Paiwan 排灣族

1954-06-01

Photo taken from: https://reurl.cc/x0oeY1

Features

Serious class system.
Aristocracy.
Distributed in Taitung and Pingtung.
Primogeniture.
Gender equality.
Vecik. (Hand tattoo)

History

It is said that in the ancient times, the sun god lay two eggs in a clay pot on the top of Dawu Mountain, and they were guarded by a hundred step snake. Under the warm sunlight, the two eggs hatched one male and one female. The male and female are the ancestors of the Paiwan people.

Another saying is that the God of heaven dropped a bamboo, and after the bamboo fell to the ground and broke, many small snakes emerged from it. When these snakes grew up, they turned into human beings and became the ancestors of Paiwan People.

Clothes

Salute knife.
Foot protector.
Headband.
Glass beads.
Hundred-pace Snake, human head, Humanoid pattern. (Chief & Noble)

Ritual (in Paiwan language)

Maljeveq. (Five year festival)

Since the five-year festival is a major festival held every five years, some taboos must be strictly observed during the ceremony to avoid offending the gods and ancestors and causing misfortune to themselves and their families. Generally speaking, the five-year festival is divided into three stages: the first sacrifice, the main sacrifice and the second sacrifice. All the work of the former festival is to prepare for the festival activities on the day of the main festival. In order to prevent evil spirits from entering the tribe and destroying the festival, the witches must first perform the ceremonies of shelter and protection. The men have to be responsible for making the props which are used in the main ritual.

Photo taken from: https://reurl.cc/WEEKWL

Reference from: https://reurl.cc/av6VQG