An aboriginal ritual performed annually by Taiwan’s Tsou tribe was certified Oct. 25 by the Council for Cultural Affairs as a folk heritage of national importance.
Known as the Mayasvi, the ritual is dedicated to the Tsou god of war and is the first aboriginal rite to have received such a certificate from the CCA.
“This is our moment of honor and pride,” Basuya-Peongsi, chairman of Dabang Kuba Cultural Development Association, said while receiving the national certificate on behalf of the Tsou. “We will continue to preserve this precious tradition of ours.”
“This award also represents recognition of the Tsou people’s past efforts in conserving and passing down their tradition,” CCA Deputy Director Lin Chin-tien said upon conferring the certificate.
Among the Tsou the Mayasvi was traditionally performed during the hunting season, but in recent years the festival has also become an occasion for tribal reunions.
Village elders decide in meetings each year when the Mayasvi will be held. This year the dates fell on Oct. 25 and 26, and the CCA decided to take the opportunity to present the tribe with the certificate in Alishan’s Dabang Village, where the ritual is taking place.
Some Tsou tribal members wondered whether the certificate was even appropriate, arguing that the religious ritual is above government recognition. But the vast majority were in favor of the certificate, saying it would remind the younger generation to look after their cultural tradition. (PCT-HZW)