How to Cross the Pacific Without a Compass? Shisanhang's 'Sailing the Wind' Exhibition Reveals Austronesian Seafaring Wisdom

Thousands of years ago, how did the ancestors of the Austronesian people cross the vast Pacific Ocean without compasses or GPS? The New Taipei City Shisanhang Museum presents the 'Sailing the Wind: Ancient Austronesian Vessels Exhibition,' featuring rare artifacts such as the 'Marshall Islands Traditional Stick Chart,' the Tao people's plank canoe, and traditional dugout canoe models from various countries. Starting from traditional chants that invoke the sea and ancestral spirits, the exhibition deciphers the mysteries of ancient boat-building techniques and revives the epic memory of Austronesian ancestors who voyaged across half the globe.

This exhibition thoroughly analyzes how Austronesian peoples used unique maritime technologies to transform the vast ocean into a network of interconnected pathways. It unfolds in three thematic sections. 'Departure: From Ark to Archipelago' illustrates the Austronesian language family’s distribution across more than 13,000 kilometers, explores the academic 'Out of Taiwan' hypothesis, and reconstructs the epic maritime migration routes of early seafarers. 'Vanished Vessels, Enduring Journeys' focuses on archaeological discoveries in Taiwan. Since wooden boats rarely survive in soil layers, archaeologists piece together prehistoric maritime technology from unearthed artifacts, confirming Taiwan’s pivotal role in Austronesian maritime culture. 'Island as Ship, Life Facing the Sea' showcases rituals, festivals, and oral sayings related to boats, revealing the essence of Austronesian cultures that live in harmony with the sea, helping visitors understand the ocean as a lived space.

The 'Marshall Islands Traditional Stick Chart' exemplifies the astonishing navigational wisdom of Pacific ancestors. (Photo: Shisanhang Museum, New Taipei City)

The exhibition features 46 groups of artifacts. A highlight is the 'Marshall Islands Traditional Stick Chart,' which uses wooden sticks to indicate ocean currents and shell fragments to mark island locations. This teaching tool, passed down through generations, vividly demonstrates the remarkable wayfinding intelligence of Pacific Islanders. Alongside exquisite boat models and rich archaeological finds, the exhibition is co-organized with institutions including the Republic of the Marshall Islands Embassy, National History Museum, Institute of Ethnology at Academia Sinica, National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, and Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. It also features contemporary artworks by artists such as Laha Daliuf, Chen Cheng-jui, and Kang Ya-chu, interpreting the enduring maritime vitality of Austronesian communities through diverse artistic expressions.

Dr. Pei-Hsuan Lo, Director of the Shisanhang Museum, stated that the exhibition not only showcases the exceptional seafaring skills of ancient Austronesian peoples through various vessels and artifacts but also conveys a sustainable spirit of harmony between humans and the ocean. 'We hope visitors will recognize the courage of Austronesian ancestors and become more aware of preserving and protecting maritime cultures today.'

The 'Sailing the Wind: Ancient Austronesian Vessels Exhibition' runs from now until May 9, 2027, in the Second Special Exhibition Hall of the Shisanhang Museum. For more information, visit the museum’s official website (http://www.sshm.ntpc.gov.tw) or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/13hangmuseum).