Taiwan
Fun Magazine, December 2002
 |
Discovering
Taiwan's indigenous culture in the heart of Taipei
By Cheryl Robbins / Translated by
Sam Chien
|
About 6,000 years ago, Taiwan's first inhabitants arrived,
most likely from the southeast of China. These aboriginal
tribes, now distributed mainly among Taiwan's mountainous
areas and along the East Coast, have for many years struggled
to prevent the disappearance of their languages and traditions.
Today, due to government intervention and education, there
is increasing interest in Taiwan's aboriginal culture. For
those wanting to learn about the island's Aborigines, a
good place to start is the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines
in Taipei.
Shung Ye was founded in 1994, and is the first museum
in Taiwan devoted to the island's Aborigines. In the
museum's entrance area, interactive computer programs
provide basic information about the native people
in Chinese, Japanese and English. There are also life-size
photographs of Aborigines taken more than 50 years,
which are contrasted with what Aborigines look like
today.
The second floor features miniature and life-sized
models of aboriginal dwellings and a village meeting
hall. Also on display are pottery, baskets, hunting
weapons and musical instruments. The third floor includes
aboriginal costumes and ornaments, while the basement
area describes aboriginal belief systems. A theater
shows films that introduce various aspects of aboriginal
culture such as weaving, pottery, songs and dances.
Most of the exhibitions and films are in English and
Chinese.
|
 |
The basement also contains a special exhibition area. Every
year, the museum works with an aboriginal village to organize
a special exhibition. The current special exhibition, called
"Tau Under the Camera," runs until January 19,
2003, and focuses on the Tau tribe that inhabits Lanyu (Orchid
Island).
Orchid Island is only 36 kilometers long, and the Tau have
a close relationship with the sea. They are the only Taiwanese
aboriginal tribe to build seafaring canoes. Tau canoes are
made of several pieces of wood cut so as to fit together
as tightly as puzzle pieces.
 |
The public is welcome to learn the secrets of Tau canoe
building while constructing their own miniature canoe
in a hands-on class held in the museum's basement classroom
(NT$250 for adults, NT$200 for children - this includes
admission to the museum's exhibition areas). |
During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945), many
Japanese scholars became interested in the Aborigines, and
this special exhibition includes photographs taken by Japanese
anthropologists who conducted scientific field studies of
Taiwan's Aborigines. There are also more recent photographs
taken by contemporary Taiwanese anthropologists and ethnologists.
These more recent images show that many traditional customs
have been passed on and are still practiced today.
In addition to images of the Tau tribe there are displays
of handicrafts, jewelry, clothing, household tools and woodcarvings.
These show that the Tau are skilled metalworkers, woodcarvers
and weavers.
The Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines proves that in
addition to Taiwan's rich Chinese history, there is an indigenous
culture well worth preserving. Make sure to visit the museum's
future special exhibitions to explore the unique cultures
and lifestyles of each of Taiwan's aboriginal tribes.
Shung Ye Museum
of Formosan Aborigines
282, ZhiShan (ChihShan) Rd., Section 2, Taipei City
(across from the National Palace Museum)
Tel: (02) 2841-2611
Hours: 10 am-5 pm Tuesday-Sunday (closed Mondays)
General admission: NT$150
Guided tours in English can be arranged. Call the museum
for information and reservations |
 |
