Profile of Indigenous Communities
The Kavalan people call themselves “kavalan”, meaning mankind living in the plain area. The people traditionally live on the Lanyang Plain in Yilan, residing near the coast. The Kavalan and Sakizaya jointly resisted Qing forces in the late 19th century, causing the Lanas na Kabalaen (Jialiwan Incident). After the war, the Kavalan population declined significantly; many people dispersed to the east coast or lived hidden in Amis tribes for a century. The Kavalan were officially recognized as a Taiwan indigenous group in 2002. They are currently mainly found in Zhuangwei and Wujie Townships (Yilan), Xincheng and Fengbin (Hualien), and Changbin Township (Taitung).
Social and Cultural Features
Traditional Kavalan society is matriarchal; men live with their wives after marriage and respect the elderly women of the household. The tribal organization is led by an Elders Council of middle-aged and older men who decide important public affairs. The Kavalan are one of the few groups to use elevated stilt house architecture (like the Ketagalan), a feature of ancient Southeast Asian culture.
Industry and Arts
Traditional economic life mainly included farming and fishing/hunting, with skills in navigation and trade. The Kavalan have a unique technique for weaving banana fiber for traditional clothing. The square woven cloth crafted from banana fiber is suited for men during hot weather. Clothing mainly uses the square-cloth system, focusing on black and white. Song styles are diverse, influenced by Amis, Japanese Enka, and Han Chinese popular music styles, besides traditional forms.
Ceremonies and Rituals
The Kavalan believe in animism and have rituals for livelihood, ancestor worship (palilin), and religious healing. Their most significant rituals include:
- Sea Ritual (sepaw tu lazing): Held between spring and summer (about March to August); the people sacrifice to the ancestral spirits and the spirits of the sea by the coast to pray for safe voyages.
- Harvest Ceremony (gataban): This agricultural festival serves to express gratitude to the heavens, deities, and ancestral spirits for blessing the year’s bountiful harvest.
- Ancestor Worship Ceremony (palilin): Held near the New Year (before the end of the 12th lunar month); it is a family reunion to worship ancestors and pray for prosperity in the year ahead.
Competition Event and Participants
- Traditional Archery: Individual Event－Open Men’s Division (2 Participants) /Individual Event－Open Women’s Division (2 Participants)
- Log Sawing: Group Event－Open Mixed Division (4 Participants)
- Traditional Tug-of-War: Group Event－Open Mixed Division (18 Participants)
- Traditional Wrestling: Individual Event－Individual Event－Men’s Division 70kg and Above (2 Participants)
- 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 (1 Participant)
- Weight Carrying: Group Event－Open Mixed Division (4 Participants)
- Freediving Sprint: Individual Event－Open Men’s Division (2 Participants)/Individual Event－Open Women’s Division (2 Participants)