Compass
Magazine, November 2003
| Special
exhibit showcases Rukai traditional culture
By
Cheryl Robbins |
The Shung
Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines is presenting a special
exhibit on the traditional culture of the Rukai, one
of Taiwan's eleven government-recognized aboriginal
tribes
The
Rukai number around 10,000, mostly concentrated in
the mountains of southern Taiwan. The tribespeople
call themselves "the people of the cloud leopard,"
as, according to tribal legend, it was the tracking
skills of a cloud leopard that enabled the Rukai to
discover their homeland, which they called Kochapongane,
but is now known as Old Haucha .
Efforts
to save Old Haucha have been in the news over the
past several years. This village is very remote. It
takes hours of hiking in mountainous terrain to reach.
Because of a lack of medical facilties and employment
opportunities, the residents move to a more convenient
location.
Chiu
Chin-shih , the exhibit's organizer, also moved from
Old Haucha, but several years ago returned, sacrificing
a good job, to reclaim his original lifestyle. He
is now working to persuade other residents to do the
same. He has studied Old Haucha's history and the
remains of its traditional stone-slab dwellings--now
official historical monuments--for clues to Rukai
traditional culture.
Items
on display include traditional costumes and headdresses,
some of which are more than 100 years old. Other exhibited
items include traditional weapons and baskets. Also
introduced is Lhidaku , a well-known traditional sculptor
who passed away 20 years ago. Lhidaku was not only
a national treasure for the beauty of his artwork,
but was also one of the people charged with passing
on the oral legends of Old Haucha. As Taiwan's aboriginal
tribes have no written language, people such as Lhidaku
are very important for ensuring that Rukai history
survives.
The
Rukai Traditional Culture Special Exhibit will be
on display until December 21, 2003.
Shung
Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines
282, ChihShan Rd., Sec. 2 (across from the National
Palace Museum)
Tel: (02) 2841-2611
www.museum.org.tw
Hours: Tues-Sun 9 am-5 pm
