Taiwanese Materials
This part of the exhibition introduces the early period of Taiwanese history before and after its incorporation into the Ch’ing Empire in 1683. Major items include documents of four generations of Koxinga’s line, maps of the island, The General Paintings of Taiwan’s Aboriginal Peoples, which record the social and cultural aspects of aboriginals during the 17th and 18th century, and aboriginal-relating artifacts collected by fellows of the Institute in the 1930s.
 

The Genre Paintings of Taiwan’s Aboriginal Peoples: Catching Fish

Resource Identifier:85361
Resource Type:paper
Description:This picture depicts two methods of catching fish employed by the Siraya of Backlaun and Doroko in southern Taiwan. One of these methods required a bamboo basket, or koa, to imprison the fish, and the other bows, arrows and spears to skewer them. After the fish were caught, they were immediately placed in a bamboo container tied to the waist. Under Chinese influence, the practice of spearing fish gradually disappeared.。
Date:A.D. 1736-1795
Format:Height 40.5, width 29.5 cm
   
   
The Genre Paintings of Taiwan’s Aboriginal Peoples: Welcoming the Bride

Resource Identifier:85361
Resource Type:paper
Description:Most of the Taiwan aboriginal society was matriarchal by nature, with the man marrying into the women’s family. Young men and women chose their own marriage partners. After the wedding, the bride and groom, hand in hand, returned to the woman’s home. For this reason, marriage was termed “khansiu” (lead by the hand).
Date:A.D. 1736-1795
Format:Height 40.5, width 29.5 cm
   
   
Boundaries Dividing Han Chinese and Aborigines (detail)

Resource Identifier:196948
Resource Type:paper
Description:The Governor-general of Min-che, Yang T’ing-chang, requested this map to define the boundaries between the Han Chinese and the aborigines. Displaying traditional landscape-painting methods, it is rare in its extra-large size.
Date:A.D. 1760
Format:Height 48.0, width 82.0 cm
A.D. 1760)
   
   
Attire Made of Shell-beads and Linen

Resource Identifier:E00386
Description:This woven shell-bead dress luks kaha, made of linen, is decorated with thousands of shell-beads. The arms slip into openings at the sleeve position or the garment is simply draped over the back. This was most likely the attire of a chieftain or other powerful individual.
Format:Length 95.0, width 51.0 cm
Coverage:Collected in northern Taiwan
   
   
The Genre Paintings of Taiwan’s Aboriginal Peoples: Husking Rice 85361

Resource Identifier:85361
Resource Type:paper
Description:The aborigines had no complex milling facilities, relying instead on a simple mortar and pestle, and threshing only enough rice for the day's needs. After the harvest, rice stalks were hung in a small room beside the house. In the foreground of this picture a tree blossoms with red flowers. This is the ratoon which bloomed with the arrival of Spring. Because the aborigines had no calendar, the blossoming of the ratoo marked the beginning of a new year.
Date:A.D. 1736-1795
Format:Height40.5,width29.5 cm

 

 

Text and images are provided by Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica

Digital Resources and Archived Images Application