Taiwaneses Aborigines
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Aborigines forced to use Chinese names, legislator says
OBSTRUCTIVE:When registering their names at household registration offices, Aborigines said they often have to face uncooperative officials By Cheng Hung-daand Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer The practice of Aborigines using Chinese-language surnames is a result of discriminatory government policies, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Kolas Yotaka said. Chen (陳) and Lin (林) are the most common surnames for Aborigines, with 10.43 percent, or 57,340 people, surnamed Lin and 9.75 percent, or 53,583 people, surnamed Chen, a Ministry of the Interior report said. Chen and Lin are the most common Aboriginal surnames nationwide, except in Nantou County and Chiayi County, where Lin is primarily used in areas north of Taitung, as well as Hualien, Taitung, Kinmen and Matsu, it added. Kolas, during a legislative session on Wednesday, said that the “Regulations on Restoration of Original Names of Citizens of Taiwan,” promulgated by the government in 1945, forced Aborigines to adopt Han Chinese names, which disrupted their culture and society. In the past, Household Registration Service Offices staff frequently named Aborigines on a whim, and occasionally gave different surnames to people living in the same household, she said. Kolas called on the government to improve training for civil servants to address systemic racism, saying although the Name Act (姓名條例) was amended to facilitate the registration of Aboriginal names, Aborigines say that they are often confronted with uncooperative or unfriendly civil servants at household registration offices. In related news, the ministry’s biennial report on the nation’s surnames indicated that Chen and Lin remain the most common surnames nationally, with 2,619,560 people, or 11.14 percent of people, surnamed Chen and 1,953,760 people, or 8.31 percent of people, surnamed Lin. Huang (黃) is the third-most common surname with 1,421,439 people, or 6.05 percent of people registered, the report said. Chen and Lin are a combined 19.45 percent of the population, while the fourth to 10th-most common surnames are Chang (張), Lee (李), Wang (王), Wu (吳), Liu (劉), Tsai (蔡) and Yang (楊); 12,406,443 people are registered under one of the 10 most prevalent surnames, or 52.77 percent of the population, the report said. When weighed by the “aging index” — a value defined as the ratio of individuals over 65 years of age to individuals under 14 years of age — individuals surnamed Liu have an aging index of 99.73 percent, while the overall population has an index of 95.36 percent, making Liu the oldest surname, the report said. Although Taiwanese laws have allowed parents to name or rename their children with the surname of either parent for the past 10 years, only 2.24 percent of the population, or 520,6596 people, are given their maternal name, the report said.
Taiwan's Aborigines Hope A New President Will Bring Better Treatment
On a busy Taipei street corner, students in tribal tunics, bare feet and temporary facial tattoos are taking part in an impromptu ceremony. The students, aboriginals at National Taiwan University, line up and shout out their names and the names of their tribes. Recounting their hardships, some of them weep. For a long time, says a woman named Yayut, she concealed her identity as an aborigine. "When people heard I was an aborigine, they said, 'You don't look like one,'" she says, sobbing. Yayut's classmates cry and cheer her on. Watching the ceremony is Wang Mei-hsia, the students' anthropology teacher. Wang explains that before the Chinese Nationalist Party retreated and settled on Taiwan when the Communist Party took over mainland China in 1949, the island had been a Japanese colony for half a century. The Japanese were the first to take aborigines' ancestral lands, and the Taiwanese state has owned the lands ever since. Thousands of years before ethnic Chinese settled on Taiwan, aboriginal tribes were hunting and farming the land. The island's aborigines are an Austronesian people, some of whose ancestors are believed to have come from the Philippines. Today, indigenous people account for only 2 percent of Taiwan's population. They face a lack of economic opportunity in their own communities, forcing them to look for work elsewhere. They lack control over their resources — timber and water, for example, which are often taken from them without compensation. Many younger indigenous people are unaware of their own cultural and linguistic traditions. At the inauguration of newly elected President Tsai Ing-wen on May 20, aboriginal tribesmen in ethnic costumes sang and danced onstage, and Tsai promised to make amends for the way previous governments have treated indigenous tribes. She promised an "apologetic attitude" – if not an actual apology – and to improve indigenous tribes' livelihoods, promote self-governance and protect tribes' languages and culture. For Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party, there are also bigger political considerations in play. The party has pushed for formal independence from China. Part of that effort has been to focus on indigenous peoples, in order to establish a Taiwanese cultural identity separate from that of China. But Wang, the anthropology teacher, says the government often fails to understand the key relationship between aborigines and their land. Existing laws only give aboriginal people limited land rights. "Judging from the legislation they've put forward, I feel what the government can do is limited," Wang says. "I don't think the government necessarily understands what's going on up in the mountains." To find out, I traveled up into the mountains in the center of the island, to the village of Ksunu, which means "mist-covered" in the language of the Atayal people who live there. Locals were passing a rainy afternoon with food, drink and karaoke. Aboriginal rights activist Oto Micyang says in the past, the government passed laws intended to give local residents a degree of self-governance, but they're not very helpful. "If someone wants to build a hotel on our land, it's the county government that has to approve it, not the indigenous inhabitants," he says. "The government says we can organize cultural events and associations, and vote. But they have not given us back the right to manage our land." One of aborigines' biggest complaints is that they are not allowed to hunt. Hunting is a traditional way of managing the land and the wildlife on it, says Takao Wutao, an elder with the local Presbyterian church. But more than that, he says, it is a spiritual bond connecting the hunter with the land, and with the tribe. "Hunting is how we connect with our ancestors' wisdom about using the forest," he says. "The only way for us to receive this wisdom is to experience it in the forest." He explains that the Atayal have traditionally lived by an unwritten code, passed down from their ancestors, which teaches people how to interact with each other and with nature. But many young indigenous folk these days leave their tribal lands to study and work elsewhere, he says. He estimates there are only four people left in Ksunu village who can still be called hunters. Back at National Taiwan University, entomology major Chen Xi, a member of the Amis tribe, says he expects President Tsai's party will treat aborigines better than its predecessors have. But ultimately, he says, both major political parties represent Taiwan's ethnic Han Chinese majority. "Han people often forget their role as colonizers when they came to this island," he says. "Their lack of consciousness of this fact makes it even scarier." Even as aborigines were dancing onstage at the presidential inauguration, he notes, the official narration described the tribes as "rough and crude." "I hope," he says, "the [new] government will pay attention to the diversity of this land, and not just use indigenous people as a tool for independence."
Taiwan Foodie Train Trail Hungry in Taiwan is out of the question. For those hungry for adventure as well as always hungry, try this train trail.
By Han Wei Chou Posted 18 Oct 2016 07:48 Updated 18 Oct 2016 07:50 One of the best ways to see Taiwan is to let your belly lead the way! Taiwan has many cities which not only boast interesting monuments and cultural landmarks, but are also home to some mouth-watering delicacies. While popular dishes such as oyster omelette and crispy fried chicken cutlets are often copied and easily available across Taiwan, it's best to go off the beaten path. Make it a point to visit locations such as Changhua and Tainan for authentic-tasting specialty dishes such as Coffin Board toast or Rice Cake soup. The best way to accomplish this travel diet without burning a hole in your wallet is by train. As an added bonus, travelling by train gives you a chance to take in all the sights between stations, from farms to quaint townships. If you are in a hurry, the high-speed rail is also a viable alternative. But where should you go? Let us be your guide! Taipei City The first stop of our food tour is Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. Most travelers will get to Taiwan via the Taoyuan International Airport situated there. Taipei is the heart of rail travel in Taiwan and the ideal starting point for our food journey. But don't miss trying Taipei’s specialty foods including Green Bay Fu Yuan Biscuits and Nine Helpings Taro Balls dessert before heading off. The Green Bay Fu Yuan Biscuits are round, deliciously flaky pastries filled with sweet red bean paste, walnut pieces and a layer of mochi. If you still have room, you can go for the Nine Helpings Taro Balls dessert, a sweet treat made up of taro balls, sweet potato cubes and many other ingredients. From Taipei City, take a train straight to Changhua City, where more food awaits. Changhua City Changhua City is home to a massive 24-metre-tall Buddha statue atop the Bagua Mountain, and Taiwan’s oldest shrine to Chinese philosopher Confucius. But if you'd rather not ponder life, but your next meal while there, read on. Taiwan-style Meatball This location contains a large number of stalls selling the city’s specialty food, Taiwan-style meat balls. Each meatball is large enough to fill a small bowl, with a translucent outer skin that hides its succulent stuffing. Each meatball is usually filled with juicy pork, mushrooms and bamboo shoots, and drenched in a sweet and savoury sauce. Visitors to Changhua can also try the Bagua Mountain Yaki. These are small, interestingly-shaped confections with sweet fillings, and are not easily available elsewhere. Going further South, our next stop is Chiayi City. Chiayi City Some of the earliest immigrants to Taiwan, from Zhangzhou in China’s Fujian Province, landed in Chiayi City. Ali Mountain (Alishan), a scenic area which attracts thousands of tourists each year, is also located near Chiayi City, and can be reached via the Alishan Forest Railway. But Chiayi is noted for something else that draws foodies, Xin Gang Yi It is known as Xin Gang Yi, a sweet confection that is found nowhere else in Taiwan. This locally-made delicacy combines malt sugar, white sugar, flour and peanuts. The malt sugar serves as a chewy, sweet container for the fragrant crushed peanuts. And it is a contrasting confection as it melts in your mouth. This is a welcome snack if you intend to spend the day taking in the natural sights of nearby Ali Mountain. But while you're at it, those with a sweet tooth should look out for the Hua Guo Su. This is a sort of peanut candy, as well. This crunchy treat has a pastry core covered with a layer of malt and fragrant crushed peanuts. Just a short hop away from Chiayi City is neighbouring Tainan City. Tainan City Tainan City is the oldest city in Taiwan. It was once the capital of Taiwan and has continuously reinvented itself throughout Taiwan’s history. Tainan is said to have the largest number of Buddhist and Taoist temples among Taiwan’s cities. It also has some really tasty specialty dishes that visitors have to sample! Among them are Danzi Noodles, Mackerel Stew and Coffin Toast. Danzai Noodles Danzai Noodles got its name from the way it was sold in the past. Hawkers would carry pots of noodles and broth balanced on two ends of a pole placed on their shoulders. These mouthwatering noodles are usually served with generous helpings of stewed mincemeat, bean sprouts and prawns, topped with a stewed egg for that bit of extra flavour. Mackerel Stew This is thick, flavourful and satisfying. Mackerel Stew is based on cabbage that is sliced and boiled in broth to create the stew base. Crispy fried fresh mackerel is then added along with some noodles to complete this local favourite. Coffin Board Toast. Even if you are in a hurry, you must not miss out on Tainan City’s Coffin Board toast. A thick slice of bread is dipped in beaten egg, and slowly toasted over charcoal until it turns an alluring golden brown. The center is then hollowed out and stuffed with the filling of your choice. Different stalls offer varying fillings ranging from curry to savoury shredded chicken. Its plank shape vaguely resembles a coffin board and that is how the dish got its name. This is far from the end of our trip. Pingtung is next! Pingtung City Pingtung City is built on what was once a village populated by Taiwanese aborigines. It is the administrative seat of Pingtung County, which includes the popular beach holiday destination Kenting. Visitors to Pingtung City can visit the Pingtung City Night Market and the Rui Guang Night Market to immerse themselves in local culture. This is also where you can enjoy a variety of interesting foods. Shuang Gao Run. This is a sweet, sticky cake that is a specialty of Pingtung. It is a traditional confection with roots in China’s Fujian province. Glutinous rice flour is made into a paste and steamed. A layer of brown sugar is then added. Some stalls sell the cakes with red bean or taro layers as well. Keelung City This is a port city. That means Keelung City has a rich history of trade and commerce due to its location along the Northeastern coast of Taiwan. It has remained a bustling port city since its founding, and being an important fishing port till today, it serves many fishing vessels which bring in fresh seafood every day. Due to the fresh seafood in Keelung City, a favourite among the locals is seafood tempura. Ding Bian Cuo This is a soupy dish, that is another specialty of Keelung City. To make Ding Bian Cuo, a mixture of rice flour, sweet potato flour and water is poured on the sides of a wok containing a delicious stock. The wok is covered and the mixture is steamed for a few minutes then scraped off. These springy pieces are then cooked in a meaty broth before being served with mushrooms, cabbage and fish meat. Finish with a short train ride back to Taipei City from Keelung City. This trip has essentially brought you around the whole of Taiwan. There is no doubt that Taiwan’s cities all have their specialties and there is still more to see and savour! Ready for our final stop which is Keelung City?
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1 Taiwanese aborigines is the term commonly applied to the indigenous peoples of Taiwan, who number more than 530,000 and constitute nearly 2.3% of the island's population.
2 Recent research suggests Taiwanese aborigines' ancestors may have been living on Taiwan for approximately 8,000 years before a major Han immigration began in the 17th century.
3 Taiwanese aborigines are Austronesian peoples, with linguistic and genetic ties to other Austronesian ethnic groups, which includes those of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Madagascar and Oceania.