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Tsao-Kung Cultural
　　Festival

Tsao Chin

節慶活動

Tsao-Kung Cultural Festival
	There is a large 600-meter-long road called ”Tsao-Kung Road ” in the downtown of Fengshan City. It's built for a great irrigation expert. He is a merciful commissioner named “Tsao Chin” and was born in Honan Province.
	There are many organizations on Tsao-Kung Road, including the Fengshan station, police office, and the Tsao-Kung elementary school, and so on.
	A temple to worship Tsao Chin called “Tsao-Kung Temple” is just in front of the Tsao-Kung elementary school. That's because people appreciate for that he used his wisdom to irrigate desert area and turned the wilderness in Feng-han to fertile farmlands. From occupied time of Japan to nowadays, Tsao-Kung Ditch is still the major water conservancy of Kaohsiung. People were rich and built the foundation of the prosperity of Kaohsiung.
	What Tsao Chin had done in Fengshan let him become the best commissioner during the time Chin Dynasty governing Taiwan. The place once the local government is Tsao-Kung elementary school now. The 200-year-old evergreen is also called ” Tsao-Kung Giant Tree.”
	Tsao Chin was born in Sept. 26th 1786 and died in April 18th 1849. His father passed away when Chin was young and he was raised by his mother. He got the first place in the civil service examination system at 21, and thirty years later, he was sent to Fengshan. Last year, there was a famine in Fengshan and the hungry people turned to be robbers.
	Jan.1837, Chin obeyed orders to go to Taiwan and to be the commissioner of Fengshan County. He went to Tainan City, meeting his excellency, Mr. Hsiung, Yi-Bun. Mr. Hsiung told him that the way to govern the city and solve the robbery problem was to build the irrigation system to free people from hunger.
	Chin imprinted these words on his mind. After he took over Fengshan government, Drought had kept farmers from working. He patrolled by the river, and said, ”Alas, the abundant water in Kao-Ping River is given by God. How can we waste it by letting it go away!” And he decided to direct the water of river to solve the problem of drought.
	When the project was going, it was inevitable that lazy farmers and the traditional customs prevented the government from carrying it out. But they didn't give up and finally the project went smoothly. In the winter of 1838, the project was finished. The ditch was about 40360-meter-long and the harvest of Fengshan doubled, barns were built, people were dancing with joy and robbers disappeared.
	When the ditch was been building, western countries such as UK, Spain, was coveting at China. Tsao Chin also strengthened the defensive project of Fengshan City to make the city stronger.
	Tsao Chin didn't report the result to Mr. Hsiung until all the grand construction was finished. Being extremely touched, Mr. Hsiung wrote official document to the emperor about Tsao Chin's contribution. Official Hsiung answered the request to name the ditch and erect a tablet which recorded the irrigation project. Mr. Hsiung named TsaoKung-Tsui (Ditch) and wrote Tsao -Kung-Tsui-Chi (i.e. the History of Tsao-Kung Ditch) on the tablet, which was kept until now.
	Fengshan had drought in 1841. People discussed about building the new irrigation ditch. Though Tsao Chin was assigned as Tanshui Hall Coastal Defense Officer, his heart was still in Fengshan. Before he went, he told Cheng, Lan and Cheng, Hsuan-Chin to lead people. It took two years to finish. People named it the “New TsaoKung Ditch.” The system of irrigation was also extended from Fengshan to Tsoying.
	When the Opium War broke up, Serving as an official in Tanshui Hall, Tsao Chin not only defended enemies, but also made great contribution to culture and education. Therefore, residents who lived in Tanshui worshiped Tsao Chin in the Te-Cheng Shrine（德政祠）.
	In 1845, Tsao Chin retired because the government flattered UK. He refused the government's task assignment again and again. He died in Honan Province.
	Eleven years later, in memory of Tsao Chin's contributions and virtues, people built Tsao-Kung Shrine. And they hung a horizontal inscribed board in Tsao-Kung Shrine.
	In 1876, the official of Fu Chien Province, Ting, Jeng-Chang, allowed Tsao Kung to be worshiped in Ming-Huan Shrine.
	In 1900, the governor of Taiwan, Erh Yu, reconstructed Tsao-Kung Shrine. He held the celebration of Tsao Kung's birthday on November first on solar calendar.
	According to folk belief, it was said that Tsao Chin became the city god in the Hades after he died. In 1992, the great god in heaven gave a command to Chin-Shan Shrine in Linyuan Township, and asked the believer to build a golden statue of Tsao Chin in place of the Holy Name Board because of Tsao Kung's great performance on water work. Therefore, Tsao-Kung Shrine was changed into Tsao-Kung Temple.
	Tsao-Kung Irrigation Ditch was finished in 1838. Up to now almost 160 years, it still hold the function of irrigation. Official Tsao Chin's name was recorded in history of Fengshan and he is still loved and esteemed. Official Hsiung's endorsement and appreciation for Tsao Kung's construction of irrigation ditch was the beginning of the memorial events followed.
	People in Fengshan built the memorial temple and held the activity on his birthday since 1860 in memory of his building Tsao-Kung Ditch.
	Recently the celebration of Tsao Chin draws a lot of people's attention. Activities such as poetry contest, Chinese calligraphy and painting contest are held. Also there are exhibitions. Representatives from different organizations, institutions, societies and students attended in it.
	Fengshan invited Tsao Chin research association in China to attend meeting on Tsao Chin's birthday. Taiwan and China's Honan opera groups worked together and had a performance tour around Taiwan. The performances gain great recognition.