Center for Multi-cultural Studie

Implementation period of the project: October 13, 2022 to April 10, 2023

Project members: Project Director Shiung, Chung-Ching, Co-director Alak Akatuang

The origin of the project:

The Siraya people in Tainan have experienced the influence of foreign ethnic groups and Han culture, and their ethnic identity has been severely eroded. In the 1990s, the localization of Taiwan and the self-conscious rectification movement of the aborigines in the mountains allowed the Siraya people to gradually regain their dignity and cultural identity. However, under the influence of contemporary ethnic politics, the indigenous identity of the Siraya people has not yet been approved by the central authorities. Despite the setbacks and difficulties, the Siraya ethnic identity and cultural revival is the path that must be persisted. The cultural assets of the Siraya people occupy an important position in the cultural revival movement, because they are not only material or intangible evidence to understand the history of the Siraya people, but also an opportunity to enhance the identity and cultural survival of the contemporary Siraya people.

This research plan considers the cultural assets with Siraya characteristics in Tainan as the research target. The research team found that the buildings known as "kuva" in the past are closely related to the traditional Alizu belief of the Siraya people, and have the potential of cultural asset value, which is worthy of in-depth investigation. However, taking into account the limitations of research time and funds, the scope of the research space is set as the Siraya settlement north of Zengwen River. Under such a background, this project proposes to conduct a more in-depth investigation and research on Siraya "Kuva" and traditional beliefs north of Zengwen River.