Profile of Indigenous Communities
The Hla’alua consist of four communities (Paiciana, Vilanganʉ, Talicia, Hlihlara), mainly residing in Taoyuan and Namasia Districts, Kaohsiung City. The Hla’alua and Kanakanavu were once called the “Tsou tribe” (Southern Tsou), but in 2014 Hla’alua achieved recognition as the 15th independent ethnic group. According to legend, the people originally lived in Hlasʉnga in the east, where they are believed to have coexisted with dwarves. The dwarves gave the people the “Holy Shell (takiarʉ)” upon leaving, which is considered the dwelling of Taizu (Shell God).
Social and Cultural Features
Hla’alua society is a patrilineal clan society, with clans centered around a shared ancestor. The tribal chief (miararuma) is called kapitanʉor rahli, and the position is passed down through hereditary succession. Major tribal affairs require deliberation by the Elder’s Council (makarikari). The basic kinship unit is the household (ucani pihlingi); brothers are only allowed to separate their households after the death of their parents. The society traditionally practiced strict monogamy, mainly featuring virilocal marriage.
Industry and Crafts
The local livelihood is mainly based on elementary slash-and-burn agriculture. Dry-land rice cultivation was culturally borrowed and introduced from the Plains Indigenous Peoples. The Hla’alua people are skilled hunters and excel at hide-tanning techniques. When men wear formal attire, the goat-skin hat is adorned with five feathers-two eagle feathers on each side and a central Mikado pheasant tail feather-symbolizing family and tribal unity.
Legends and Taboos
The Hla’alua’s “Story of the Front and Rear Door Gods” and the “Sun-shooting Story” are passed down from generation to generation. The hero in the Sun-Shooting Legend, Hla’ungali, was named chief leader by the tribe, which establishes the origin of the Hla’alua traditional leader (rahli).
Ceremonies and Rituals
The Hla’alua places great importance on agricultural rituals. The most important ritual is the Holy Shell Ritual (miatungusu), held every two or three years. Miatungusu is a major post-harvest ceremony to worship the Holy Shell (Taizu’s spirit dwelling) and pray for peace and a bumper crop. The most crucial part is the “marination of the Holy Shell in wine” ritual: if the shell turns red, it means Taizu is drunk, and the ritual was successful. There are 12 Takiarʉs, each with a name and duty, such as Pavaasu (Takiarʉ of Bravery), Paumala Papa’a (Takiarʉ of Hunting), and Papacʉcʉpʉngʉ (Takiarʉ of Intelligence).
Competition Event and Participants
- Traditional Archery: Individual Event－Open Men’s Division (1 Participant) /Individual Event－Open Women’s Division (1 Participant)
- Traditional Music and Dance: Group Event－Open Mixed Division (6 Participants)
- Log Sawing: Group Event－Open Mixed Division (4 Participants)
- Traditional Tug-of-War: Group Event－Open Mixed Division (20 Participants)
- Traditional Wrestling: Individual Event－Men’s Division Below 70kg (1 Participant) /Individual Event－Men’s Division 70kg and Above (1 Participant)
- Net Casting: Group Event－Open Mixed Division (4 Participants)
- Traditional Canoe Racing: Individual Event－Open Men’s Division (2 Participants)
- Traditional Road Running: Individual Event－Open Men’s Division (2 Participants) /Individual Event－Open Women’s Division (2 Participants)
- Weight Carrying: Group Event－Open Mixed Division (4 Participants)
- Freediving Sprint: Individual Event－Open Men’s Division (1 Participant) /Individual Event－Open Women’s Division (1 Participant)