Legend (Dong-han Hong)

This episode features Master Dong-han Hong, who was born at a Hakka village in Zhubei, Hsinchu. After graduating from elementary school, he headed north to learn printing. From the time he started his apprenticeship in Taipei until he had his own business, more than 60 years have passed. The printing industry had seen its heyday, and is now declining. Master Hong is 78 years old this year (2020), and he plans to retire in five years and move back to Hsinchu to spend his remaining years. He hopes to donate these machines of historical value to the Ministry of Culture or the museum as a collection because none of his three children intends to inherit his craftsmanship.

Traditional letterpress printing has been phased out with the advancement of the computer era. In this episode, the complete printing process is filmed entirely in this small printing shop, from typesetting by Master Lin, to operating the printing machine by Master Hong, thereby bringing back memories of the olden days.

Accompanied by the music, the episode took us through the golden years of a huge factory. The masters’ skilled operations were emphasized through the use of light, in an attempt to present the changing times. The only things left are the old printing machines and the types that have gradually worn out.

The question of heritage was raised once again during the interview. Through the masters’ casual yet resigned description, we can feel that with no young people willing to take over this declining industry, the only thing we can hope for is to preserve all the machines and tools that had witnessed its heyday, so that the new generations can reminisce about the invaluable page from the past which was responsible for the circulation of words. When the people have the chance to open an old book, they may once again inhale the aroma of the ink from the typesetting between the lines.

  • Feeling Wu
    Director
  • Feeling Wu
    Writer
  • Feeling Wu
    Producer
  • Dong-han Hong
    Key Cast
  • Ban Chern
    Presented by
  • Zhi-Zun Hsu
    Executive Producer
  • Yi-Lun Shih
    Supervisor
  • Xiong-In Wang
    Production Team
  • Pi-Ieu Sung
    Production Team
  • Zun-Kied Hong
    Production Team
  • I-Lin Hsu
    Production Team
  • Good Kids Productions
    Videographer
  • Majestic Creative Works
    Post-Production
  • Dung-Hon Hong
    Special Thanks
  • Tu-Gui Lin
    Special Thanks
  • Dong-Xin Priting Plant
    Special Thanks
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    傳‧傳 (洪東漢)
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 5 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 30, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    Taiwan
  • Country of Filming:
    Taiwan
  • Language:
    Other
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Youtube Channel Online

    April 5, 2021
    Internet premiere
  • Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival 2021
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    Best Short of August
  • Rome International Film Festival 2021
    Rome, Georgia
    United States
    November 12, 2021
    International & U.S. Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Feeling Wu

From past shooting experience, she is especially interested in people or things with cultural characteristics regardless of the forms of programs. In 2003, her production, “History of Taiwan”, with the Hakka TV Station, was shortlisted in the “Educational and Cultural Contributions Award” category of Taiwan’s Golden Bell Awards. As a Hakka, she hopes to be able to inject more Hakka spirit into different kinds of programs.

In 2011, she participated in TLC’s reality show “Fun Taiwan Challenge”. In designing the program’s competition game content, apart from Taiwan’s featured activities, she also incorporated traditional Hakka festival competitions.

The declining Hakka art and skills are fully presented in detail within the program’s limited airtime, just like appreciating every piece of Hakka artwork.

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