Aboriginal Folk Tales of Taiwan

The Aboriginal Peoples of Taiwan have a rich and varied cultural heritage. Historically, there was no written form of their native languages. Cultural knowledge and values within the different tribal groups was often transmitted through folk tales. These folk tales offer a valuable window into the rich cultural history of the Aboriginal Peoples of Taiwan. Furthermore, the tales contain fundamental values that aim to teach younger members a sense of right and wrong. It is one important way the tribal groups have been able to keep their traditions and ways of thinking alive. To this day, these tales serve as a crucial way of passing heritage and values to the younger generations of indigenous tribal members.

Many of the folk tales of the indigenous peoples in Taiwan have an intimate relationship with nature. As such, the aboriginal folk tales of these peoples represent an important element of their ‘native’ literatures, and are being increasingly appreciated as forming an essential part of Taiwan’s national culture. This book presents essential elements of this indigenous literature through selected folk tales, featuring animals, heroes, and ordinary people having heroic experiences. This book contains 42 black and white photographs.