Paiwan's Piuma Meets Puyuma's Puyuma in Hunting Ceremony
Written by Zih Gao     Photography by: Huang Sin Yi / Zih Gao  

          Representative of Taitung City, Tian Sian Sheng said, "Because of strict regulations on ecology protection, the hunters can only catch mountain rats ... therefore, it is necessary to maintain traditions in tribal settlements."
The elders were very happy after receiving the hunted roast mountain rats, they said that they cherished the share because of the current regulations. However in our hearts, we all agreed with them on this "rat" matter. In the hunting cultures of Paiwan, the real valuable and noble game is one with "horn" and "hoof," so what's the value of a rat?

Young Puyuma people who received training are arranging mountain rats on leaves to distribute to elders.

Disappointed tribal hunter Sun Jin Wun said to me, "My nephew Zih Gao, never ever put mountain rats on the website. Doing so harms the dignity of hunters." These words showed that the dignity of hunters are closely related to the games they hunted. Ecologically speaking, aboriginal hunting is extremely conscious of environmental protection, but current regulations lack the wisdom and consideration as traditional hunting. The traditions that city representative Tian Sian Sheng mentioned have an undivided relationships with traditional ceremonies. Traditions are the life source for all tribal people, without them, they would lose the matter to nourish their cultural lives. Seeing that there weren't any women in the camp, we acknowledged that the Puyuma observe strict gender division during hunting ceremony, which is similar to that of Paiwan's.