Today we visited Professor Chen’s brother in-laws printing company, Hong Jaan Printing Co. This was a particularly insightful experience because we clearly saw the connection between business and religion. One of the first things Professor Young pointed out upon arriving was the God Shelf. On the shelf, there were different types of incense as well as a photo of the god who is often called “earth god” or “real estate god.” This god is believed to bring wealth to businesses. The owner explained how on the 2nd and 16th of every month, they prepare offerings including fruit, spiritual money, and incense to offer the god. In December, they prepare a special offering which consists of meats like chicken, fish, and pork. One aspect of this practice that Professor Young mentioned is that they used to burn the paper money, but now, due to environmental concerns, it is just left as an offering and not burned. This is an example of how religion has evolved to merge with modern beliefs like environmental concerns. Another Hong Jaan merges with religion in Taiwan is that they occasionally print papers and signs for local temples, which we saw as an example of today.
Another aspect of today that I thought was very interesting was how the owner mentioned that their number of workers has decreased due to increased capabilities of technology and machinery. Not only has their staffing changed due to increased technology, but the items they print have also changed. As books and textbooks have become more accessible online, the demand for printed versions has decreased. Over the past decade, many things that used to not be digitized have become available online, which makes me question the long-term viability of printing businesses.
Taiwan and Hong Kong are the two major customers of Hong Jaan Printing Co., which again emphasizes the importance for trading partners and how heightened tensions with China threaten these benefits of global trade.
After our visit to Hong Jaan, we went to Dihua Street, where we were able to shop and eat. I really enjoyed seeing these shops, particularly the food stands. I was intrigued about the different foods that they sold, including the large varieties of dried fruit and fish. I was able to get a few souvenirs that consisted of tea, soap, and dried mangos.
