Jietoufen Giant Tree

Hello! We are "Yilan Memory Lane" project team. (designed as the graduation project by 3 international students from ITM class 2018, TKU)
We created an original walking route with scenic spots along Yilan's mountain side. Since 結頭彬大樹公 is one of the locations on our route, we would like to share the English information about the place with international travelers!

● General Information
Due to being situated next to a road where vehicles (and trash trucks) frequently pass by, tourists might walk past this tree without realizing that it is a major attraction of Jietoufen Village.
Because it is so old, there are many stories surrounding this tree that will make you feel entertained while traveling around this area. There is no need to spend a long
time at the tree, however, it can easily be included as a special attraction of your day-trip to Yuanshan. Who knows, this ancient tree might even become one of your favorite sights along Yilan's mountains.
Regarded as one of the oldest and arguably the most culturally significant tree in Lanyang, this 1000-year-old Bishop Wood (Bischofia javanica) plays a crucial role as Jietoufen's community center and beloved place of worship. Now, we'd like to share the full story of Jietoufen Giant Tree with you which is heartwarming and sad at the same time.

● How The Tree Became Jietoufen's Protector
Albeit fascinating, Taiwanese Opera is not the only factor that makes this tree so memorable.
In the past, two confrontations happened in the area during which Atayal aboriginal hunters came to the village on ritual killing sprees. To meet the need for self-protection,the villagers built an observation deck onto the tree that served as a station on which four to five guards overlooked the village each night.
Quicklime was stored inside the hut which was used as a weapon to effectively hurt the enemies' eyesight during confrontations. To make sure that everyone stays safe, the guards alerted the locals of incoming danger by hitting the gongs attached to the station.
Jietoufen Giant Tree has always been a protector as we can see and it's special status is furthermore reinforced by the fact that it was used as a parking lot for aircraft during WWII.

● Facilities
A shrine under the tree has been built as a nod to the tree spirit, where villagers pray for good health and blessings whenever their loved ones fall sick or when a new child is born.
A big part of the trunk can also be seen inside a display to remember its original 14m tall and 9.4m wide glory. According to government
sources, it took an average of seven people at once to surround it, whereas today, the size of the tree is diminished significantly. In fact, the tree that we see now is considered "second-generation wood" (⼆代⽊) that has been planted on top of the surviving trunk.

● Our Advice
Feel free to talk to the tree when you are in Jietoufen and share your blessings, so that it can survive for many more centuries and protect the area.
You can buy local soy sauce in this village which is brewed using ancient methods passed down from one generation to the next!

雄偉的一棵大樹，根據解說牌上的記載，1987年亞力士颱風來襲，原本高四、五層樓的大樹，被攔腰折斷，如果當初沒有被折斷，現在看到的大樹公應該會更高更大。

位於在宜蘭縣員山鄉境內有棵老茄苳樹，已經有三百年的歷史，被當地稱為「大樹公」，相傳在一百多年前有位名叫歐來助的人，曾在這裡教唱「歌仔」，從此臺灣歌仔戲就開始流傳盛行

宜蘭結頭份大樹公 ，好大的一棵茄苳樹 也被列為保護級的老樹珍貴老樹 。其實最重要的他是宜蘭或者是台灣歌仔戲主要的發源地， 見證台灣歌仔戲的 發展與演進也讓歌仔戲成為台灣主要的特色戲曲 有台灣味的戲劇 。
好幾年前就曾經帶著喜愛歌仔戲的小女兒來這裡朝聖 ，也讓女兒即使是非科班出身也一路看戲 學戲然後實際參與演戲而成為專業的演員。
十多年後再度經過這裡 也算是專程繞進來再度朝聖拍照留念也衷心期待 台灣歌仔戲的發源地能夠獲得重視與保存更希望台灣人能夠真正 把歌仔戲向海內外推廣成為 世界上重要的 戲曲之一。

文化資產巡禮

從小在這邊長大，記得小時候媽媽都會帶我來拜大樹公，說是認大樹公當乾爹～好久沒去走走看看了

不錯的好地方。

聽說烏木劍的位置在339_ebony_sword

這個老地方是我從小爬樹生長的地方，有很多童年的回憶。

本地歌仔發源地、社區協力傳承歌仔文化

很棒

很有古意，雖然腹地略小，但卻很值得保留。

靈驗有求必應心要誠懇

覺得很有神氣，個人認為啦

有文化懷古的味道。

這裡是歌仔戲的發源地

結頭份的地標--壯觀的大樹公

是個歷史地呢！

是歌仔戲發源地

天然湧泉湖洦