The 11-meter Si Mangavang, Taiwan’s largest indigenous Tao canoe in a century, has completed a historic journey from Orchid Island to Taipei City on a mission to strengthen cultural exchanges and promote the importance of marine sustainability, the Ministry of the Interior said July 16.
It took 18 days for the Tao adults to sail more than 800 kilometers on the handmade wooden ship, according to the MOI.
After setting off from Orchid Island, located 83 kilometers off the southeast coast of Taiwan proper, the 40-member crew crossed the Kuroshio Current and rounded Kenting Peninsula at the southernmost tip of Taiwan.
It then sailed up the west coast of Taiwan, stopping en route at Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taichung cities before reaching its final destination Taipei July 16.
“The perseverance of the Tao people is laudable,” said ROC President Ma Ying-jeou at a completion ceremony held in Taipei’s Dajia Riverside Park. “The journey demonstrates the tribe’s adventurous spirit, while the graceful beauty of Si Mangavang showcases their magnificent woodworking skills.”
According to the Marine National Park Headquarters, the boat had a smooth ride its entire voyage, during which the Tao crewmen navigated the waters of the west coast of Taiwan for the first time in their history, allowing them to experience natural and cultural scenes not found in the east.
In conjunction with the canoe trip, cultural exchange activities were also staged in Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Kenting to increase understanding of Orchid Island and the Tao tribe, as well as promoting awareness of marine protection, the MOI said.
Si Mangavang is currently on display at Taipei City Hall. The exhibition will run through Oct. 15 to introduce the story behind the canoe and the culture of Taiwan’s only ocean-based indigenous group, the MOI added. (HZW)
Write to Elaine Hou at elainehou@mail.gio.gov.tw
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