Introduction

 “Tayal” in the Tayal Tribe language literally means “a brave man.” All men in the tribe must be able to hunt, build a house, ford the river while bearing the dear wife on his back, climb a mountain, and weave rattan. In the traditional Tayal community, only the women who can weave cloth are qualified to have their face tattooed and become the perfect woman. In this year’s cultural festival, the face tattoo is used to symbolize the union of the brave man and the perfect woman, and the sentimental love song of a summer night is used to illuminate the Tayal’s traditional value in the romantic expression of love.

Activity Details

1. Song and dance ceremony through sacrificial offering to ancestors and various contests

Tayal’s traditional song and dance ceremony is demonstrated through sacrificial offering to ancestors. Various traditional contests include shooting boar, catching chicken, wrestling, making fire, etc., are held.

2. Warrior-carries-bride Triathlon

Warriors and brides must dress in traditional costumes. Carrying their brides’ piggy-back, warriors participate in an obstacle course to test their mutual trust and understanding of each other as a couple.

3. “Weaving the Rainbow Bridge”, Tayal Weaving Creativity and Fashion Show Contest

Of all the aboriginal tribes in Taiwan, the Tayal tribe is the most adept at weaving. The tribal weaving classes are combined to 

interpret the ancestral land, fortune, and heritage using traditional weaving methods.

4. “Tayal Love Songs”, Valley Concert

The performance conducted by Wulai Aboriginal community, band and community associations let the audience experience the 

aesthetic beauty of the Tayal culture interwoven in the voices and energy of their performances.

5. Tayal Traditional Housing Contest

Using bamboo, wood, etc. as natural building materials, community groups reproduce the traditional Tayal housing structures 

artistry and the old days of inter-tribal cooperation.

6. Literature Promotion and Art Education 

Many events are held to promote Wulais’ literature and arts: Wulai murals, Wulai cultural ecology summer camp, modern Tayal 

poetry and recitation competition, mortar and pestle experience, Wulai Tayal Museum activities, etc.

Purpose

The rich Tayal culture is manifested in all spheres of life. In recent years, weaving workshops and Tayal traditional carvings and 

totems have flourished, and more year-round festivals such as Reclamation Festival, Sowing Festival, Harvest Festival, Ancestral Spirits Festival, etc. are celebrated. Among them, the Ancestral Spirits Festival, annually held on July 15th, is the most popular. The 

Tayal believe in paying respect to their ancestors. During the festival, clansmen appreciate the ancestral blessing during the year, pray for continuous care of the clansmen, and wish for a good harvest in the following year. In addition to the traditional worship ceremony, a series of literature activities are also arranged to encourage the Tayal traditional culture and encourage more people to join.

These events bring together the Wulai communities, schools, community associations, stores and cultural workers to exhibit Wulai’s cultural and artistic charms and create for the Tayal tribe an exciting annual event, through which the Wulai villagers’ sense of identity, roots, and pride are instilled.

Local Attractions

Wulai Tayal Tribal Museum

Wulai Tayal Tribal Museum is the first county-level museum and arts space. It shoulders the heavy responsibility of sustaining 

township’s cultural and arts development. The Wulai Tayal ethnic museum is the chosen Living Museum manages the display of natural ecological and cultural resources of the entire Wulai region. In addition to showing traditional Tayal history, culture, and living artifacts, it encourages communal residents to join in and promote their aboriginal culture in the tourism development.

Wulai Elementary School Artifacts Display Room

The Museum Collection displays tools, clothing, etc. to illustrate the traditional life of the Tayal, Paiwan, Tao tribe, etc. The 

audiovisual aids and the dynamic/static teaching methods allow students to learn about their aborigine heritage. Native history is in turn promoted and preserved.

Fushan Elementary Sculpture Park and the Butterfly Park

Fushan Elementary School features the Sculpture Park, the Butterfly Park, and Tayal culture-imparting weekend classes. It is 

selected as one of the special feature schools by Ministry of Education. The weekend school, ‘GAGA’ is founded by people from 

outside the school. GAGA refers to the Tayal culture and way of life. During the 1-day or 2-days experience camp, students will learn how to be a Tayal and learn about face tattoo, taste traditional cuisine, and explore the forest.