The Tsou people, of whom there are only 7,000 representatives today, are indigenous to central and southern Taiwan. They are reckoned among the Taiwanese Aborigines, and speak their own dialects dissimilar to other Taiwanese languages. The original Tsou religion was animistic, though today most of Tsous are Catholic and Protestant.
The ALISHAN TSOU ensemble is from the city of Chiayi, and is affiliated with the Alishan Elementary and Junior High School. The Tsou tribe has two main annual rituals: the Mayashubi (a battle ritual), and the Homeyaya (millet ritual). At the Festival the ensemble is going to present the Homeyaya, which begins with the tribe’s elder calling out to all the clansmen to gather. Then, an exorcism is performed to drive away the negative energy, followed by a sacrifice to the millet goddess, and prayers to ancestral spirits for peace and safety. In a singular rite of passage an adolescent boy is flogged three times, which is supposed to initiate him into maturity. Finally, the Tsou warriors report to the clansmen on the state of the homelands and its protection.
The band will be playing such instruments as the er-hu (a traditional 2-stringed instrument whose sound is closest to the human voice), di-zi (a high-pitched bamboo flute), yang-chin (a dulcimer), pi-pa (a zither), jong-ruan (a zither, but with a softer sound than the pi-pa) and percussion instruments. Lin Wan-Ling is the ensemble leader.
The ALISHAN TSOU ensemble is from the city of Chiayi, and is affiliated with the Alishan Elementary and Junior High School. The Tsou tribe has two main annual rituals: the Mayashubi (a battle ritual), and the Homeyaya (millet ritual). At the Festival the ensemble is going to present the Homeyaya, which begins with the tribe’s elder calling out to all the clansmen to gather. Then, an exorcism is performed to drive away the negative energy, followed by a sacrifice to the millet goddess, and prayers to ancestral spirits for peace and safety. In a singular rite of passage an adolescent boy is flogged three times, which is supposed to initiate him into maturity. Finally, the Tsou warriors report to the clansmen on the state of the homelands and its protection.
The band will be playing such instruments as the er-hu (a traditional 2-stringed instrument whose sound is closest to the human voice), di-zi (a high-pitched bamboo flute), yang-chin (a dulcimer), pi-pa (a zither), jong-ruan (a zither, but with a softer sound than the pi-pa) and percussion instruments. Lin Wan-Ling is the ensemble leader.