Paiwan Shaman's Box
prepared by Huang bomin
This is a box
used by the shamans of the Paiwan tribe and referred to as kanepochi or anepochi
in that tribe’s native language. These boxes were mostly made from wood. They
served as containers for objects used in divination rites. These varied from
village to village, but often included a small metal knife or metal strip,
bamboo tube, square wood plate, pig skin, pig bones, bark, fruit, seeds, small
bottle gourd and pebbles, etc. The knife or metal strip was used to symbolically
cut items used during the performing of rites. Seeds represented the beads of
the tribal deities and the box itself was considered their throne. During
divination rites, the shaman would place a seed on the arc of the bottle gourd
and continuously ask the deities a question until the seed stopped moving. Where
it stopped represented the answer. According to written records, the bamboo tube
contained dried pigskin and pig bones. These represented a whole pig offered as
a sacrifice. The wood plate was used for holding offerings and the objects used
in the performance of rites. Sometimes, shamans would use fresh banyan or
mulberry leaves instead of a wooden plate. Most Paiwan shamans are female,
and performing healing rites is one of their most important duties.This shaman’s box
measures approximately 21 cm in length, 14 cm in width
and 4 cm in height. It is carved with 26 human faces and decorated with 52
brass stud “eyes”.
The upper part of the box is
made of woven
ramie. Straps are connected to this for the shaman to carry the box on the back.