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客家人的祖先來到臺灣時，比閩南人晚了將近200年，因為當時平原土地幾乎已被開發殆盡，為了生計只好往尚未開發之山邊丘林地帶，尋找窪地開田種稻。該田園看起來雖景緻美好，但是耕種工作上有諸多不便，歲月如梭，數百年來客家人就這樣養活了自己，也繁衍著代代子孫。
Hakka migrated to Taiwan almost two hundred years after the Hocklo arrival. Most of the plains had been exploited at that time. The Hakka had to seek possibilities on those unexploitd hillsides and mountains. The mountains presented beautiful sceneries. However, they were not exactly the best places for cultivation. A few hundred years flew by, the Hakka survived in spite of the difficulties.
客家先民於非農忙季節，於河岸撈魚抓蝦，形成農漁兼作的海客文化，在窮則變，變則通的情況下，先祖到溪邊尋找魚、蝦、螺、貝，補充食物來源，採集現地石材堆疊石塭，以歷久彌新的古老智慧，編織網具，清楚明確網住魚群，豐收滿載而歸。為求生存適應環境努力打拚。
During the non-agricultural season, Hakka ancestors fished and caught shrimps on the banks of the river to form a seafarer culture of both farming and fishing. In the case of poverty and change, the ancestors went to the brook to find fish, shrimps, snails, and shellfish to supplement food sources. They would also collect stone piles in the existing site, weaving nets with time-honored ancient wisdom.They would also use nets to catch fish, returning with a full harvest. They strove for survival and adapted to the environment.
樹木的開花結果，長成樹林，再砍伐作板製作房屋材料是 一段艱辛的危險過程。伐木工人怎麼鋸樹，怎麼搬運樹木下山，胼手胝足、出入險峻的深山，開發山林資源，與大自然搏命的工作，留下台三線開發的血淚點滴。
The flowering of trees, trees grow into a forest, and the cutting and production of housing materials are a difficult and dangerous process. How do the lumberjacks saw the trees? How to carry the trees down the hill? Unite to work together, they would go in and out of the mountains, develop the forest resources and fight with nature, leaving the blood and tears of the development of the 3rd Taiwan provincial road.
早期客家先民，在臺灣南部水稻田初期除草時，採站式者需各拿一枝竹棍，以保持身體的平衡；而腳跟在稻叢間向前及向後各推一次，又在稻叢間向斜前及向斜後轉成8字形，而非7字形；最後用腳掌抹平稻叢間之土，即算完成乾坤。
Earlier in southern Taiwan, Hakkas weeded the fields by standing with a stick in hands to balance themselves. They stood on one heel between the rice seedings, moved forward and backward once, and slightly turned to the sides writing in the figure 8 but not 7 with their foot. After that, they flattened the eath with the sole of the feet thus completing the weeding process.
日本佔領臺灣，當時經營製糖業部不但可以滿足日本國內之需求，而且在國際市場也佔有一席之地，其獲利雖高，但臺灣種植之農民卻未能得到相對之利益，日本為確保其原料甘蔗，乃頒布「糖蔗甘蔗」禁食令，以禁止原料無謂之消耗，間接影響經營之利益。
Taiwan's sugar industry played an important role in the markets of Japan and the world during Japan's occupation of Taiwan. The high profits notwithstanding, sugar cane farmers did not benefited accordingly. The Japanese colonial government prohibited the consumption of "sugar-making canes" to ensure a steady supply of them. Troops were sent, therefore, to guard the sugar canes from people as if they were national treasures.
1920年代以前，臺灣均以手工製茶，首先將手工採好之茶葉，經晾乾後即置於鍋中溫炒，炒後最重要的過程為搓揉，當時沒有機械全部用腳掌相互搓揉而成，至於衛生情況就不能以現代的標準來衡量了，不過可以確定的是，當時內外銷想用過的人都健康無虞，且對其香郁讚美有加。
Before 1920, Taiwan teas were all made by hand. The plucked leaves were pan-fried after being aired in the open air , and then kneaded by the soles of the feet. Although this process of production might not be considered as hygienic by present standard, those who enjoyed the teas remained healthy for sure, and all praised highly of their taste and aroma.
客家人相信風水，蓋房造屋講究選擇風水寶地。大都會選擇由高朝低，坐北朝南，依山面水的地方。選好宅地後，按需要進行平整地基，便可起工建屋。一般由風水先生擇日，主要是起工、上樑、砌灶、進火這四個環節，一定講究良辰吉日，不能與家人命格相衝，按習俗舉行儀式也不可少。
The Hakka people take the art of Feng Shui so seriously that it even impacts the construction of their houses. Much effort was often spent on making sure the land had good Feng Shui, its depth, or what direction it faced. In a metropolitan area, the ideal house would be built high to low and would both face south and have water to the front of it and a mountain to the back. Even after finding such a fortunate area, however, the work of building the house was still to come. It would begin on an auspicious day specifically divined by a Geomancer, and would take place in four stages: the foundation, the upper beam work and masonry, the stove, and the fire ceremony. Of these procedures, the geomancy was exceptionally important, as bad luck would fall upon the work if the day clashed with one of the family member's eight characters.
客家人對於男女一向持平等互敬之觀念，「男大當婚，女大當嫁」時，為人父母者均遵照傳統嫁娶禮法，循規合矩，心謹必慎，祭天告祖，來完成兒女的終身大事。男方甚且還會備酒肉菜餚，送往女方家敬其內祖。
客家人對結婚之意義，注重「二姓好合」與「承先啟後」之意義，結婚成為貫通橫面之異姓家庭與縱面的祖宗與子孫之大事。傳統的客家婚俗務需經過議婚、過定、送日子、親迎等四過程。
The Hakka people prized equality and respect between men and women, but even they had their gender roles; "When the man takes a wife, she is married into his household." Such was the traditional marriage that the people were held to obey. For such a serious affair, which would be the most important day for the children, caution had to be held just as close, lest the emotions of the heart drive the man to making an ill thought out choice. Upon making his decision, the ancestors would naturally need to be informed and often the man would prepare his finest offerings of wine and food to send to the woman's family for the ancestors table.
In the Hakka imagination a good marriage contained the auspicious coupling of two compatible family names, a good inheritance, and a bright future made possible by a new relationship. In the traditional custom, marriages were performed through four processes marriage negotiation, auspiciously timed engagement, an auspiciously timed marriage ceremony and the welcoming of the bride. Each process was performed with duty and care, as the marriage was a grand affair for both families that opened the way for numerous future generations. |
