Taivoan Cultural Institute

The Taivoan people (Taivoan language: Taivoan), also known as the Daman people, are an indigenous group of Taiwan. Qing Dynasty documents referred to them as the “Four-Community Acculturated Indigenous People” (四社熟番) and “Mountain-Dependent Acculturated Indigenous People” (倚山熟番), names derived from the communities established by the Taivoan people: Taivoan, Siaoli, Mangamia, and Jiaba. The original homeland of these four communities was the Yujing Basin in Tainan (earlier, they were located in areas like Danei District and Shanshang District). Today, they are primarily distributed in the hills and river valleys of Tainan and Kaohsiung. The original Xiaolin community was located in the middle and upper reaches of the Nanzixian River. Most of its original residents were Taivoan people, and the community still preserves the authentic Taivoan traditional spiritual site, the “Kuba” (公廨, Kuba in Taivoan language). Its guardian deity is Fantaizu (also known as Taizu, and formerly called Kuba Ancestor). The 15th day of the ninth lunar month is “Kaixiang” (opening of the path), on which the community holds the “Night Ritual.” The Taivoan Cultural Institute is located in the foothills of Moon Mountain in Shangping Village, Shanlin District. It was built here after the destruction of Xiaolin village by Typhoon Morakot in 2009, which forced residents to leave their homes. Unable to bear the complete loss of their original hometown, the villagers rebuilt Nikko Xiaolin (Sunlight Xiaolin). From an aerial view, the layout of the houses and community is almost identical to their beautiful original hometown, Xiaolin, and even the original “Zhongyi Road” was renamed back. Strolling leisurely through Nikko Xiaolin, one can see modern houses with features of plains indigenous peoples, as well as gardens planted with indigenous plants. In this beautiful and tranquil atmosphere, one can fully feel the residents’ deep affection for their hometown’s culture and humanity, as well as their optimistic and kind nature. It’s as if walking through a time corridor where echoes of old Xiaolin and contemporary Xiaolin resonate repeatedly. The Xiaolin Taivoan people possess rich traditional songs and ritual culture. Remarkably, in 2011, community members from Little Love Xiaolin, the ancestral land of Wulipu, and other areas came together to form the Daman Dance Troupe. Their goal was to revitalize traditional songs and ritual culture, serving as a driving force for healing and a new beginning, and their achievements have been remarkable. They have visited Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia. The complete repertoire they developed has toured nationwide, performing at venues such as the National Center for Traditional Arts in Taipei, the National Taichung Theater, and the Weiwuying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, receiving widespread acclaim. They were also invited to perform at significant events like the National Day Eve Gala and “Seeing the City.” Their recorded traditional song “Dancing Home” was nominated for the Golden Melody Awards for Traditional Arts and Music. Visiting Nikko Xiaolin to watch the Daman Dance Troupe perform is an excellent opportunity to learn about and appreciate the cultural heritage of Austronesian peoples. The Taivoan Cultural Institute, located in Nikko Xiaolin, features diverse, living exhibition spaces. The earth-mound style houses are fresh and bright, and the gardens are filled with indigenous plants. The reconstructed Taivoan Kuba, the exhibition and performance space at the community activity center, and the cultural and creative product sales center in the workshop, all contribute to visitors experiencing the unique cultural charm of Nikko Xiaolin. Furthermore, the Taivoan Cultural Institute actively organizes the “Taivoan Song and Dance Cultural Festival” and community cultural exchange events. This revitalizes important Taivoan rituals like “Jinxiang” (Taboo Direction/Opening) and “Praying for Rain,” making them significant local cultural features and promoting cultural depth and sharing. The post-disaster reconstruction of Nikko Xiaolin, in fact, offers courage on how to face disaster and embodies a “For Happiness” philosophy of life, making it a cultural experience space truly worth immersing oneself in and learning from.