- Chinese Name: 南投縣魚池鄉邵族社區發展協會
- Year of Establishment:2011
- Located At: Nantou County (Central Taiwan)
- Did You Know That ...?
- Legend goes that the ancestors of the Thao tribe discovered Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) when they were chasing a white deer in a hunting session. Amazed by the beautiful surroundings of the lake, the tribe relocated from their mountain home near the Chianan Plain and resettled in Yuchi Township, making Sun Moon Lake their home.
- English Address:
- No. 62 Yiyong St., Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
- Contact Number: +886-4-9285-0036
- Website:http://sixstar.moc.gov.tw/blog/thaw20051216
The Thao tribe is the smallest indigenous group in Taiwan. In face of a dwindling population of roughly 752 people and the diminishing use of its mother tongue, the cultural development association was established to revive the tribe. It has since helped consolidate Thao identity and empower the community.
Most of the Thao people reside in Sun Moon Village by the lake while the remaining tribe live in Shuili Township of Nantou County. They have mainly maintained their traditional way of life by fishing, farming, hunting, and gathering. Though the group has also adopted many aspects of Chinese culture, they still keep their traditional culture, religious beliefs, and language.
In 1999, the epicenter of the Sept. 21 earthquake was in Nantou County, resulting in many of the Thao people losing their homes and jobs. Although the 7.3-magnitude quake devastated their tribe, it also consolidated the strength and will of the Thao tribe in rebuilding their homes and culture.
The cultural development association aims to preserve the Thao culture, save the indigenous language, and make the tribe prosperous. The association holds weekly classes to teach the Thao language to members of their younger generation, and encourages more people to participate in a local aboriginal-language theater contest.
The Thao has retained their traditional rituals until today. The most significant ritual of all is the worship of "ulalaluwan (祖靈籃),” a basket representing deities whom they pray to at home and in every festival. The association has been advocating the practice of the ritual and explaining the ritual's origins at the annual Thao harvest festival. The festival brings together the Thao people and drives regional tourism.
"Deer Chase Market (逐鹿市集),” a performance group established by the association, has become one of the attractions at Sun Moon Lake. The troupe presents their history, folktales, and legends through traditional songs and dance performances. The performance group not only preserves such traditions but also enables more people to appreciate Thao culture.
Sun Moon Lake is home to the Thao tribe, and Thao culture is the cultural highlight of the region. The association, which has served to revive and preserve the diminishing culture and language of the Thao, now hopes to cultivate management professionals to develop the community in more aspects.