Taiwan Austronesians

VANDOO · 15th October 2007, 05:14 AM

THANKS FOR THE VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE IT COVERED A LOT OF MY INTRESTS AS WELL AS GOOD INFORMATION ON THE YAMI TRIBAL GROUP. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THE WAR CLUBS AND THE ARMORED HATS. I AM ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN OCEANIC CLUBS BUT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE TYPES USED ON TAIWAN AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
I HAVE ADDED A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF TRIGGERFISH THE LARGE ONE IS THE TITAN AND THE SMALLER ONE IS A ORANGE LINED TRIGGER. SOME TRIGGERFISH CAN BE VERY AGGRESIVE AND WILL EVEN ATTACK DIVERS THE TITAN IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS DUE TO ITS SIZE, BITE AND ATTITUDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN NESTING.

yuanzhumin · 16th October 2007, 02:52 AM

Thanks Vandoo for the name and photos of the fish. Yes, it seems that the triggerfish skin has been used in this armour. It’s a very interesting info.
Here are some pictures that can help answer your questions concerning the clubs and the helmets of the Yami. These are pictures I’ve taken of drawings and photos published in ‘The Yami of the Orchid Island’ by Hans Egli, and in the Inez de Beauclair book.
The 3 first ones are drawings of the very special Yami fighting club and long wooden sword, both few meters long.
The 2 following ones show the use of the club in a simulated situation, while the three photos after show a shield. On all this pics, you can also see body armours and helmets similar to the one I already displayed in this thread or previous threads on the forum (also on my website).
The next picture is showing a map of Lanyu and its location away from Taiwan. The last drawing is showing a traditional dagger sheath like the ones I also displayed in the pics published before on the forum.
The last few photos are of Yami men 40 years ago, in traditional attires. I love the one of this man wearing the silver helmet and a pectoral adorned with dolls and other lucky charms.
Note the rattan armours and helmets, the spears and the knives similar to the one in the post above.
I’m myself trying to get a hand on a club to put it in my collection. If I do, I will show it to you first.
Any comments or reactions are welcome.
Yuanzhumin
www.formosatribal.com

yuanzhumin · 16th October 2007, 02:56 AM

Here are the other pictures :

yuanzhumin · 16th October 2007, 02:58 AM

Some of the last pictures are not in the right place and don't follow anymore my comments. I think you will be able correct by yourselves without any problem.

VANDOO · 16th October 2007, 05:04 PM

THANKS FOR THE PHOTOS OF THE CLUBS AND FULL ARMOR,THE SHIELDS ARE VERY CRUDE AND LOOK LIKE PART OF A FENCE BUT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE COVER. I WOULD CONSIDER THE LONGER CLUBS A TYPE OF POLE ARM OR SPEAR THE CROSS GAURD WOULD INDICATE THAT THEY DID FENCE WITH THEM AS IT IS THERE TO PROTECT THE OPPONENTS WEAPON FROM SLIDEING DOWN THE SHAFT TO STRIKE THE HANDS. PERHAPS THE PICTURES SHOWN WITH THE MAN WITH SHIELD AND THE OTHER WITH NO SHIELD AND THE LONG CLUB IS THE FORM USED FOR CEREMONIAL COMBAT?. WHERE THE AGRESSOR AND HIS ROCK THROWERS GET SEVERAL WHACKS AT THE ONE WITH THE SHIELD AND THEN THEY GIVE THE OTHER SIDE A TURN WITH THE CLUB? THEY PROBABLY ALSO FOUGHT WITH NO SHIELD WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FUN TO WATCH AS THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE MOVEMENT ESPECIALLY IF STONES WERE ALSO BEING THROWN. THE METAL HATS LOOK REALY COOL AND SCARY BUT WOULD BE A BIT NOISY IN THERE IF STRUCK WITH A CLUB OR ROCK.

IT IS INTERESTING THE SIMULARITYS IN THIS TYPE OF COMBAT WHICH ALSO OCCURS IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS. THE TWO WARRIORS FACE OFF AND ARE HEAVILY PROTECTED WITH ARMOR EACH SIDE HAS PEOPLE THERE THROWING ROCKS AT THE OTHER SIDE. I SUSPECT THERE WERE FEW FATALITYS DUE TO THE ARMOR AND THE SHARKTOOTH SWORD CLUBS USED, PERHAPS IT ENDED WHEN BLOOD WAS DRAWN? SEE PICTURE OF GILBERT IS. WARRIOR, NOTE THE HIGH COLLAR TO PROTECT THE WARRIOR FROM ACCIDENTLY BEING STRUCK IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD BY A ROCK FROM HIS OWN SIDE.. GOOD LUCK ON AQUIREING A CLUB.

fearn · 16th October 2007, 07:32 PM

This is neat. I remembered reading an old National Geographic about the Yamis of Orchid Island (January 1977 according to Google). As I recall, the silver helmets are actually a display of wealth. They're made from recast silver coins, and as they are passed down through the generations, each owner adds a loop (or more) of silver to the outer rim, as economics permit. Presumably they work as helmets too, although silver is pretty soft.

Also, apparently the tribe call themselves the Tao, and they are linguistically closer to the Ivatan people of Luzon, for what it's worth.

yuanzhumin · 17th October 2007, 01:53 PM

The tribesmen call themselves Tawu, but their official name remains Yami.
They are in fact related to the Batan people of the Northern Philippines from where they came long time ago. They had very close contacts with the rest of their people in todays Philippines till the 16th cent., when a war pushed them to cut their ties with the main part of the ethnic group. They remained isolated till the 20th cent. The Orchid Island is close to Taiwan and was joined to Taiwan through the aleas of history. It became Japanese in 1895, at the time Taiwan itself became a Japanese colony, till 1945. The Japanese becoming masters of the Orchid Island for fifty years, they decided to make it a kind of natural human reserve open only to Japanese ethnologists and few officials. It is still a remote place.

So, in fact, the Yami had no contacts with the Formosan aboriginal people, and have not much to see with them, except for the fact they are all Austronesians. The Yami have an oceanic culture, when the other Austronesian people in Taiwan are turned towards the land and the mountains. The Yami didn't go headhunting, while this was a very important custom for the Taiwanese tribes. The Yami didn't drink alcohol, which was also very important for the other tribes... Many big differences. The Austronesian in Taiwan initiated the migration towards the Philippines and then the whole Pacific, till Polynesia. But the Yami of Orchid Island came from the Batan Islands later and most probably didn't go anywhere else than their island.

The silver helmet is made with silver obtained from trade, usually coins that are worked, (another difference with the Austronesian groups on Taiwan itself as these ones were using the coins as ornaments but without transforming them). The purpose of the helmet is not for fighting. It is to show the wealth, yes, but mostly it has a religious, magic power. It is worn for all the big ceremonies and even considered as having its own spirit. Sometimes, it was left outside in the middle of the fishes caught and driying in the sun, just to insure another abundant catch the next time. When the men prayed on the beach for more catches, at the opening season of the flying fish, they were waving their silver helmet toward the ocean to invite the fishes to get caught.

15th October 2007, 05:14 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THANKS FOR THE VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE IT COVERED A LOT OF MY INTRESTS AS WELL AS GOOD INFORMATION ON THE YAMI TRIBAL GROUP. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THE WAR CLUBS AND THE ARMORED HATS. I AM ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN OCEANIC CLUBS BUT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE TYPES USED ON TAIWAN AND SURROUNDING AREAS. I HAVE ADDED A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF TRIGGERFISH THE LARGE ONE IS THE TITAN AND THE SMALLER ONE IS A ORANGE LINED TRIGGER. SOME TRIGGERFISH CAN BE VERY AGGRESIVE AND WILL EVEN ATTACK DIVERS THE TITAN IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS DUE TO ITS SIZE, BITE AND ATTITUDE, ESPECIALLY WHEN NESTING. Attached Images

16th October 2007, 02:52 AM	#2
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Thanks Vandoo for the name and photos of the fish. Yes, it seems that the triggerfish skin has been used in this armour. It’s a very interesting info. Here are some pictures that can help answer your questions concerning the clubs and the helmets of the Yami. These are pictures I’ve taken of drawings and photos published in ‘The Yami of the Orchid Island’ by Hans Egli, and in the Inez de Beauclair book. The 3 first ones are drawings of the very special Yami fighting club and long wooden sword, both few meters long. The 2 following ones show the use of the club in a simulated situation, while the three photos after show a shield. On all this pics, you can also see body armours and helmets similar to the one I already displayed in this thread or previous threads on the forum (also on my website). The next picture is showing a map of Lanyu and its location away from Taiwan. The last drawing is showing a traditional dagger sheath like the ones I also displayed in the pics published before on the forum. The last few photos are of Yami men 40 years ago, in traditional attires. I love the one of this man wearing the silver helmet and a pectoral adorned with dolls and other lucky charms. Note the rattan armours and helmets, the spears and the knives similar to the one in the post above. I’m myself trying to get a hand on a club to put it in my collection. If I do, I will show it to you first. Any comments or reactions are welcome. Yuanzhumin www.formosatribal.com Attached Images

16th October 2007, 02:56 AM	#3
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Here are the other pictures : Attached Images

16th October 2007, 05:04 PM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THANKS FOR THE PHOTOS OF THE CLUBS AND FULL ARMOR,THE SHIELDS ARE VERY CRUDE AND LOOK LIKE PART OF A FENCE BUT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE COVER. I WOULD CONSIDER THE LONGER CLUBS A TYPE OF POLE ARM OR SPEAR THE CROSS GAURD WOULD INDICATE THAT THEY DID FENCE WITH THEM AS IT IS THERE TO PROTECT THE OPPONENTS WEAPON FROM SLIDEING DOWN THE SHAFT TO STRIKE THE HANDS. PERHAPS THE PICTURES SHOWN WITH THE MAN WITH SHIELD AND THE OTHER WITH NO SHIELD AND THE LONG CLUB IS THE FORM USED FOR CEREMONIAL COMBAT?. WHERE THE AGRESSOR AND HIS ROCK THROWERS GET SEVERAL WHACKS AT THE ONE WITH THE SHIELD AND THEN THEY GIVE THE OTHER SIDE A TURN WITH THE CLUB? THEY PROBABLY ALSO FOUGHT WITH NO SHIELD WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FUN TO WATCH AS THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE MOVEMENT ESPECIALLY IF STONES WERE ALSO BEING THROWN. THE METAL HATS LOOK REALY COOL AND SCARY BUT WOULD BE A BIT NOISY IN THERE IF STRUCK WITH A CLUB OR ROCK. IT IS INTERESTING THE SIMULARITYS IN THIS TYPE OF COMBAT WHICH ALSO OCCURS IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS. THE TWO WARRIORS FACE OFF AND ARE HEAVILY PROTECTED WITH ARMOR EACH SIDE HAS PEOPLE THERE THROWING ROCKS AT THE OTHER SIDE. I SUSPECT THERE WERE FEW FATALITYS DUE TO THE ARMOR AND THE SHARKTOOTH SWORD CLUBS USED, PERHAPS IT ENDED WHEN BLOOD WAS DRAWN? SEE PICTURE OF GILBERT IS. WARRIOR, NOTE THE HIGH COLLAR TO PROTECT THE WARRIOR FROM ACCIDENTLY BEING STRUCK IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD BY A ROCK FROM HIS OWN SIDE.. GOOD LUCK ON AQUIREING A CLUB. Attached Images

16th October 2007, 02:58 AM	#4
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Some of the last pictures are not in the right place and don't follow anymore my comments. I think you will be able correct by yourselves without any problem.

16th October 2007, 07:32 PM	#6
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	This is neat. I remembered reading an old National Geographic about the Yamis of Orchid Island (January 1977 according to Google). As I recall, the silver helmets are actually a display of wealth. They're made from recast silver coins, and as they are passed down through the generations, each owner adds a loop (or more) of silver to the outer rim, as economics permit. Presumably they work as helmets too, although silver is pretty soft. Also, apparently the tribe call themselves the Tao, and they are linguistically closer to the Ivatan people of Luzon, for what it's worth.

17th October 2007, 01:53 PM	#7
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	The tribesmen call themselves Tawu, but their official name remains Yami. They are in fact related to the Batan people of the Northern Philippines from where they came long time ago. They had very close contacts with the rest of their people in todays Philippines till the 16th cent., when a war pushed them to cut their ties with the main part of the ethnic group. They remained isolated till the 20th cent. The Orchid Island is close to Taiwan and was joined to Taiwan through the aleas of history. It became Japanese in 1895, at the time Taiwan itself became a Japanese colony, till 1945. The Japanese becoming masters of the Orchid Island for fifty years, they decided to make it a kind of natural human reserve open only to Japanese ethnologists and few officials. It is still a remote place. So, in fact, the Yami had no contacts with the Formosan aboriginal people, and have not much to see with them, except for the fact they are all Austronesians. The Yami have an oceanic culture, when the other Austronesian people in Taiwan are turned towards the land and the mountains. The Yami didn't go headhunting, while this was a very important custom for the Taiwanese tribes. The Yami didn't drink alcohol, which was also very important for the other tribes... Many big differences. The Austronesian in Taiwan initiated the migration towards the Philippines and then the whole Pacific, till Polynesia. But the Yami of Orchid Island came from the Batan Islands later and most probably didn't go anywhere else than their island. The silver helmet is made with silver obtained from trade, usually coins that are worked, (another difference with the Austronesian groups on Taiwan itself as these ones were using the coins as ornaments but without transforming them). The purpose of the helmet is not for fighting. It is to show the wealth, yes, but mostly it has a religious, magic power. It is worn for all the big ceremonies and even considered as having its own spirit. Sometimes, it was left outside in the middle of the fishes caught and driying in the sun, just to insure another abundant catch the next time. When the men prayed on the beach for more catches, at the opening season of the flying fish, they were waving their silver helmet toward the ocean to invite the fishes to get caught.