The Shao tribe is the smallest of all Taiwan aboriginal tribes
with current numbers fewer than 300 people. The tribe's name comes from its language, Thao, which means “people”. Although the Shao's language belongs to the Indonesian language system of the Austronesian family of languages, it has 19 consonants, two and a half 6th tones, and three vowels. No other tribes in the southern islands have such a unique language.
The Shao tribe is a monogamous, paternalistic society. The tribe's leader, an inherited position passed from generation to generation, mediates disputes, executes tribal affairs and decisions of the elder conferences, and, in the event of war, leads his people in battle against the enemy.
“Sir Mama”, the Shao tribe's female priest, leads ritualistic ceremonies including a wasteland ceremony, sowing ceremony, wedding ceremonies, harvest ceremonies, hunting ceremonies and an eel worshipping ceremony.
Owls are the sacred mascots of the Shao. For generations, the Shao have said that when a Shao woman is pregnant, an owl will fly to the woman's house to announce the joyous news. The Shao people are not allowed to cut down Qiedong trees because they believe their ancestors' spirits live in the trees.
The Shao songs, “The Sounds of the Stone Peg” and “The Song of the Pestle”, highlight traditional skills that are prized by people. As everyone sings along, tribe members hold wooden pestles of varying lengths and knock on a stone half buried in the ground to create different tones.
“To lure fish with floating islets” is the Shao's method of fishing. They create bamboo racks, on which is placed a layer of soil. They then plant butterfly ginger or other plants into the soil and, when the roots of the plants grow into the water, fish come searching for food. The floating racks become the best places to catch fish and are similar to today's artificial reefs. However, unlike other general artificial reefs which are found underwater, the artificial reefs of Sun Moon Lake float on the water. |
