Wen Chin-niao, also known as Li Lin in her native language, was a hand tattoo icon revered for her honor, nobility and purity. She was also an avid promoter of the awareness of the cultural art form, which was stamped out during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945).
“Words cannot express our grief at this loss,” the centenarian’s granddaughter Wen Hsiu-hsia said, adding that the life of the elder reflects the richness of the tribe’s heritage.
According to Wen Hsiu-hsia, only Paiwan girls from a royal family or those marrying a tribal leader could have their hands tattooed. Although her grandmother was born a commoner, she received the honor at 14 before tying the knot with a village head.
“She was always eager to explain the glory of this tradition to those who were interested,” Wen Hsiu-hsia said. “My grandmother also talked about the pain she endured during the process involving charcoal dust from cooking pots and tangerine tree sticks.”
Wen Hsiu-hsia said it is crucial to maintain the elder’s legacy. “Members of our tribe plan to set up a museum in memory of my grandmother and encourage others to learn more about Paiwan’s hand tattoos.”
Following Wen Chin-niao’s death, the oldest Paiwan with a hand tattoo is 95-year-old Yang Cheng-yu from Taitung’s Binmao Village. (DF-JSM)
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