After doing all the research, I realise that Taiwan is not only a country of delicious food, lots of fun, shopping paradise and relaxation heaven, but it is also a place with history and backgrounds. all the food at different cities representing some meaning behind the lifestyle of the locals. Although Taiwan is small but if you look at each city as its own and to explore, you will find out each and every one of them tells a different story and have a total different history and lifestyle. At each location, the way of locals treating you also different. Some of them can be friendly and approachable while others can be fierce and straight but slowly you will realise this is what the culture and history behind them make them this way. Taiwan is not a country for fun only but also an eye-opening country with lots of interesting traditions and special culture.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
reflection and conclusion
Globalization and “disneyfied”
( significant design of the boat )Even when Yami people still living at the Orchid Island, the place still being disneyfied, maybe gifts, dolls, hand crafts are make to represent Yami people. They learn to standardise the outlook of the survivors thus create a common image of the place, by doing this, when people see the item they will remember Yami people.
Focus of their calendar of events
As flying fish are seen as the gift from the heaven, every march as that is the best period for catching Flying fish; ceremonies are held to celebrate the capture of flying fish. Yami woman will perform a very special tribal dance called ‘the hair dance” and for male they will dance in a way to show their power and strength.
There will also be another celebration practice by the Yami, it will the launch of a new boat. As building a boat Is very important to them, when a new boat is done, everybody will gather to the seaside to witness the launch of it.
Tourism impact and Authenticity of the culture
Maybe many of the culture are no longer practice within Yami but I believe some of them are still keep the traditions, with globalisation, Taiwan are much diversified. More investors see the potential of Taiwan and set up company there, thus many Yami will choose to go to city and work rather than to stay in the Island and continue the traditional way of living. There are lesser and lesser Yami living by Flying fish or I bet none of them still wear the traditional white and blue clothing. This is the impact of tourism and globalisation. It make the world smaller also brings other culture into Yami people.
Culture and traditions of an indigenous group
As Taiwan is a country with rich culture, there are many different indigenous groups. There are total 14 indigenous groups. They are Saisiyat,Rukai,Puyama,Atayal,Amis,Bunun,Paiwan,Thao,Tsou,Kavalan,Truku,Sakizaya, Seediq and of course Yami.
Many of then maybe many people do not even have heard of, it can be cause of some of the groups are really small, or cause indigenous groups are not something the locals proud of, thus many of them want to hide their real identities, however now many young Taiwanese find the rich culture and heritage is their roots and important history of who they are, thus it have been slowly open up nowadays.
I will focus on introducing one of the indigenous groups to you, Yami, as Yami Tribe do have some relationship with me. My grandma herself is one of Yami tribesmen, since young she tells me lots of interesting stories that I have never heard of, it remains as a precious memory of me. Yami people are the unique indigenous group among all. The total population of Yami in Taiwan now is only 2,900. They name themselves ‘tao’ which means ‘people’.
Most of the Yami people do not live on Taiwan Island itself, many of them live on Taiwan’s south eastern coast, the Orchid Island. As Orchid Island is a small Island near Taiwan Island, and it’s surrounded by sea, Yami people have a culture called ‘flying fish Culture’. Every March flying fish will be sent to the sea near Orchid Island by the turning ‘kuroshiro current’ (black tide), thus fishing become the way of how Yami people survive. Many cuisines related to flying fish have also become the representative dish for Yami people. Yami people treat Flying Fish as a gift from heaven and they classified the fishers into three categories. According resources, they are:
“Old people fishes (only to be consumed by elders)
Men fishes (smelly, sandpaper like skin, prohibited to women)
Women fishes (tender texture flesh, for all to consume) “
This also shows the tradition of Yami people, in traditional family of Yami; man is the one provides food for the whole family. man have to catch all three type of fish for families with different age and gender.
Other significant food of Yami will be taro and sweet potato.
As fishing is so important to Yami, Boat is another essential for fishing, building of boat is very important to Yami people, a size of 10 people boat can take up to 3 consecutive years to build.
Yami people’s signature clothing will be In white and blue as it reflects the sea and marine life.
Yami people are the peace lovers; they are the only one indigenous group that do not practice head-hunting. They will throw small stones at each other when having a conflict and the issue counted as over if one side gets hurt.
When I was young, I remember Grandma always keeps food separately in different kind of containers. This is also an tradition of the Yami, they will design different containers for all kind of food.
What represents the culture of Taiwan
( oysters omelette aka. ่ตไป็ )
(rice noodles with oysters aka O-a-mee sua) (fried meatballs)
However, in the other part of Taiwan, Taoyuan, it is another kind of food. As Taoyuan has been influence by the immigrants from the Fujian, China. In Changhua, you can seldom find any beef cuisine, they use pork mostly however in Taoyuan, and the most famous dish will be the hot and spicy beef noodle (Niu Rou Mian).
(beef noodle aka Niu Rou Mian)
And in Tainan, don’t be surprise if the locals say ‘Coffin Sandwich’ if you ask locals what’s their famous food. This is cause of the creativity of the locals and the cheerful and openness. ‘Coffin Sandwich’ (guan cai ban) is actually thick toast with a mixture ingredients such as seafood, chicken and a various type of vegetables.
(‘Coffin Sandwich’ guan cai ban)
Perception of TAIWAN
Before I do any research on Taiwan, Taiwan is mysteries beauty to me.it can be like experienced grandma who is gentle, friendly and loving with lots of stories, it can also be like a is a young and energetic young adult who’s new to this society and interested in everything. Taiwan is famous about its night life and activities; you can see its lively side such as its night markets, however Taiwan can also be a country with a mixture of rich culture and traditions. Although Taiwan is not a very old country but the history background of it makes Taiwan a country of stories.
