Jez's Blog

1. What do you think about Atyal’s facial tattoo? Do you have tattoo culture in your country? If yes, what are those differences between two cultures.
I think Atyal's facial tattoo is really symbolic to their culture. Although it is painful and inerasable, it's still one of the most marvelous thing that strongly symbolizes the Atyal culture. However, most of the Atyal people don't get their traditional facial tattoo anymore, but I belief that the elders of the Atyal will still hold fast to this tradition as long as possible, until the end of their life. Yes, there is tattoo culture in my country, Taiwan. In fact, Atyal is the aboriginal tribe in Taiwan which has tattoo culture. Other than that, some people in Taiwan also get tattoos, but it is not a tradition nor part of the culture, it's only for fun and fashion(?).

2. Saisiyat people choose their surnames from plants, animals and natural phenomena. In your country, do you think a person’s surname has special meaning which can reflect your own culture and why?
Again, Saisiyat is one of the aboriginal tribes in my country, Taiwan. Other than Saisiyat people, I don't think people in Taiwan, in general, chose their surnames from plants, animals and natural phenomena. The surnames of general people in Taiwan are mostly passed down from their ancestors, mostly from the main land China I suppose. However, I know that people do chose certain words in their first name. For instance, the word '麗' represents 'beautiful', therefore you might see this word in a girl's first name, blessing the girl to grow into a beautiful woman.

3. Lily is a symbol of RuKai. In your country, what’s your national flower and what it means.
Plum Blossom is the national flower of Taiwan. Plum Blossoms bloom in the winter, which represents that Taiwanese people are as strong as Plum Blossoms, we stay strong in harsh external conditions, and the worse the external conditions are, the strong we become, like Plum Blossoms, the cooler the weather is, more beautiful the flowers of plum Blossoms will be.

4. On Beian’s traditional weddings, you can see a prospective bride climbing a giant swing. And tribesmen swing her until the swing sails like kites. In your country, do you have any special ceremonies that are held on weddings? Please explain it.
In a traditional wedding of my country, people celebrate it by giving a meal to friends and relatives. The bride and the groom will drink in honer to each table of guests. Then these guests will give the bride and the groom red envelopes with money in them. Also, if the wedding is really really traditional, the bride and the groom would pray 3 times before they become husband and wife. The first pray is to the universe (god), second is to their parents, and the third is to each other.