Indigenous Taiwanese Tattoo Traditions: Paiwan

Voiceover

Presenter(s)

Alison Chen

Abstract or Description

Historically, the country of Taiwan has long been overshadowed by its western Pacific Ocean neighbors, China and Japan. Taiwan has also been subject to Dutch and Spanish colonial interests, given its enviable geographical location. Despite centuries of rule under the Qing Dynasty and decades of occupation by European forces, the Indigenous people have carefully preserved their customs and ethnic traditions from these outside influences. Today, Taiwan is home to a rich diversity of Indigenous culture and landscape. Challenges, however, beset the disappearing art of traditional Indigenous tattooing.

The Paiwan tribe offers a prominent example. First regulated then banned by Japanese colonization during the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries the customary tattoo culture of the Paiwan has sharply declined since. The importance of approaching this topic thoroughly through a combination of retrospective, sociopolitical, and prospective lens emphasizes the inseparable relationship between tattoos and native culture. Following the trajectory of Paiwan history is essential to understanding the techniques and materiality— as well as social and spiritual associations— found in their respective tattoo practices. It allows us to grasp the lasting effects of colonization, while simultaneously recognizing the slow, but promising revival of Paiwan culture and tattooing in modern times.