How can you earn your first brick in life?

In an era before reinforced concrete had even appeared, "building a house" seemed to be a major undertaking that mobilized human labor: obtaining raw materials, preparing building supplies, and everyone from adults to children played an important role in it, all for the sake of completing, over a long construction period, a home that was warm in winter and cool in summer. Times have changed, and "building a house" has evolved into a three-way contest among the homeowner, the developer and the bank. The homeowner's feelings toward the new house are still intense, but their depth is much thinner, and perhaps this is where we should start, with a single brick.

Of course, this breathing earth-brick house is not exclusive to farming households. Around the Dragon Boat Festival each year, the earth-brick house takes in new residents: the blue-banded bee, which belongs to the stingless bees, has long lived alongside the owner of the earth-brick house in this dwelling, treating each other with respect. In addition, creatures such as lizards and spiders also lodge in the pores of the earth-house bricks. This dwelling is not only a shelter from wind and rain for farmers, but also proof of the coexistence and mutual prosperity between humans and nature. The "satoyama" of Gongliao is quietly unfolding on the wall.

[Note 1] For more on the use of stone, please refer to"The Story of StoneAgricultural Applications"