TAKAO Fengchao Series Unveiled! Pan-Tayal Cultural Festival Makes Its Debut, Showcasing Cultural Heritage

The Kaohsiung Indigenous Peoples Commission officially launched its 'TAKAO Fengchao' series of events on the 18th at Aozihdi Forest Park, kicking off with the first-ever 'Pan-Tayal Cultural Festival.' The event brought together the Truku, Seediq, and Tayal ethnic groups, showcasing their rich cultural heritage through rituals, song and dance performances, cultural experiences, and a特色 market, while also highlighting the achievements of youth involvement in cultural preservation.

The festival began with a blessing ceremony led by a Truku priest, symbolizing the official launch of the TAKAO Fengchao series. Legislative Councilor Hsu Chih-chieh and Kaohsiung City Councilors Chen Hsing-fu, Fan Chi-chin, and Kao Chung-te were present to support and promote Indigenous culture.

This year’s festival centered on the Truku people, featuring the performance of 'Tongle Ge' (Song of Shared Joy), which symbolizes hospitality and communal celebration, reflecting the cultural spirit of emotional bonding through music and dance during harvests and festivities. The Seediq performed ancient chants to convey ancestral history and spiritual beliefs, while young Tayal members sang the traditional 'Wu Wang' melody, emphasizing the importance of remembering ancestral teachings and cultural roots, expressing a wisdom of respecting nature and living in harmony with the environment.

Beyond stage performances, the event included exhibitions of Truku traditional houses and artifacts, hands-on experiences in banana rice cooking, weaving, and facial tattooing culture. An interactive game invited visitors to search for the Tayal traditional preserved meat 'tmmyan' at the market; completing tasks earned participants limited 'Fengle Coupons,' driving enthusiasm and boosting sales across 40特色 vendor booths.

The festival specially invited Ms. Hsieh Shu-hui, a Truku weaving master from Hualien County’s Hsiulin Township, to demonstrate her craft in Kaohsiung. She stated that promoting traditional weaving is her life mission, and upon receiving the invitation, immediately transported her loom and cultural tools to the city to help more people understand Truku culture. Coinciding with her birthday, the trip held special significance.

Ko-lang Sasak, chairman of the Kaohsiung Pan-Tayal Indigenous Cultural Care Association, shared that the association, established about two years ago, now has around 130 members. He emphasized the goal of uniting the Pan-Tayal community in Kaohsiung to collectively promote their culture. This year’s focus on the Truku people included inviting a Hualien priest to conduct a blessing ritual, wishing safety and prosperity for the community and expressing gratitude for public support.

Abus, Commissioner of the Kaohsiung Indigenous Peoples Commission, noted that the combined population of Tayal, Truku, and Seediq people in Kaohsiung has exceeded 3,100 and continues to grow. Despite the association’s short history, many young members are actively engaged in cultural preservation, demonstrating vitality and a strong sense of mission. The Commission will continue supporting ethnic cultural events, hoping the Pan-Tayal Cultural Festival becomes an annual tradition, allowing more citizens to experience Indigenous cultures.

The Commission announced that the 'TAKAO Fengchao' series will continue on July 25 with the Bunun Cultural Festival and the 'Mi A Za Indigenous Weekend Market' at Dadong Wetland Park, inviting the public to experience the diverse charm of Indigenous cultures.