TSUENU, THE WAY

The Tsou (鄒) indigenous people living in the Alishan Mountain in central Taiwan are consisted of two main-settlements, Tapang (達邦) and Tufuya (特富野). ... More

The Tsou (鄒) indigenous people living in the Alishan Mountain in central Taiwan are consisted of two main-settlements, Tapang (達邦) and Tufuya (特富野). Each of the two main-settlements has its own chief and elders, and its own territories. Their cultures are subtly different with each other in various ways. The two main-settlements reacted differently towards encroaching foreign cultures. This film focuses on the lives of the chiefs of both main-settlements, Avai-e-Peongsi (汪傳發) and Voyu-e-Peongsi (汪念月) in the eyes of the Tsou indigenous culture activist Avai-e-Yatauyongana (高德生) between the years 1993 and 2000. We witness with Avai the different ways both chiefs had chosen in passing on their own tribal cultures to the younger generation. The audience can see obviously from this film that Tsou people are wary of losing autonomous power and are divided in whether they should "perform" their traditional tribal ceremonies either in or out of their territories for the non-Tsou people. It is a catch-22 dilemma for many Tsou people since they need financial and moral support from the outside world, while none of them wish to see their cultures influenced because of the support. Tufuya and Tapang had decided separately in 1993 and 1994 to tear down their Men's House, kuba, and to build a new one. This hadn't been done in each of the two tribes for a long while. The rebuilding of each kuba had become a major event to the Alishan Tsou people. Each one in the main-settlement donates either money or effort in the rebuilt. From the rebuilt of kuba we can see clearly the working of the tribal politics: the power and the role of chief in relation to specific clans and the tribal elders. European religions play an important part in the life of the Tsou since the end of the World War II. The majority of the Tsou population belongs to either Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church or the True Jesus sect of the Christian religion. Unlike the other two Christian religions, Catholicism does not disapprove of their believers participating in the traditional ceremonies. This fact makes it easier for the chiefs of both main-settlements to lead the traditional cultural activities in their own communities. The challenge ahead of both chiefs is how to pass on intact to the younger generation a traditional culture without the strong outside influence. Judging from the fact that few of the younger generation are involved in the rebuilt of the Men's House, it will be a tough mission for both of them. After the completion of the rebuilt of kuba, Mayasvi ceremony (瑪雅斯比祭典)is to be held. Each main-settlement holds the ceremony differently, which reflects their different attitudes towards the outside world. One of the main events of Mayasvi ceremony is to hold the Rite of Way in the fringe of the main-settlement. The Rite of Way not only tells us the boundary of the settlement, but symbolizes a connection between within and without the tribe, between the center and the fringe of the tribe, between the past and the future. After the Rite of Way, tribal elders shuttle on the ways connecting different lineages, to befriend with each other and to form a unified tribal power, which they all believe in. In reality, both chiefs play different roles in the Tsou society. Voyu-e-Peongsi of the Tufuya main-settlement is a clerk in Tapang Elementary School. He drives his pickup truck to go to work every morning. Though elected as chief of the main-settlement, the most important member in the lineage, who is in charge of the family ritual house, is Voyu's uncle, however. Avai-e-Peongsi of the Tapang main-settlement is a farmer by profession. He is getting old and decides to pass on to the younger generation what he knows about the tradition, the mountain, etc. Most of the young men, however, are busy making a living, and few are available to climb the mountain with Avai. The chief is thus alone on his way to the uncertain tomorrow. Close