Brussels’ Manneken-Pis, an iconic statue of a peeing child, was adorned in traditional Hakka attire March 7 as part of a cultural promotion event, underscoring the friendship between Taiwan and Belgium, according to the Cabinet-level Hakka Affairs Council.
The HAC said the occasion was designed to enhance Taiwan’s profile in Belgium, raise awareness of Hakka culture and foster enhanced exchanges between the two sides.
Commissioned by the council, the clothing was designed by Shih Chien University Department of Fashion Design professor Yeh Le-chang. Its dark blue cloth was decorated with traditional Hakka patterns and paired with shoes bearing floral motifs, which symbolize the pragmatism and strong work ethic of the Hakka people, the HAC said.
Head of the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium Tseng Ho-jen gifted the costume on behalf of Taiwan at a ceremony. Students from Nei Pu Elementary School in southern Taiwan’s Pingtung County performed songs and dances while dressed in traditional Hakka wear and carrying oil paper umbrellas and lanterns.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Tseng thanked the city of Brussels and spoke about the history of the Hakka people and how they helped shape Taiwan society. “There are about 4.5 million residents in Taiwan who are of Hakka origin, making up about 20 percent of the total population,” he said.
Brussels is a truly international city, Tseng said. This is not simply due to its status as home to both EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters, but also because its people embrace cultural diversity, he added.
The event was hosted by Karine Lalieux, Brussel’s alderwoman for culture, and attended by Belgian officials as well as members of the Order of Friends of Manneken-Pis, who review hundreds of designs submitted each year and select a small number to dress the city’s most famous icon.
The costume is scheduled to be displayed at the Brussels City Museum, which has around 1,000 outfits that have adorned the statue. (KWS-E)
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