Siraya National Scenic Area Headquarters

Something that has been passed down for hundreds of years should not be ignored

According to a Chinese saying, "Something that has been passed down for hundreds of years should not be ignored". In other words, in this matriarchal society, the first ancestor was not Han Chinese, but Taiwan Aboriginal. Many people in Taiwan maybe have Pingpu ancestry, thus, it does not matter whether one is Pingpu or Han Chinese, everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about the meaning and origins of the Liouchongsi Night Sacrifice, and to experience the mysteries of the Pingpu culture.

Through the sharing of the Pingpu culture and products, and through the holding of this ceremony, the people of Liouchongsi hope that others can learn more about their culture, and better understand the powers of nature and respect the natural environment.

Liouchongsi

Liouchongsi is a major river, located to the south of Baihe Dist., its source situated between Dadong Mountain and Jhentou Mountain. The bending, zigzagging path that the river takes going down the mountains provides a mysterious, immeasurable, profound feeling, creating the impression of different rivers joined together at the many river bends. Starting from Congzihkang, every different section that the river meanders down is considered to be a "chongsi" (duplicate river). Generally speaking, the name "Liouchongsi" (six duplicate rivers) refers to its flowing through several villages, the largest of which is named "Liouchongsi Village". The name comes from the fact that in order to go there from Dongshan Dist. and Baihe Dist., one must pass through six bends in the river, thus it was given the name "Liouchongsi", and the largest village in its vicinity was also given this name. After the KMT took over Taiwan in the late 40's, the name was changed to "Liousi Village", and it came under the jurisdiction of Baihe Dist. in Tainan City. It consists of about 100 households that have Pingpu ancestry. Liouchongsi was originally a hunting ground for a subgroup of the Pingpu Hongya Tribe, known as the Duoluoguo. During the Ching Dynasty, this group was living in the territory occupied by the Dawulong Sub-Tribe, a part of the Taivoan Tribe (present-day Yujing and Nansi Townships). Subsequently they were forced to migrate to the northern part of the Liouchongsi River bank, where they established a new community, calling themselves the Dawulongpai Tribe. As the Han Chinese opened up the lands for cultivation, they moved into the mountains, arriving in succession at Liouchongsi. After the 1915 Tapani Incident under the Japanese occupation (an uprising against the Japanese), another large group of Pingpu Aboriginals moved to Liouchonsi. Thus, people of the Pingpu Tribe were living alongside the Han Chinese. In this area, the Pingpu settlements are mostly in the Liouchongsi River Valley, to the west of Sanchongsi Village.

Located in Tainan City, the Liouchongsi River flows between Guanling in Baihe Dist., and the Dongshan Village mountain springs. It has a closed terrain, in a beautiful landscape area of peach blossoms. The river follows a path between mountains, experiencing frequent wind and rain. Thorn trees stand everywhere, lovely flowers compete with each other for beauty, flower buds burst open, bamboo homes, ancient relics, stone temples, thatched public sacrifice places, and Pingpu style archways, all serve to create a complete picture of the Pingpu culture. This is today's "Liouchongsi Pingpu Culture Park". The Pingpu people of Liouchongsi are committed to the maintaining and passing on of the Pingpu culture of Liouchongsi.

Every year on the 15th day of the ninth lunar month, a worship service is held. Since ancient times, the Pingpu culture has closely interacted with the preservation of nature. All the sacrificial items come from the natural world. Interaction with the natural world constitutes a unique aspect of the Pingpu culture.