was curious about how the elderly singers created nearly a hundred Po-kua songs in their daily lives. Teacher Kun-Han Lu explained how he captures inspiration, refines lyrics, and works on rhyming. The atmosphere of the event was warm and lively, drawing the audience's attention to the cultural memories of the South Penghu Four Islands.
In addition to managing the operations of national parks, the Marine National Park Headquarters actively promotes marine-themed environmental education and cultural preservation efforts. Through the documentary and the works of the Po-kua elders, the Headquarters has planned subsequent activities in collaboration with the Penghu County Government, schools at all levels, and local communities for a documentary screening tour. This initiative aims to spread the songs of the South Penghu Four Islands to various places, ensuring that the melodies are heard far and wide.
