Posts

Takasago (高砂) Phrase Auspicious Meaning I Did Not Know! (TiBE 2026 Discovery I)

Image
Takasago Beer (originally established in 1919)  - Predecessor of Taiwan Beer.  TTL released a "100th Anniversary Replica" edition of Takasago Beer, which uses the original, vintage branding and recipes. (TiBE Taipei International Book Exhibition) - third time running since 2024, I have been making interesting and surprising discoveries. Quite rewarding - knowing that I have been going about things in a constructive way and that things fall into places of their own accords eventually.) Takasago 高砂 phrase in Japan has auspicious meanings and cultural significance such as harmony, longevity, high class, prosperity - None of which came to my knowledge until yesterday!  Takasago 高砂 etymology meaning other than its use for Indigenous in Taiwan is something I learned yesterday.  It did not occur to me there could have been other meanings until I saw " 高砂 旅舘 Takasago H otel" poster in this book " 集章日本 1940 年臺灣商人蔡桑的旅行手帳 " （ Stamp Collection in Japan: A Travel Journ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Superimposition - Birds of Prey 鳶/鷹/鷲, Viper 百步蛇, Ancestor 祖先 (Saisiyat and Paiwan 1935) (Anthropology Note 294)

Image
Taoist snake-whip 蛇鞭 @Hsinchu (1930s artifact).  Kite  鳶 ( Tobi  とび) @Miyazu  宮津市 Japan.  Japanese skillfully reported superimpositions of large and powerful animals with extensively built vocabularies and mythical fascinations!  Saisiyat 1935 Ta'ai 大隘 Chapter Kowau 鳶 Despite that I have never heard of Saisiyat Kite 鳶 (Saisiyat name Kowau taken from original 鳶 Yuān) mythical tale - it is reported in 1935 Saisiyat Ta'ai 大隘 Chapter.  Perhaps Kite tale became insignificant and dropped over a period of time under revitalizations. mintatini’an  百步蛇/ 老人家/ 祖先  Viper tales however revived pretty much to its 1935 original at least linguistically.  mintatini’an   (linguistically revive to its 1935 original)   for  Hundred-pace viper   百步蛇 which is synonym of  tatini ancestor  祖先 which is synonym of    tatini   老人家 the elderly. Snake-whip  蛇鞭  in Saisiyat languag...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rainbow and Bridge Ancestral Spirits - Saisiyat and Paiwan example (Anthropology Note 293)

Image
Da Nang  峴港 Dragon Bridge Vietnam   Note 234 Rainbow and Dragon in Vietnam  Common features shared between many indigenous groups with regards to Rainbow include -  Rainbow and Bridge Indigenous word for Rainbow  (for what I read in 1935 report and others online) all developed from Chinese word 虹 - an arch-backed two-headed worm  虫.  Perhaps with one exception (again - for what I read) - Saisiyat. Utux 靈- Ancestral Spirits Rainbow connection with ancestral spirits is ubiquitous in indigenous cultures. Examples -  Kachirai   加芝來社  Paiwan - Rainbow qolivag - 虹 - Rainbow Also notice  qolo - head 首 ( Proto-Malayo-Polynesian) Saisiyat Bridge and Rainbow  乘涼 （sit in the shade. enjoy the cool) 山枇杷 Photo @ Alishan Tsou village 山棕 Photo @Alishan Tsou Village Ta'ai 大隘 Tribe. The only matching word to Bridge is 納涼 (relax in a cool place/in the shade) Ta'ai 大隘 Tribe ta'ai tale -   Bridge 橋 (虹) 納涼. Connection to Spirits...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shamanism - Descending Spirit, Pole. (Mexico and Mongolia) (Anthropology Note 288)

Image
  The Diving God of the Maya @Tulum Ruins Mexico Note 288  Descending/Diving Spirit and Pole - Central to Shamanism.  Suddenly I connected what I saw 12 months apart - Mexico and Mongolia Shamanism!  Both deep-rooted. Mongolia @ The Mongolia and Tibet Center Taipei Mexico @Miguel Hidalgo  @Tulum 
Post a Comment
Read more

Seeding Bale/Truku Balay (Beautiful, Truly, People) - Anthropological Perspective (Note 286-287)

Image
@Cairo Egypt Bee symbolism is universal. Recently from a brief chat with Pedro Cuni (who is in Taipei for an "Encaustic painting" exhibition) , I learned something new about beeswax -  Encaustic art is an ancient, durable painting technique using molten beeswax.  Pedro asked me if I have been to Pompeii which I have twice - and he said ancient painting including Pompeii, Greek and Egypt all used beeswax because there was no knowledge (and technique) to use anything else.  I asked if he had spent time in Egypt from a painting 'The Egyptian Museum' displayed in the exhibition - he said in 2023 he spent six-month researching and working in Cairo for a collaboration project with the Museum.  "Were you there in October 2023?" I asked because that was when I visited the Museum. "Yes" Pedro replied. (!!) Ask indigenous people what their distinct group name （族名) means, the standard (and predictable) answer in many cases is  ' PEOPLE ' 'HUMAN...
Post a Comment
Read more

WE/PEOPLE/HUMAN Identity 人 - Myth and Tradition Formosa 1935 Relook - Part II (Anthropology Notes - 281- 285)

Image
Inti Raymi  (Festival of the Sun )  June 24 (Winter Solstice) Cusco  Established in 1430, a 15-day event to honor Incan sun-god Inti. Spanish banned in 1535. Modern reenactment established in 1944.  Pu'h/Put 本島 means Taiwan pu:tu  本島人 means Taiwanese (none-indigenous) Note 281 人 We/Human/People  Indigenous Identity (We-People-Human. Tree- Boulder-Place) Pu‘h/Put 本 島  means Taiwan pu:tu  本島人 means Taiwanese (none-indigenous) #Bunun 人 （People） We can start by looking at 'Bunun' 人 - 1930s-Bunun-report where I first saw  Pu‘h/Put 本 島  means Taiwan . For about two years, I have no idea what it means. Until! A couple of weeks ago I found the answer in "Myth and Tradition 1935"!  Note 282  # Amis, Yami, Ketagalan (plains),  人 We/Human/People  Indigenous Identity (We-People-Human. Tree- Boulder-Place) Pu‘h/Put 本 島  means Taiwan pu:tu  本島人 means Taiwanese (none-indigenous) #Ami (papi'an) (qamiqami) アミ Amis and Yami i...
Post a Comment
Read more