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The Gaoshan Nationality |
Around 340,000 Gaoshan people live mostly in the mountainous areas of China' s Taiwan Province, in the plains along the eastern coastline and on the Lanxu Island. Among the Gaoshans, over 3,900 are scattered throughout the large or mediumsized cities along the Chinese mainland coast.
The Gaoshans are usually referred to as the aboriginals dwelling in Taiwan' s mountainous area. Their main occupations are agriculture and hunting. They have their own oral language but no written characters. Gaoshan people are known for their bold and uninhibited character which are expressed through their dancing and singing, carving, drawing and pottery-making. The Gaoshans have invented a unique musical instrument, Chuyue, which they use as an accompaniment in their special form of dancing. The sound of the nose-flute is clear and melodious. The Gaoshan have a variety of cultural and sports activities.
On the small emerald green Taiwan Island, rows of bamboo-made flats or railing-style houses are comfortably basking in the bright subtropical sunlight. Villages are dotted with swaying palm trees, fruit -aden coconut and banana trees, which all add to the poetically peaceful feeling here.
The Gaoshan people make cooked rice and porridge with a mixture of millet and rice, or use sticky rice and millet to make steamed cake and Zanba. They like to eat sticky rice mingled with peanuts and meat which is steamed in rolled leaves. Some people prefer to have rice or porridge cooked with taro and banana.
The beautiful and richly endowed island has nurtured the Gaoshans and given them the inspiration to create a rich and colorful art and literature. There are fairy tales, beautiful folk music and dances. Every August is the annual harvest festival for the Gaoshans. All people in the village- men and women, children and the elderly dress-up in their holiday best, sit around the bonfire, and enjoy the wine and roasted meat together. Boys play their harmonica and flutes, while the girls sing Chu songs and dance Chu dances. The scene is brimming with jubilation and enthusiasm: a good expression of the Gaoshan people's desire for a happy life.
Within the Gaoshan nationality, there are numerous branches, including Amei, Taiya, Paiwan, Bunong, Lukai, Beinan, Caoren, Yamai and Saipu.
Song and dance is a time-honored tradition for the Gaoshan There are different songs and dances for various occasions, including fishing, hunting, grass weeding, celebration of the harvest season, wedding ceremonies, festivals and memorial ceremonies.The mouth-string-harmonica,bow-organ, leaf-organ, chuyue, tuanban, bamboo-drum, waist drum, waist bell,feet bell are all folk musical instruments, which breathe life into their dances and give a fascinating quality to their songs. The most distinctive feature of Gaoshan singing is the chorus which includes the Bu nong people's full five-degree, four-degree, three-degree harmony and natural harmony. When people dance in groups, there are outbursts of foot-stamping and shouts,demonstrating an unrestrained beauty, bringing the dancing to its climax. When lovers want to express their feelings, a leaf put between the lips is the best instrument for conveying their heart-felt emotions.
The Amei and the Zou have a "free" chorus, while the Saixia have a special four-degree singing method. The Lukai people sing using a co- harmony method. All of these different chorus methods demonstrate the outstanding character of the Gaoshans' musical culture.
People of the Paiwan, Lukai and Yamei branch are good at carving and engraving. A knife can be used to carve utensils such as wooden mortars for husking rice, wooden barrels, wine glasses, spoons and even dug-out canoes.
The engraved pillar (totem pole) of the "spirit house" used by the Pai Wan people for offering sacrifices to ancestors, is especially admired.
Through their long tradition of singing and dancing, the Gaoshans have invented a harp flute which adds a sense of jubilation to their music. This kind of musical instrument, with both a single-pipe and a double-pipe form, is very popular in Taiwan Province. The pipe itself is made of bamboo and has five holes. It is usually played during chorus as well as solo. The double-pipe flute is only used by the Pai Wan branch. One pipe is for the melody, the other produces a long, soft tone as accompaniment.
Due to the natural environment, fishing and farming are prominent in the Gaoshan economy, and has laid a deep and far-reaching foundation for their culture and lifestyle. Taiwan used to be a sparsely-populated place, with high mountains, numerous rivers and a variety of animals. Long sunmmers, mild winters, fruits in all four seasons: all these made up a favorable ecosystem for the rapid growth of their fishing and farming economy. The Ya Mei are especially reputed to be the "nationality of the sea." Their fishing methods include shooting, nets,forks, fishing hooks and dart-like weapons. |
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