Profile of Indigenous Communities
The Atayal are Taiwan’s most widely distributed indigenous group, mainly inhabiting the mountainous areas of central and northern Taiwan, spanning seven counties and cities: New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, and Yilan. According to the Atayal language, “Atayal” means people, real people, or kinspeople. The Atayal people are primarily segmented into two major divisions: the Seqoleq and the Tseole sub-groups. The origin myth believes that the tribe’s ancestors emerged from a massive rock after it broke open and split. From the 18th to the late 19th century, the Atayal migrated north and east from the upstream Beigang River (Renai Township, Nantou) to find hunting ground and farming land, establishing dispersed, village-style settlements.
Social and Cultural Features
Atayal society is characterized by its flourishing weaving and facial tattooing traditions. The ancestral instructions, known as gaga, serve as the guiding principles for life. Gaga is the ancestral code of conduct; people believe ancestral spirits (utux) will bring misfortune if gaga is violated. Facial tattooing (ptasan) marks adulthood for traditional Atayal. Men were permitted to receive facial tattoos only after proving themselves by taking a head or achieving success in hunting, while women earned the right to facial patterns upon mastering the skill of weaving. The Atayal believe that facial tattooing is a prerequisite for crossing the Rainbow Bridge and arriving at the residence of the ancestral spirits. Female weaving skills were the standard for evaluating social status and talent in traditional Atayal society. In terms of kinship structure, the Atayal maintain a patrilineal society characterized by virilocal residence, and marriage is strictly monogamous. The tribe’s basic unit, galang or alang, oversees communal rituals, group hunting, and collective responsibility for offenses.
Industry and Arts
The traditional economy relied mainly on slash-and-burn farming and hunting, with millet, dry rice, and proso millet as the main crops. Clothing is primarily ramie, in colors like red, yellow, black, and blue. The front often features diamond patterns, which legend holds symbolize the ancestral spirits’ eyes and possess the power to protect the tribal members. The shell-bead garment is a key betrothal gift for weddings.
Ceremonies and Rituals
The Ancestral Spirit Ceremony (maho) is the most important Atayal ritual. The maho ceremony is usually held after the millet harvest (approximately between August and October). In the ritual, the people prepare offerings such as cured meat, millet cakes, and millet wine, calling on ancestors to partake and bless the people with fruitful harvests and successful hunts. The Sowing Festival (smyatu) is also an important annual ceremony.
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 (20 Participants)
- Traditional Wrestling: Individual Event－Men’s Division Below 70kg (1 Participant) /Individual Event－Men’s Division 70kg and Above (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)