Taiwan aborigines: a ceremonial Rukai knife

yuanzhumin · 22nd June 2011, 02:37 AM

Hi Varta,
Thanks for congratulating me!
May be you could share some of your Taiwanese blades. You may have quite many now!

I have a question about the Saisiat blade in my other post. Any infos on it?
It would be definitely nice to see another important Taiwan aborigines collection.
Best
Nicolas

migueldiaz · 22nd June 2011, 08:10 AM

yuanzhumin, congrats and thanks for posting the pics and info!

i've read that in some southeast asian cultures, the sun god is sometimes represented by the bird symbol (or alternatively, that of a figure of a man).

am not sure if i've asked you before. but would the figure/s of a man in taiwanese aboriginal art be a representation, too, of the sun god? and can we find the bird motif in taiwan, just like taiwan's neighboring countries?

finally, what would be a good book that describes the meanings in taiwanese aboriginal art in general?

thanks in advance, and let me reiterate my appreciation for all of your posts which are quite informative to say the least. best wishes.

yuanzhumin · 22nd June 2011, 10:13 AM

Dear Migueldiaz,

Many thanks for your kind words.

For what I know, the sun is usually symbolized by a circle among the Taiwanese aborigines, mostly the Southern tribes. It can be a circle, a double circle or a circle with sun rays patterns. Among the Rukai and the Paiwan, this is a symbol reserved for the noble linages, whether it is tattooed on the body or carved on a house beam or a knife handle. Definitely not for commoners. It has a particular significance for the Rukai.

The single representation of a man or a woman is usually an ancestor that is protecting a family or a village.

Here is a link to a Rukai altar panel with a repeated double circle sun pattern:
http://www.formosatribal.com/show.php?item_id=231

For the books, the best one in English is :
http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=qhYeAAAAMAAJ

Here after you have few other references:
http://www.formosatribal.com/english.html

Best

Nicolas

22nd June 2011, 02:37 AM	#1
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Hi Varta, Thanks for congratulating me! May be you could share some of your Taiwanese blades. You may have quite many now! I have a question about the Saisiat blade in my other post. Any infos on it? It would be definitely nice to see another important Taiwan aborigines collection. Best Nicolas

22nd June 2011, 08:10 AM	#2
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	yuanzhumin, congrats and thanks for posting the pics and info! i've read that in some southeast asian cultures, the sun god is sometimes represented by the bird symbol (or alternatively, that of a figure of a man). am not sure if i've asked you before. but would the figure/s of a man in taiwanese aboriginal art be a representation, too, of the sun god? and can we find the bird motif in taiwan, just like taiwan's neighboring countries? finally, what would be a good book that describes the meanings in taiwanese aboriginal art in general? thanks in advance, and let me reiterate my appreciation for all of your posts which are quite informative to say the least. best wishes.

22nd June 2011, 10:13 AM	#3
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Dear Migueldiaz, Many thanks for your kind words. For what I know, the sun is usually symbolized by a circle among the Taiwanese aborigines, mostly the Southern tribes. It can be a circle, a double circle or a circle with sun rays patterns. Among the Rukai and the Paiwan, this is a symbol reserved for the noble linages, whether it is tattooed on the body or carved on a house beam or a knife handle. Definitely not for commoners. It has a particular significance for the Rukai. The single representation of a man or a woman is usually an ancestor that is protecting a family or a village. Here is a link to a Rukai altar panel with a repeated double circle sun pattern: http://www.formosatribal.com/show.php?item_id=231 For the books, the best one in English is : http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=qhYeAAAAMAAJ Here after you have few other references: http://www.formosatribal.com/english.html Best Nicolas