台灣西南沿海是早期漢族祖先移民及入墾的地區，至今許多西南沿海聚落仍保存有傳統聚落的地方產業與民間信仰，並在其獨特之自然環境與人文因素影響之下，自成一格。 本研究以雲林縣水林鄉水燦林聚落（水南村、水北村）為研究對象，透過文獻蒐集、田野調查、訪談等方式對水燦林聚落的聚落發展及其生活方式做一初步的了解。水燦林聚落生活中的主要信仰為「通天府」及「龍寶殿」，其祭祀的主神分別為溫府千歲、項府元帥。通天府溫府千歲、龍寶殿項府元帥再加上五年千歲即為水燦林聚落中的「王爺」信仰。通天府溫府千歲來台時間約於明末崇禎八年（西元1635年）來台約372年，創建年代民國三十七年（西元1948年），地點在水北村；龍寶殿項府元帥來台時間約於清高宗乾隆四十五年（西元1780年），來台約327年，創建年代民國六十九年（西元1980年）、地點在水南村，均為水燦林聚落的守護神。 水燦林聚落的地方產業－甘藷為其主要農業景觀，經由作物栽培的分佈情形與產業活動－「水林甘藷節」，可以看出「甘藷」在當地的重要。據當地耆老表示顏思齊在水林顏厝寮築寨，當時物資缺乏就是以蕃薯做為糧食來從事開墾，可見甘藷在水燦林已有四百年的歷史，而每年種植的面積高達650公頃，是全國蕃薯最大的生產地，可說是「蕃薯的原鄉~水林」。 從過去的產業消長變化可以想見未來甘蔗的種植將走入歷史，其種植的土地將由玉米、花生等雜糧所取代。稻米必須走向精緻化，而甘藷也需要發展其附加價值才足以在WTO的衝擊下永續生存。 The south western coast of Taiwan is the area where the earliest Han immigrants resided. Up to now many southwest coast communities still kept traditional products and religion. Owing to the unique natural environment and cultural atmosphere, the people there build their own identity. This study focus on Shuielin Settlement in Shuielin township of Yunlin County (Shui Nan、Shui Bei village). Through paper researches and interviews based on Rural Geography Basics, the investigation toward the development and life style of Shui Lin Settlement is conducted. The religious centers of Shui Lin Settlement are “Tong Tian” temple and “Long Bao” temple. These 2 temples offers sacrifice mainly to Wen Fu Qian Sui and Xiang Fu Yuan Shuo. The worship for Wen Fu Qian Sui has been passed from Mainland China to Taiwan for 372 years, and the “Tong Tian” temple was established at 1948 A.D., located at Shui Bei village. Also, It’s been 327 years for “Long Bao” temple and Xiang Fu Yuan Shuo (1980 A.D.), located at Shui Nan village. They are the patron saints of Shui Lin Settlement. Shuielin Settlement’s main products ＂Sweet Potato＂ represents the particular agriculture landscape for this region. Planting sweep potato in Suielin Settlement has been 400 years and the total cultivated area for sweet potato reaches 650 hectares in current days. No matter the total production volume or the popularity of “ Shui Lin sweet potato festival ”, it all goes with saying “Shuielin tonship, the origin county of Sweet potatos”. Learning from past experience, Taiwan’s joining WTO will soon turn sugar cane a history and need to utilize the land for the corn or peanut instead. To survive the impact of, it’s necessary to find the value added solution for sweep potato agriculture in order to create the everlasting agricultural business.
