台湾と中国本土を隔てる台湾海峡。その中間に位置するのが澎湖諸島。
The Taiwan Strait separates Taiwan from mainland China. In the Penghu Islands, are located in the middle of the strait.
Erkan village is clustered in a depression that is slightly lower than the surrounding farmland to avoid strong winds.
https://goo.gl/maps/DCbwccr6CYtPpuC68
澎湖諸島で、中国本土からの本格的定住が始まったのが９世紀。中国本土から見ると、新しい時期に中国文化の影響下に入った地が、台湾から見ると、もっとも早く中国文化を受け入れた地。中華圏で信仰の篤い道教の寺院、天后宮は、中心の馬公にある天后宮が、1604年創建で台湾最古。中国本土の時間感覚では最近でも、台湾では最古と、立つ岸の側で見え方が変わります。
島の一つ目の魅力はランドスケープ。「風島」と言われるほど風が強く、風が島のローカリティ。大きな木が育たず、灌木と草地が主で、本島と周りの島は、内海の澎湖湾を囲むように海上橋でU字につながり、巨大な砂嘴のようなランドスケープが出現していました。２月という風の強い時期でしたが、ビルの並ぶ馬公を除けば、写真を撮るために、じっと立つことも不可能なほど（だから写真がブレ気味）。体温が奪われ、震えが止まりません。一方、その風は恵みでもあり、台湾で風力発電が進んだ地ですが、風力発電の騒音で、山羊が大量死というBBCの報道もあり、エコロジカルな施設が、エコロジカルな風土と必ずしも相性いい訳ではなさそう。
２つ目の魅力は、次から紹介する、懐かしい風情の伝統的集落。残念なのは、台湾有数の過疎地域のため、廃屋が多いこと。だからと言うべきか、中国本土からの客目当てのカジノ計画が持ち上がったのが、訪れた2007年。風情ある島のカジノ化を心配しましたが、2009年と2016年の住民投票で否決され頓挫。そうやって残った島の風土や生活が、サステナブル志向の時代とシンクロし、最近の新聞記事では、観光客が急増とのことで、未来につながった！と思ったら、今度は、対岸の中国本土との政治情勢という新たな波が立ち始めました。
In the Penghu Islands situated in the middle, full-scale settlement from mainland China began in the 9th century. In the viewpoint of Mainland China, the areas came under the influence of Chinese culture in the new period. Meanwhile, in the viewpoint of Taiwan, the islands received Chinese culture the earliest. Tin Hau Temple is a Taoist temple with a strong faith in Greater China. Tin Hau Temple in Magong, the central city of the Penghu Islands, was founded in 1604 and is the oldest in Taiwan even if it is recent in the sense of time in Mainland China.
The first attraction of the island is the landscape. The wind is so strong that it is called "wind island" and is a locality of the island. Sea bridges connect the main island with surrounding islands around Penghu Bay as the inland sea, forming a U-shaped landscape like a gigantic sand spit. February, when I visited, was a windy period, so I could not stand still to take pictures, except for Magong, where buildings were lined up. The wind took away my body temperature, so I could not stop shivering. The wind is also a blessing. In the Penghu Islands, wind power generation has advanced in Taiwan. However, the BBC reported that a considerable number of goats died due to the noise of the wind power generation. It seems that ecological facilities are not necessarily compatible with ecological environment.
The second attraction is a traditional village with a nostalgic atmosphere, which I will introduce in the next post. Unfortunately, there are many abandoned houses because it is one of the most depopulated areas in Taiwan. That's why, in 2007, a casino project aimed at customers from Mainland China came up. I was worried about turning this charming island into a casino island, but the 2009 and 2016 referendums rejected it. The climate and lifestyles of the islands that referendums defended are now synchronized with the sustainability-oriented trend, and a recent newspaper article mentioned a rapid increase in tourists. It has led to the future! But, this time new wave of the political situation began to rise.
Bridges connect the main island with surrounding islands around Penghu Bay as the inland sea, forming a U-shaped.
https://goo.gl/maps/PsF5GYbw9PT1bfndA
See Neian Village. Trees do not grow on the hills around the village due to strong winds.
https://goo.gl/maps/oHfkowFDGiL9YtWM8
Waian is a fishing village on the southern tip of the Yuweng Island. It is interesting to see the concentration of modern building-style houses in the furthest village, even though there are traditional villages along the way. Perhaps it shows the richness of this fishing village. Some call it the Little Greece of Taiwan.
https://goo.gl/maps/QgQ1KQ1XZ3XuVACy8
See the wind power generation facilities in Zhongtun village.
https://goo.gl/maps/fti1WspBazXhZ3MN9
The Taoist temple Tin Hau Temple in Magong, the central city, is the oldest in Taiwan.
https://goo.gl/maps/z88WQwWRdJV7Vc9D8
In Magong, some Japanese colonial architectures are preserved. One of them is the governor's residences, which is now open to the public as the Penghu Reclamation Hall, and still retains a Japanese-style living space.
https://goo.gl/maps/2MSABWtd6pUuYJiP7
Xujia is one of the traditional villages remaining in the Penghu Islands. It's a few kilometers away from Magong, the central city of the Penghu Islands, but when I visited in 2007, quite a few houses were abandoned.
https://goo.gl/maps/eBke4hrEqh88bAFn7
Jhenhai is one of the traditional villages remaining in the Penghu Islands. Among the traditional houses is a residence with a Western atmosphere. I rarely saw them in the Penghu Islands, but on Kinmen Island, which is close to mainland China, there are many similar buildings called "Yan lou (Western-style house)".
https://goo.gl/maps/HGJTKRbkSmmV36oZ6
See Magong from Xujia village beyond the sea.
https://goo.gl/maps/eBke4hrEqh88bAFn7
ご感想はこちらへ / Click here for your impressions
参考文献 / reference
台湾ナビ
Penghu Info
"潮風と相談 麺の味"(朝日新聞,2007.2.6)
"Wind farm 'kills Taiwanese goats'"(One Minute World News,BBC,2009.5.21)
"風力タービン騒音、台湾でヤギ400匹が不眠で死亡か"(世界のこぼれ話,Reuters,2009.5.22)
"カジノ誘致に住民は「反対」 澎湖県で住民投票"(琉球新報,2009.10.5)
"台湾・澎湖でカジノ建設めぐる住民投票、反対多数で否決"(フォーカス台湾,2016.10.15)
"行政院の計画説明にＢＢＣ記者が切り込んだ！ 「なぜそんなに楽観的なのか？」 エネルギー自給率１％ 電力不安も…"(産経ニュース,産経新聞,2016.10.23)
"20年に変わったアジア消費 自宅エンタメ開花"(日本経済新聞,2020.12.21)
"東アジア、国内離島リゾート コロナ禍で人気"(日本経済新聞,2021.2.7)
Wikipedia
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