Taiwan's Lanyu Island prepares for canoe launching ceremony
台灣蘭嶼準備拼板舟下水儀式
| 3-day celebration underway to inaugurate new seagoing 'tatara' canoe
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Lanyu’s Dongqing Village plans to launch a new "tatara,” or seagoing fishing canoe on Friday (July 12), the culmination of two years of craftsmanship carried out by hand, and nearly a decade since the last tatara was inaugurated. The launch of the 10-meter canoe is cause for celebration in the village, a sacred right of passage for many males which coincides with the flying fish season. Visitors observing the ceremony are reminded to be respectful during the launch and avoid touching the vessel, which could bring bad luck to fishers. Festivities begin on Wednesday (July 10) with an outdoor party and traditional Tao hair dancing. This was followed the next day by a ceremony where the tatara is filled with taro, which will be distributed amongst the village, and the slaughter of pigs with meat distributed to every village household, per CNA. On Friday morning, traditional Tao dance performances will take place, and the new tatara will be hoisted onto the shoulders of men in the village who toss it into the air repeatedly, representing the first voyage that it takes before hitting the open seas. Chen Wen-shan (陳雯珊), chair of the Lanyu Dongqing Community Development Association, said in a press release that the 10-person tatara took two years to complete. He said the launch ceremony will allow visitors to see traditional Tao (達悟) culture such as the boat-throwing ceremony, traditional hair dancing, and a blessing ceremony. Chen said the Tao is the only Indigenous ethnic group occupying one of Taiwan's outlying islands, a marine culture that lives in harmony with the ocean. The planning, collection of materials, and construction of the tatara were all completed by villagers. According to Chen, different types of wood go into a tatara, with each piece chosen for distinct properties. Smaller vessels are made of 21 pieces, while larger ones are 27 pieces of wood. For villagers, the tatara symbolizes the continuity of ancient times and the present. Throughout the three-day celebration, many singers and dancers in the village will perform, demonstrating traditional Tao culture and featuring Indigenous handicrafts and food. |
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| Sean Scanlan, Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2024-07-11 |
