Did you know that amid the hustle and bustle of Taipei’s Daan District, you can get a glimpse into the city’s historic irrigation system and appreciate the variety of aquatic life in its vicinity? Although much of the Liugong Canal瑠公圳) was covered as Taiwan transitioned away from being an agricultural society, some segments were preserved and reconstructed on and around National Taiwan University’s (NTU) campus. These offer us a window into Taiwan’s past and the ways in which this land has nurtured generations.
Liugong Pool (瑠公池)
The Liugong Canal once meandered through what is now the NTU campus. As part of its reconstruction project, an artificial pool was created adjacent to Zhoushan Road has since become a thriving habitat for plants and wildlife. In this rare opportunity to connect with nature in an urban setting if you look closely, you might spot kingfishers flitting about, nightherons perched in bald cypress trees, or red-eared turtles basking on rocks between the reeds.
Photo: Bookman 圖片 : Bookman
Liugongzun Memorial Stele (瑠公圳原址碑)
A memorial stele was erected alongside Xinsheng S. Road in commemoration of the original Liugong Canal. However, later research revealed that this site is actually the former location of the Wulixue Canal (霧裡薛圳), sparking debate on the history of Taipei’s irrigation system.
During the Qing era, Chinese immigrants arrived in Taiwan to cultivate farmland, but their progress was hindered by ack of water. Guo Xiliu (郭錫瑠), one of these immigrants, worked tirelessly to secure a water source by constructing a canal, which was later named Liugong Canal in his honor. Despite numerous challenges, he succeeded in channeling water from the Xindian River to central Taipei, ultimately irrigating over 2,000 hectares of farmland.
Xun-Ji and Wulixue Canal Reconstruction Area (洵跡、霧裡薛圳景觀區)
On the west side of Xinsheng South Road, you’ll find two reconstructed sites dedicated to the Wulixue Canal. The Xun-Ji heritage site displays artifacts used in early canal construction, including gabions that fortified shorelines and modified ceramic water urns functioning as primitive concrete conduits.
These exhibits showcase the ingenuity of earlier generations, who overcame hardships with limited resources. In the Wulixue Canal Reconstruction Area, a small canal winds through the Wenzhou Street neighborhood.
The Wulixue Canal flowed through the Guting and Wanhua areas of Taipei and converged with the Liugong Canal in Daan District. During the Japanese colonial period, they were consolidated into the Liugongzun Irrigation System, which sparked controversy about their respective origins. Come and drink in the essence of the Liugong Canal. This restored area not only adds freshness to the city landscape, but also reminds us of the resilience and resourcefulness of past inhabitants, and how nature connects us throughout history.
(English drafted by Lorraine McShea、Kyle Rice、王裕忠、彭心玗 / Revised by Ann-Marie Hadzima & Jerome Su)
瑠公池（台大生態池）
台北曾經是半鹹水湖及沼澤溼地，所以台大校園至今仍可看到許多水濱植物；諸如水柳Warburg Willow、水黃皮Pongame Oiltree、穗花棋盤腳Powder-puff Tree、欖仁樹Indian Almond等。瑠公池（台大生態池），位於舟山路台大生命科學館左方的農場旁，是臺大瑠公圳復原計畫的第一期工程，於2003年11月完成，並栽植數十種水生植物於水源池中及周遭，水源主要來自隔壁地下水層較高的生科館及臺大農場的地下水井。
公圳（ㄗㄨㄣˋ）
*(以下瑠公圳之介紹係根據網路資料濃縮整理)1736年（乾隆元年）郭錫瑠先生從彰化北上，在現台北松山中崙（興雅庄）一帶開墾。由於當時附近柴頭埤（現信義區靠山邊一帶）淤積，無法灌溉大部份的農田。郭錫瑠眼看大片土地因缺水無法種水稻，覺得非常可惜，便決心尋找新水源。他到附近沿溪探勘，發現新店溪上游青潭附近水源豐沛，河床又高，認為只要沿新店溪畔開鑿水圳，經大坪林、景美等地區，就可以解決台北盆地的灌溉問題。
但要順利將水引入興雅庄內，最大的困難就在於如何將圳水引過90多公尺寬的景美（霧裡薛）溪。
郭錫瑠設計一種木製引水槽，架在溪上，引圳水過溪，這種引水槽稱為「木梘」(景美的台語叫「梘尾」，就是木梘的那一頭)。自從有了木梘之後，民眾就走木梘來代替坐船渡河，因此沒幾年，木梘就損毀無法使用。於是郭錫瑠想辦法解決，他訂購大批水缸，將水缸去底接成管線，引圳水過景美溪，才恢復供水。瑠公圳灌溉的農田從大坪林、景美，直到台北市地區，將近兩千多頃。瑠公圳的大安支線一部分經過臺大農場、舟山路、小椰林道及醉月湖。
★ 註：圳 ㄗㄨㄣ ˋ，指灌溉用的水渠。如：「瑠公圳」、「嘉南大圳」；圳 ㄓㄣ ˋ，指田野間的水溝。如：「深圳」。
引起爭議的新生南路三段 瑠公圳原址碑
在新生南路三段台大校門附近，有一「瑠公圳遺原址」石碑，記載郭錫瑠開拓圳道歷史。新生南路在日治初期有一段人工挖掘的堀川，沿新生南路經霧裡薛圳支圳，到新生北路大排水系統，但與瑠公圳有一些距離。
日治時代將水圳管理由民營改為公營，名稱也合併為「瑠公水利組合」，因此後人一碰到台北圳道，都叫瑠公圳。
台灣師範大學地理系洪致文教授指出，目前台大側門立的「瑠公圳原址」碑，比對古地圖應為清朝「霧裡薛圳」舊址，而非「瑠公圳」。
霧裡薛圳遺址（1907年後為?公圳第二幹線）
霧裡圳開發比瑠公圳更早(約1735年)，取景美溪水，穿越景興路，景後街到景美國中，公館蟾蜍山，在1735年到1908年之間，霧裡圳與瑠公圳並存。瑠公圳在羅斯福路四段119巷向東走，霧裡薛圳是向北走，灌溉古亭、艋舺、大同區一帶。(1908 年以後稱瑠公圳西幹線) 霧裡薛圳在羅斯福路四段12 巷附近，經羅斯福路三段，到302號附近穿越羅斯福路，流向新生南路三段的溫州街。
洵跡（霧裡薛圳遺址）
在新生南路三段58號的一處景觀區，取名洵跡。主要係呈現霧裡薛圳、瑠公圳在公館、台大附近昔日灌溉系統的足跡，展示古代生態工法維護圳道的石籠。圳道涵洞所用的水缸，如同現代水泥管。
A. 園中植物：朱槿Hibiscus、藍星花Shaggy Dwarf Morningglory、金英花Golden Thryallis、桔梗蘭 Common Dianella、天門冬 Chinese Asparagus。
B. 周遭自生植物：虎葛/烏歛莓/五爪龍Japanese Cayratia Herb、霧水葛Pouzolzia、三角葉西番蓮Corkystem Passionflower、五蕊油柑Mascarene Island Leaf-flower、瑪瑙Twoleaf Nightshade、珊瑚珠Pigeonberry/Rougeplant。
霧裡薛圳 -- 九汴頭
汴頭是指圳溝分水用的閘門，九汴頭的「九」是指好多個，不一定是九個，就像九層塔不一定有九層花序，九孔不一定是九個孔。
在新生南路三段54巷底，霧裡薛圳在此分為幾條支線。東線穿越台大體育館，灌溉復興南路線；中線為主線，向北通向中山區；西線沿羅斯福路通到艋舺。
霧裡薛圳景觀區（大學里）
在九汴頭後方，溫州街49巷內，有一處霧裡薛圳景觀復原區，圳水清澈，水中不少游魚及巴西龜。植物有柳樹Weeping Willow、桑Mulberry、文珠蘭Poison Bulb、桃金孃Myrtle、姑婆芋Giant Elephant’s Ear、流蘇Chinese Fringe Tree、構樹Paper Mulberry、蔓馬櫻丹 Climbing Lantana、番石榴 Guava 等。
周遭還有麵包樹Breadfruit、龍眼Longan、木瓜Papaya、福木Fukugi Tree、楊梅Chinese Bayberry、楓香Sweet Gum等。
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www.bookman.com.tw
蘇正隆 — 台灣翻譯學學會前理事長、師大翻譯研究所兼任副教授; 編著《走讀自然.花言樹語》，《英語的對與錯》，《世紀病毒：必讀防疫英文知識與詞彙》...等。國家教育研究院中英雙語詞彙審議委員；研究領域為翻譯、術語及詞典編譯，從事植物與人文導覽數十年，亦曾應邀遠赴國外大學做植物人文導覽。
A: It’s a pity that I can’t go to Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue’s concert. B: Why not? A: Hit Japanese singer Kenshi Yonezu is staging two shows at the Taipei Arena this weekend, and I already bought tickets long ago. B: Wow, isn’t he one of the most popular Japanese singers in recent years? A: And Yonezu’s megahit “Lemon” topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100’s year-end chart in 2018 and 2019 consecutively. A: 我不能去澳洲歌后凱莉米諾的演唱會真可惜。 B: 為什麼？ A: 日本人氣歌手米津玄師週末將在小巨蛋熱唱兩場，我早早就買票啦。 B: 哇他可是日本近年來最紅的歌手之一。 A: 米津的神曲《Lemon》甚至還在2018、2019年連續稱霸告示牌日本單曲榜年度冠軍！ (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪)
A: Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue is set to visit Taiwan for the third time on Saturday. B: I remember that her Taipei concerts in 2008 and 2011 caused a sensation, and I love her megahit “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” A: This will be her first time performing in the southern city of Kaohsiung. B: Many music critics praise Kylie’s show as “a must-see in your lifetime.” A: Let’s go to Kaohsiung this weekend. A: 澳洲歌后凱莉米諾週六即將三度訪台。 B: 她曾在2008、2011年兩度在台北開唱都造成大轟動，我超愛她的神曲《Can’t Get You Out of My Head》。 A: 這次可是她首度唱進南台灣的高雄呢。 B: 許多樂評家說她的演唱會是「此生必看」！ A: 那我們週末去高雄吧。 （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
The Lemon Festival is a fun annual celebration in Menton, France. This festival began in 1934 and honors the region’s exceptional lemons. __1__ in February during the lemon season, the festival features beautiful floats and sculptures covered with dazzling lemons and oranges. These citrus creations are on display in the bright sunshine throughout the day, while at night, they are lit up and turn the town into a __2__ spectacle. The festival’s origins can be traced back to the late 19th century, when Menton was a major lemon producer. __3__, hotels would decorate their spaces with lemons and oranges
中國海關總署突然發布通知，指台灣輸入的釋迦及蓮霧檢出介殼蟲「大洋臀紋粉蚧」，決定暫停輸入。 In September 2021, China’s customs administration announced that it would suspend imports of sweetsop and jambu from Taiwan, citing discoveries of Planococcus minor, a type of mealybug. 蓮霧 (jambu/champoo, Syzygium samarangense) ，又名洋蒲桃，是桃金孃科熱帶水果，原產於印尼和馬來西亞，在星、馬稱作水蓊，中、港、澳稱作天桃。 蓮霧學名中的種小名 samarangense，係因模式標本採自印尼的Semarang (三寶瓏) 而得名。 蓮霧馬來語稱為 jambu air，第二個字 air讀作 /?a??(r)/，是水的意思，荷蘭人從印尼引進台灣，台語音譯為蓮霧 ian-b?。 以往蓮霧常見譯為 wax apple，聽起來好像素描靜物用的蠟製水果 (Wax Fruit)，曾有人問美國朋友要不要吃蓮霧? Care for a wax apple? 對方回一句：Why not a real one? 近來美國市場流行泰語的講法 champoo。蓮霧果實長得像鈴鐺，因此又稱為 bell-fruit。 Syzygium samarangense is a tropical fruit in the family Myrtaceae, native to the Greater Sunda Islands and the Malay Peninsula. Common names in English include champoo, jambu, bell fruit, rose apple, Java apple, and wax apple. In Taiwan, the dark red cultivars are nicknamed “Black
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