Profile of Indigenous Communities
The Thau people mainly reside in Ita Thao (Barawbaw) Village, Yuchi (Qabizay) Township, Nantou County, and Dapinglin Settlement, Shuili Township, Nantou County. The demonym, Thau, means “people”. According to legend, the Thau ancestors pursued a white deer during a hunt; when the deer plunged into Sun Moon Lake, the Thau decided to stay and establish their permanent settlement. The Thau consider Lalu (formerly Guanghua Isle) their highest ancestral spirit ground. Although the Thau were once classified as Tsou, the two tribes differ significantly in terms of language, religion, and life rituals. After a long struggle, the Thau were recognized as Taiwan’s 10th indigenous group in 2001.
Social and Cultural Features
Thau society is patrilineal, with the clan as the kinship unit, using seven Han Chinese surnames: Shinawanan, Shkatafatu, Shkapamumu, Shkahihian, Shtamarutaw, Shapit, and Shtanakjunan. Ita Thao Community still maintains a dual-chief system (the Shinawanan and Shkatafatu families). The chiefdom is inherited, and a chief helps settle disputes among people and implement the resolutions made by the community meeting and the elder council. The Thau still maintain a strict ancestral spirit faith system. Every household has an Ulalaluan, containing ancestors’ clothes and ornaments, which symbolizes the ancestral spirits’ presence.
Industry and Arts
Early farming included dry and paddy rice, with fishing and hunting as important family food sources. The Ita Thao community now mainly engages in commercial activities like tourism and catering.
The Thau were known for weaving “Dagobum” patterned cloth during the Qing rule; Dagobum was originally fabricated using flax yarn woven with dog fur. Masbabiar (pounding) is a renowned Thau cultural feature, originating from the sound of pounding stones with wooden pestles during farming, used to call hunting men home.
Ceremonies and Rituals
The Thau’s most important ritual is the Ancestral Ritual (New Year) in the 8th lunar month, divided into long and short New Year based on the presence of the Pariqaz (ritual master). For the long New Year, a temporary ancestral spirit house is built, and the people chant songs and dance in the plaza for nearly a month. In addition, the Post-Hunting Ritual (Eel Ritual) is observed during the 7th lunar month. The community prepares mochi shaped like white eels as offerings, highlighting the significance of their fishing and hunting traditions. The female priest (Shinshii) is the important medium between the people and ancestral spirits in the rituals, leading all traditional ceremonies.
Competition Event and Participants
- Traditional Archery: Individual Event－Open Men’s Division (2 Participants) /Individual Event－Open Women’s Division (1 Participant)
- Traditional Music and Dance: Group Event－Open Mixed Division (12 Participants)
- Log Sawing: Group Event－Open Mixed Division (4 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 (2 Participants) /Individual Event－Open Women’s Division (1 Participant)
- Freediving Sprint: Individual Event－Open Men’s Division (2 Participants)