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There are 14 mountainous tribes in Taiwan. In the history, Truku is a migrating tribe, and lived in remote mountains. The Truku tribes are mostly distributed in Shioulin Township and Wanrong Township of Hualien County, Lishan Village of Chosi Township, as well as Chingfeng Village, Nanhua Village, and Fuhsing Village of Ji-an Township. Shioulin Township and Wanrong Township of Hualien County are two areas with the most population of Truku tribes. However, the region covers a large mountainous area, and the tribes are scattered., thus, there are very explorations of the tribes. Moreover, they live independently without much interaction with other tribes; hence, there are limited literature and records. Considering their rich and unique culture, it is an interesting topic to be explored. This project interviews the cultural and historical workers of Shioulin Township, and shares the knowledge about facial tattoos of Truku tribes.

The historical data about Truku people are limited due to their habit of living in the deep and vast mountains, loose distribution of residents, and living on their own, making it difficult for outsiders to visit or contact them. The government has established many systems to protect indigenous peoples’ cultures, which are diversified and unique, especially the culture of facial tattoo and cloth weaving (spool spinning). Exploring the tribal cultures has also become a trend. A large number of elders and local residents of Wanrong Township have shown their passion and caring towards tribal cultures, including Yusi Weaving Studio, Tuxi Studio, and Malibasi Cultural Studio from Wanrong Village; Ai-mei Feng who makes craft products, Payi Iyang, a talented and kind artist, Payi Uhay who specializes in traditional cloth weaving as well as Rong-fa Li, Rong-gui Li, and Jin-de Chiang, who creates traditional ramie back nets from Jianching Village and Sachi Aboriginal Studio and Hongyeh Mountainous Woodcarving Studio from Hongyeh Village.
     This special report introduces the art of facial tattoo in Truku custom. A complete introduction is presented through words and images to unveil the Truku art of facial tattoo.

References:

1. The Geographic Distribution and an Introduction to Taiwan Indigenous Peoples—Truku Tribe. (2006.06).   
http://www.tacp.gov.tw/intro/nine/taroko/taroko1. HTM.
2. Liao, S.C. (1977). ‘The Migration and Distribution of the East Sejiq of the Atayal (1)’. Collected Papers of Academia Sinica Institute of Ethnology, 44.
3. Pan, C.D. (2003). ‘“The Development of Mountainous Areas and the Comforting of Barbarians” of Late Ch'ing Dynasty and the Change of Interest of Taiwan Truku’, The Historical Cultivation 9: 49-70. Taipei: Graduate Institute of History, National Taiwan Normal University.