Atayal
The Atayal has the largest distribution of Taiwan’s indigenous tribes, stretching from the Zhuoshui River in Nantou County to the Heping River in Yilan County, and is the third largest tribe. According to tribal legend, the Atayal originated from a large boulder along the banks of the upper reaches of the Beigang River in Nantou County, which split open to reveal their ancestors. Today, this boulder is considered sacred and referred to as “Pinsebukan” in the Atayal language.
The Atayal is traditionally a patrilineal society and possessed a clan system. The Atayal traditionally hunted and carried out cultivation. All of the members of the tribe are governed by the GaGa, a set of rules and taboos left behind by the ancestors. The Atayal hold ceremonies and rights according to the seasons. For example, every year in September or October, each Atayal village holds the GaGa or ancestral spirit worship ceremony.
This tribe also practiced facial tattooing, which symbolized entry into adulthood and eligibility for marriage. A woman could have her face tattooed only by proving her skill at weaving and a man only by proving his skill on the hunting grounds or battlefield. Once a son or daughter was married, he or she was expected to leave the parents’ home until finally only the youngest son was left to stay with the parents and take care of them. This allowed the Atayal men to leave home and explore new areas, which is one of the reasons for the tribe’s large distribution.
