曾文溪下游傳統洪災地景之形塑與變遷意涵的探討

Abstract

臺灣氣候降雨集中、地形陡峭且地質脆弱，強降雨引發之山洪經常挾帶大量土砂，主要河流下游地區早期多有洪患，民間也因此衍生出水信仰儀式、鎮溪厭勝物設置、俗諺與傳說等，並且延續至今。這些外顯行為是臺灣傳統漢人社會與自然環境極端事件之間互動的產物，其中曾文溪下游的洪氾信仰更已有豐富研究，並已納入經濟部水利署曾文溪流域整體改善與調適規劃之水文化資產的範疇中，但尚未釐清此類景物存續的影響因素，及相關的歷史洪災經歷如何被後代居民記憶與傳遞。因此，本研究以地方記憶地理學的研究觀點，結合永續性洪災記憶工作的概念，以曾文溪下游歷史河道擺移劇烈的河段及其周圍行政區為研究區域，探討傳統洪災地景的空間分布與變遷特性，分析洪災記憶如何出現與持續，再進一步探討洪災記憶的變遷與當代洪災識覺的關聯性。本研究透過空間分析，繪製曾文溪下游傳統洪災地景分布圖，顯示拜溪儀式、鎮水厭勝物等洪災地景與曾文溪歷史河道分布密切相關。當深入訪談地方宗教組織與社區組織成員，分析當地洪災記憶與洪氾信仰的出現、持續、增強、消失的環境與社會因素，則發現臺灣漢人傳統民間信仰作為普化的宗教之特性，歷史洪災經由深受傳統信仰影響的社會建構，百年前先民的洪災經歷紀念化、物質化為永續性的洪災記憶，並且超越了兩代以上的傳遞，傳統民間信仰在其中扮演了重要角色。流傳百年的洪災記憶因為居民參與聚落信仰公事的目的不再，導致記憶傳承中斷而消失，但同時也因為個人自身的災害經歷、外界關注度提高與學術界研究而被增強。回應至曾文溪流域的災害調適規劃，聚落集體性的拜溪儀式持續舉行，除了居民情感的維繫之外，亦可持續記憶曾文溪與聚落的關係，有助於歷史洪災記憶持續留存，增進社區防災的社會資本。而對曾文溪曾經改道區域的空間分析與視覺化呈現，應將有助於提升當地居民對於大規模、長週期之颱洪事件的存在識覺與再發生識覺。漢人移民後代在臺灣定居多已逾百年，長期與自然環境互動下，從原鄉移殖而來的傳統文化早已在臺灣的氾濫平原調適出與自然共存的生活方式。根據曾文溪下游三個聚落，其洪災記憶流傳與宗教信仰緊密關聯，可見宗教信仰於曾文溪下游傳統漢人聚落的重要，亦是防洪意識保存和傳播的重要途徑。Taiwan island, characterized by intensive rainfalls and fragile geological and geomorphic conditions, has been under the threat of flooding disasters especially in the low-lying areas along major rivers. The lower Zengwun River had suffered from flash floods and channel shifts since Qing Dynasty, and led to the development of water-related religious rituals, talisman and the transmission of folk sayings and legends. These cultural landscapes embody the interaction between traditional Han Chinese society in Taiwan and extreme natural events. While efforts have been made to incorporate these flood-related landscapes into the Planning for Comprehensive Improvement and Adaptation of Zengwun River Basin, reasons for the persistence and transmission of such flood memories remain unclear. This study, employing geography of placemories and sustainable flood memory concept, examines traditional floodscape’s spatial distribution and change in the lower Zengwun River, analyzes the emergence of flood memory, and explores its implication to strengthen the hazard perception of local inhabitants regarding extreme flood events.Spatial analysis demonstrates a close correlation between traditional floodscapes and the historical Zengwun river channels. Interviews with local inhabitants reveal the environmental and social factors which has shaped flood memory persistence. Traditional Han Chinese folk beliefs, deeply ingrained, have transformed centuries-old flood experiences into sustainable memories and transmitted across several generations. Even though the flood memory has gradually faded due to the decrease in community participation in rituals, it seems, at the same time, it is being strengthened because of personal experiences and attention from the academia.Collective river worship which has been continued in three settlements along the lower Zengwun River not only maintains emotional ties among local people but also preserves the Zengwun River-community relationship and in turn may increase their social capital of disaster prevention. Descendants of Han Chinese immigrants have adapted traditional culture to coexist with nature in the low-lying floodplains in Taiwan. The flood memories closely intertwined with religious beliefs may serve as a way to raise flood prevention awareness in an increasingly risky society.