Zhunan Snake Kiln Ancient Kiln Eco-Museum

Upon hearing "snake kiln" (蛇窯), one might easily associate it with snakes and mistakenly assume its shape is winding. However, a snake kiln is actually long and narrow, without internal divisions. It was a common type of kiln found throughout Taiwan in early times, used for firing daily pottery. Due to the difficulty in preservation, very few snake kilns remain in Taiwan today. The Zhunan Snake Kiln was established in 1972. When first built, it was 23 meters long, and currently, only 17 meters remain. Nevertheless, it is one of the few well-preserved snake kilns in Taiwan and can still be used for firing products today. Consequently, in 2001, it was selected as one of the "Top 100 National Historic Buildings" by the Council for Cultural Affairs (now the Ministry of Culture) and was also registered as a historic building in Miaoli County, underscoring its immense value. Despite its traditional architecture, the operating philosophy of the Zhunan Snake Kiln is far from traditional. It integrates innovative concepts into ancient pottery-making and firing techniques, transforming the kiln's role from purely firing pottery to promoting traditional ceramic culture. Beyond dedicating himself to teaching and producing traditional pottery, the kiln master also periodically holds pottery exhibitions, diligently promoting ceramic art. This approach not only preserves traditional craftsmanship but also achieves remarkable expressions in modern art. With this new spirit injected, it is foreseeable that the legacy of pottery kiln techniques will not die out but will be sustainably passed down.