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Received 25 April 2002
Rukai, TAIWAN
Submitted by Liu, Tzu-Ming
3 Fl, No 17, LN 8, Chilin Rd
Tapei, Taiwan
Phone: 886-928-253625
Choral.tw@yahoo.com.tw
Rukai People's Sacred Sites: Taromaring
Lake and Bayu Lake
Taromaring Lake and Bayu Lake are where Rukai people originated. Now, this
region was set up as a protected area by law and Rukai people cannot go
through it without permission. Rukai people's traditional living style
cannot hold in this area, too. A mineral company, however, can mine marble
there.
Taromaring Lake and Bayu Lake were also called Big Ghost Lake and Little
Ghost Lake by Taiwanese. These two lakes were located in south mountain
zone in Taiwan. The zone is full of biological resource and is a stable
ecosystem. For thousand years, it provided food and was as a natural
shelter to Rukai.
Rukai people went hunting around but not close to lakes. Hunting was
important food resource to Rukai. Hunting was the basis of Rukai social
structure. Besides, every time when Rukai people encountered great
difficulties in life, such as water or food shortage, they prayed for the
lake lord's benevolent help. So, these two lakes played important roles in
Rukai culture.
According to an old saying, the lord of Bayu, a big cottonmouth, married a
Rukai princess. He allowed Rukai people to hunt in his land. He would
provide enough animals to Rukai. The rules which Rukai had to obey were:
to avoid close to lake; to keep quiet when go by the lake; to leave one
leg of which animal Rukai get and so on. Traditionally, Rukai did not
enter this zone casually and keep others out of it. Because of relative
relationship between Bayu Lake and Rukai, people did not disturb this zone
for thousands years.
For rich in biodiversity, this zone was set up as "Two Ghost Lakes Natural
Reserved Area" several years ago. From that time, Rukai cannot enter the
area without permission. They also cannot go hunting there. Many people
were imprisoned because of "illegal" hunting and entrance.
Without hunting, the Rukai's culture is in danger.
The worse is government gave a mineral company a license to mine marble in
this area. The mineral activities have destroyed forest there polluted
water. That trucks run one by one and day by day has caused many
mountainside crash, and menaces Rukai people's life.
Rukai people are now struggling with evil mineral activities. They also
strive to get back the right to use this zone. To keep Taromaring Lake and
Bayu Lake from mining and to recover link between Lord Cottonmouth and
Rukai are crucial to the future of Rukai.
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