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

        Professor Ming Li Guo, who took photos in the camp field, recognized me and said that I resembles my younger brother, Priest Lai Chao Cai, who received his recommendation, therefore we had a polite and constructive conversation on culture. We reached a communal conclusion that "we scholars should provide tools and methods to tribal people to let them conduct research and writing," which would have more convincing results. Wang Chun Fu, a local to the village, who works on aboriginal digitalization matter in northern Taiwan, recognized me and said 'Mr. Lai, I took your course on digital website research ...'. I also met General Director of the ceremony, Director Lin Jhih Sing of Research and Collection Division, National Museum of Prehistory and others. Meeting these people in this cultural event and had the chance talking to them made me hilarious.

Warriors (left) kept circling the hunters to protect them for the successful return.

        With the guidance of our guide, we moved to the next program: waiting for the return of hunters. The young people who just received the initiation training shouldered the bag of "godfather" and sprinted to the end (the ceremony ground before the new Taitung station). The warriors ran and circled the returning hunters, who are over 55 of age (elders of Piuma were also invited to join), to protect them. The sprits of warriors were very high and showing menacing attitude. This brought the ceremony to its climax. The ritual is like the gathering of Piuma, which requires young people to report to the gathering house to protect the safety of the village every night.

Elders are listening to the briefing by the great chieftain of hunted games at the sacrifice ground.

Puyuma great chieftain (left) and Piuma great chieftain Jiang Mei Hua at the sacrifice ground.

Visiting Piuma people received a warm reception by the Puyuma people.

         The hunter heroes walked into the sacrifice ground. Women are forbidden to enter the traditional sacrifice ground. Women have to prepare meals at home. However, the Puyuma people made an exception for the Piuma great chieftain Jiang Mei Hua and invited her to participate the ritual. Jiang wore traditional Paiwan costumes and shouldered traditional foods that represent the gratefulness of Piuma into the sacrifice ground. Great chieftain Jiang presented traditional decorations and costumes to the great chieftain and others of Puyuma. The ground witnessed the friendship of two villages. Villagers presented gifts to each other and introduced themselves. The Puyuma people said, "The occasion is one of the first moments in our history, Piuma is our first guest village invited to join the ceremony. This is touching." Village leader Kong said "The two villages are connected by a similar name. Though the true origin remains unknown, we two tribes have become friends." In his short speech, Taitung City Mayor said that he wished the event bring a positive meaning to cultural exchange among tribes. Ex-councilor of Council of Indigenous Peoples, Executive Yuan Chen Jian Nian wished everyone a happy new year.