King Tree

Quite a few trees might have won a stay of execution because people view them as divine beings. Yet such people are not treating a tree as a tree, and they tend to overlook what it is that the nature of a big tree really demands.

Many of the valuable trees on the Department of Agriculture and Forestry's (D.A.F.) list have actually had incense platforms placed in their hollows and suffered their warm smoke for long periods of time. Temples also use their trunks as supports for buildings, restricting the spread of such trees, while concrete troughs squeeze their roots so tightly that their root systems are put under pressure. Concrete recreation grounds go right up to their edges, leading to effects such as the prevention of permeation by the natural source of water.

An example is the Matsu temple at Tachia. Although the temple is very well known, there are a number of big trees that cannot move, because they are stuck between the buildings. They do not really seem to fit in with the pitchers full of incense and the rainbow atmosphere.

In Nantou County's Sacred Tree Village there is a camphor tree that is more than five meters across and nearly 1,500 years old. As the faithful are not very careful when they seek divine guidance there, the tree has been scorched by incense. Because this tree is located in a plains village, the national parks, the forestry department at Taiwan University, the Forestry Administration for the Chiayi area, and the Nantou County Council have all denied that it falls within their scope of management, and they accept the burning without extending a helping hand. This led one concerned researcher to even try telling the villagers: "The place of birth recorded on your birth certificates is Sacred Tree Village. If you burn down the tree, the village name will be changed to Charcoal Village."

Tali's revered tree some three years ago, before its temple was built. One reason for the survival of many old trees down to today is that the local land god will not "leave his wife," and the tree becomes the center for village beliefs. （photo by Vincent Chang）

Raising trees as temples:

The ancient sage Chuang Tzu tells the story of the Duke of Lu, who tried to raise birds by holding a banquet, playing beautiful music and preparing sacrificial animals for them. But the birds remained wary and disturbed at heart, not daring to eat or drink. They died after three days.

This was a case of trying to raise birds using methods meant for human beings, rather than letting them roost in the deep forest or following their own habits. You can only raise birds if you use the methods they require; otherwise you go against their nature.

Yet today people grow trees as temples. Although this allows the trees to survive, it also causes them damage. "But keeping the tree is the first step," says Lo Hua-juan, senior specialist in the conservation branch of the D.A.F. 's technical laboratory. The priority at the moment is protecting trees of more than a hundred years old. If this resource is preserved first, later it can be channeled into other areas and the trees can be given a wider space for living.

The old trees are still waiting for the day when devotees will treat a tree as a tree!

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The Tali Tree King Temple has become a meeting place for the elderly of Tree King Village. Now that the old tree has the old people's company, they too have a focus for their spirits.

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Tali's revered tree some three years ago, before its temple was built. One reason for the survival of many old trees down to today is that the local land god will not "leave his wife," and the tree becomes the center for village beliefs. (photo by Vincent Chang)