Meinong

This article describes the Meinong location. For the scientist of the same name, see Alexius Meinong

Meinong 美濃 區
Location Meinongs in the Kaohsiung metropolitan area
State :	Republic of China (Taiwan)
Coordinates :	22 ° 53 '  N , 120 ° 34'  E Coordinates: 22 ° 53 '24 "  N , 120 ° 34' 1"  E
Area :	120.0316  km²
Residents :	39,973 (Dec 2017)
Population density :	333 inhabitants per km²
Time zone :	UTC + 8 (Chungyuan time)
Telephone code :	(+886) (0) 7
Postal code :	843
ISO 3166-2 :	TW-KHH
Community type :	Municipality of Kaohsiung
Structure :	19 districts ( 里 )
Website :	meinong-district.kcg.gov.tw/
Meinong

Meinong , ( Chinese  : 美濃 區Měinóng qū , Hakka : Mì-nùng khî ) is a district of the city of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan . Most of the approximately 42,000 inhabitants of Meinong (as of 2011) belong to the Hakka ethnic group . The rather rural district is strongly influenced by the traditional Hakka culture and is a popular destination for tourists.

Geography and climate

Meinong is northeast of the actual city center of Kaohsiung. It is bordered to the west by the District Qishan , on the north by the district Shanlin , on the east by the district Liugui and the south and southeast of the county Pingdong (municipalities Gaoshu and Sandimen ). Meinong is topographically a plain surrounded by mountains and traversed by many watercourses, which merges into the Pingtung plain to the south . The district stretches for around 15 km from north to south and around 9 km from west to east, with a total area of ​​120.0316 km². There is a hot and humid tropical monsoon climate . With an average annual temperature of 23 degrees, the annual rainfall is around 1,500 to 2,000 millimeters.

history

There are various possible explanations for the origin of the name Meinong . According to a widespread opinion, the name could come from the place name Malang from the language of the indigenous people who used to live there . This became Minung (瀰 濃) in the language of the immigrant Hakka in the 18th century . During the Japanese rule over Taiwan , the spelling was changed to the current form 美濃 (high Chinese pronunciation: Měinóng ).

In the course of a wave of immigration from mainland China during the 18th century, many Chinese, mostly members of the Hakka ethnic group, came to Meinong, whose soil was fertile and, thanks to the region's abundance of water, was well suited for agricultural development. During this time, many Sanheyuan (三合院, traditional Chinese homesteads with a plan resembling a horseshoe or a U with right-angled corners) were built in Meinong , of which a few are still preserved today.

In the 20th century, Meinong became particularly important as a tobacco growing area.

tourism

Meinong is one of the four so-called "Hakka Districts" of Kaoshiung City. The beautiful landscape and the traditional Hakka culture of Meinong attract many tourists and day-trippers all year round.

Attractions

The tower of the former east gate

Meinong has many cultural sights from more than two hundred years of history. The preserved archway of the house of the tobacco magnate Lin Chun-Yu is located on the oldest and previously busiest street, Yong-An . The colors of the bricks and ceramics on the arch have faded, but an inscription about the family's wealth can still be seen on the facade.

Another popular photo object is Meinong's old east gate from 1755.

The Hakka Culture Museum of Meinong (美濃 文物 館Meinong Wenwu Guan ) is architecturally modeled on agricultural buildings for the cultivation and production of tobacco and other products. In the exhibition hall there is an exhibition on the history of Meinong.

Traditional craft

Popular souvenirs are oil-paper umbrellas , which were exported abroad during the Japanese colonial era. The beautiful umbrellas protect against both rain and sun. Since the name of the umbrellas in the Hakka language sounds similar to “having children”, they are traditionally a popular wedding gift for newly married couples to wish this rich child blessing.

To this day, traditional dark blue shirts, a typical clothing of the Hakka, are made in Meinong. The plain weave used to represent the hard work and thrift of the Hakka, today it is also a popular souvenir for visitors to Meinong.

Traditional cuisine

The relatively good environmental and water quality in Meinong have a beneficial effect on the cultivation of rice, vegetables and fruit. Meinong rice is recognized as one of the "Ten Quality Kaohsiung Specialties". A well-known rice product are the flat Bantiao noodles that can be found in many shops and restaurants in Meinong, especially on Meixing Street.

literature

• 邱 亭 毓 Qiu Tingyu: 南 客家 莊: 蝶 谷 客 莊, 撐 紙傘 數 菸 樓Nan Kejiazhuang: Diegu Kezhuang, cheng zhisan shu yanlou . 台北 縣: 泛亞 國際 文化 科技 有限公司, Taibei: Fanya Guoji Wenhua Keji youxian gongsi, 2003, ISBN ： 9789867741509
• 台灣 客家 公共 事務 協會 Taiwan Kejia Gonggong Shiwu Xiehui: 新 个 客家人Xin ge Kejiaren . 台北市: 協和 藝術 文化 基金會 臺 原 出版社 Taibei: Xiehe Yishu Wenhua Jijinhui Taiyuan Chubanshe, 1991, ISBN 9789579261203

Web links

• official website of Meinongs
• Article in the "Encyclopedia of Taiwan" of the Ministry of Culture (chin.)
• Link on the topic of oil paper umbrellas

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Historic Sites: Meinong East Gate Tower. (No longer available online.) Kaohsiung City Council, archived from original on August 15, 2018 ; accessed on April 1, 2018 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.