多元與一體的辯證：台灣環島活動之文化意涵

Abstract

近年來台灣環島活動蔚為風潮，包括單車環島、徒步環島、溜冰環島、獨木舟環島、帆船環島、飛行環島等等。有人以環島關懷土地家園，有人以環島挑戰自我，有人則藉環島表達訴求、展現決心。有鑑於此，本文以歷年來之環島活動為研究對象，探討其中之文化意涵，並將其概略區分為「生產性」、「觀光性」與「挑戰性」三種類型：「生產性環島」乃是基於工作業務之需所進行，包括調查、探勘、巡視、宣導等，往往是外來者意圖認識台灣、掌控台灣的第一步，也是環島活動最初之樣貌；「觀光性環島」盛行於工商業高度發展之時，可視為大眾文化之一環；「挑戰性環島」則往往是就大眾文化之弊端所做的檢討與修正，強調個人心智的成長及人與土地的互動。這些環島類型雖可倂存於各個時代，但其發展趨勢大致是由生產性過渡至觀光性、挑戰性，並由嚴肅轉為休閒，由官方落入民間，進而成為全台普及之活動。此外，環島乃是人們在台灣島上的旅行與移動，涉及疆域的跨越、資訊的交流與文化的互動，因此一部環島文化史見證了台灣人地關係的轉變，也記錄了台灣一路由「他者／客體」到「自我／主體」的蛻變過程。最後透過島內本身的跨界現象，提出「多元／一體」的辯證角度，為「多元主體」或「多元共同體」的實踐提供些許反思與建議，豐富台灣主體論述的內涵。More and more people are now taking tours around Taiwan, whether by foot, by bicycle, by roller skate, by canoe, by boat, or by plane…etc. It’s worth noticing that some takes it as a way to understand more about the homeland, some takes it as a life’s dream and challenge, while others circle the island declaring their determination to start a new life, to advocate love and peace, to fight for human rights and even against the nuclear power plant! As a result, this thesis focuses on the journeys and voyages around Taiwan, both during the past few centuries and the present time, in order to figure out the cultural meaning of travelling around Taiwan. According to different motives, the journeys around Taiwan can be divided into three types: productive ones, tourist ones and challenging ones. Productive ones, related to political, commercial and martial affairs such as investigation, inspection, and advertising, are always the first step taken by foreign powers to seize and even to take over Taiwan. Tourist ones come along with the blossom of economy, and therefore can be taken as a part of mass / popular culture. Challenging ones care more about travelers’ spiritual improvement and their interactions with nature. These travels of different types may exist at the same time, but actually with a tendency from productivity to tourism or challenge, from official business to popular recreation. Moreover, travel may be contributive for barrier breaking, information exchange, and cultural communication; therefore, we can tell from those journeys people’s relationship with nature, and even find out the process Taiwan changing from a passive “Object” to an active “Subject.” Finally comes the dialectical discuss of “diversity and unity,” along with the idea of “diversified community,” with which hopefully to enrich and modify today’s discourse of Taiwan Identity.