Taiwan’s Tsou people launched their annual war ceremony March 5 in Chiayi County, attracting hundreds of tribal members and tourists.
Held in the mountainous area of Alishan in central Taiwan, the three-day event saw participants perform six worship rituals to safeguard the unity and culture of the indigenous people.
Tribal chiefs and elders got the ceremony underway, which featured male warriors killing pigs with spears, paying tribute to their deities and inviting the gods into the community. The warriors then took the slaughtered pigs home to share with their relatives.
The next stage saw tribal children blessed by their uncles, while naked adult males had their buttocks repeatedly lashed by elders before being presented with leather hats as a sign of good luck.
These traditional rituals were not open to the public, who were permitted only to observe or join the Tsou in celebrating the war festival with a performance of time-honored songs and dances.
Write to Elaine Hou at elainehou@mail.gio.gov.tw