TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Miaoli held its first Hakka storytelling competition at West Lake Resortopia in Sanyi Township on Monday.
The event attracted 142 teams and 180 participants from the county, per a press release. According to the county’s education department, the competition was divided into four categories: parent and child, grades 1-3, grades 4-6, and junior high school students, per CNA.
The education department said through creative storytelling, the students showcased fluent Hakka and enthusiasm for learning the language. Some dressed in traditional Hakka attire, while others used body language to bring their stories to life.
The Hakka are one of Taiwan’s ethnic and linguistic groups. The KMT suppressed minority languages like Hakka and Taiwanese during the martial law period (1949-1987) in favor of Mandarin.
In recent years, there have been movements to revitalize Hakka. Passed into law in 2008 and amended in 2018, the Hakka Basic Act promotes Hakka affairs and collective rights.
Taiwan Hakka General Chamber of Commerce provided a NT$300,000 (US$9,100) prize pool for the event. Chair Yeh Chun-jung (葉春榮) said while Taiwan is home to approximately 5 million Hakka, fewer than one-third may speak the language.
Yeh hopes the contest expands into a nationwide Hakka storytelling competition, rallying support to preserve Hakka culture and language.
Miaoli County Government has promoted Hakka language and culture, earning praise from the Hakka Affairs Council and securing six consecutive honors.