Taiwan Indigenous News

Friday, 20 February 2009

TB Treatment Delays In Taiwan
It should also be noted that the mortality rate and incidence of TB are much greater in aboriginal communities in Taiwan than in non-aboriginal areas. ...

Taiwan's indigenous population up 2.05 percent
MOI officials said the increase was about six times that of the 0.34 percent rate of growth of Taiwan's overall population. Taiwan's indigenous people were ...

Not the same old song and dance
He aims to present a more authentic picture of Aboriginal performing arts and culture. “I want our customers to see the performances in their most original ...

President pushes to boost tourism in Taiwan's indigenous areas
8 (CNA) Concerned over the development of tourism in Taiwan's indigenous areas, President Ma Ying-jeou asked government agencies Sunday to work with travel ...

The Thao

Myth and Celebration

1. Thao Animist Worship
   Animist concepts are at the core of the Thaos’ religious beliefs. The Thao believe that everything in nature is governed by spirits pervading the entire cosmos. These spirits control a person’s life, and even the fate of the entire tribe. Therefore, if one wishes to prosper and lead an undisturbed life, it is vital to revere and worship these spirits.
2. Sorceresses (Female Shamans)
   The Thao believe that their sorceresses, or female shamans, can communicate with the spirits, particularly the protective deities. At any of the seasonal ceremonies and festivities, the entire tribe will pray to the gods with a pure heart, asking for blessings and protection, for sufficient food and clothing and healthy lives. The medium for channeling these wishes is the female shaman, who conveys the tribe’s prayers to the gods in an elaborate ritual.
3. Ulalaluwan (Cradle of the Souls)
   The Ulalaluwan worship is one of the most important customs that sets the Thao apart from all other indigenous peoples in Taiwan. A female shaman known as Shinshi is in charge of conducting Ulalaluwan rituals.
   The Ulalaluwan belief entails keeping the ancestors’ clothes in a special basket, or “cradle”, which is revered and worshipped by living descendants. Every family has a Ulalaluwan in their home.
4. Bumper Harvest Festival
   The celebration of the Thao Bumper Harvest Festival happens to coincide with the Han-Chinese Mid-Autumn (or Moon) Festival. The Thaos’ traditional New Year Celebrations are full of human warmth and antiquity. In the past, there was no fixed date for the Bumper Harvest Festival, but now it is set on the first day of August according to the lunar calendar. It is the single most important Thao festival of the year. In an ancient ceremony, the tribe recalls the protection and blessings of the gods, thanking them for a good harvest, as well as a rich catch of fish and successful hunting.