Becoming Indigenous III ( Between Respect and Finding Truth)
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| Shika @ Nara Park Kyoto Japan |
CAUTION for researchers - you may never find out truth. This is why.
No. 110
# Indigenous modern interpretation can be wiping off factual history. It stops you understand what actually happens.
Indigenous interpretation and Indigenous definition have values. We all agree and respect. Clear.
CAUTION for researcher aiming for truth.
WITHOUT adequately equipped knowledge and skills to identify loanwords- you may never know what actually happens.
Modern indigenous interpretations can be misleading and can be wiping off factual history. In other words - wiping off evidence.
Indigenous interpretation and Indigenous definition have values. We all agree and respect. Clear.
CAUTION for researcher aiming for truth.
WITHOUT adequately equipped knowledge and skills to identify loanwords- you may never know what actually happens.
Modern indigenous interpretations can be misleading and can be wiping off factual history. In other words - wiping off evidence.
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| 控溪吊橋 |
Hbun-Tunan 部落-秀巒/控溪
An Atayal case
I just remembered -
1. I actually have been to Tunan 秀巒/控溪 in 2016 en route to Smangus (French for Savages )
2. I am clear that Tunan is developed from 姜秀鑾（Hakka：Giong` Siuˇ-lan；1783—1846）who founded Da’ai 大隘 establishment in 1835) . Either from Siulan 秀鑾or Giong Siu姜秀（aka 控溪).
3. I became acquainted with 姜秀鑾 descendants in 2018 and have firsthand information about Da’ai establishment and family.
4. FUNCTIONAL indigenous development
Atayal modern interpretations focus on FUNCTION to an extend removed factual history -
4-1. Tunan has become an “Atayal word” meaning marketplace. (Because that’s what people do there)
4-2. Hbun has become an “ Atayal word” meaning where rivers meet. (Because that’s what people see there)
5. Blue and Pink are truth origins. Yellow and Orange are modern interpretations.
6. Expect frequent inconsistencies in indigenous interpretations because after all they are “made-up” (harmless on most occasions).
7. Truth can only be revealed with adequate skill and knowledge to identify and validate loanwords.
No.109
Qaw for fish is not PAN.
It’s Chinese 鯝 or Taiwanese 苦。
This issue is (again) with Atayalic group.
‘Qaw’ fish photo one at Alishan (Tsou). The other at Xueshan (Atayal).
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No. 108
Flawed PAN (Proto-Austronesian) dictionary
The real issue is not building Formosan languages dictionary with contact languages and a mosaic of loanwords because ‘outside’ influences have been for centuries and that’s totally natural. And that’s Formosan languages.
The real issue is unidentified, unvalidated loanwords being ignored by Austronesian language linguists and continue to build PAN dictionary in a deceiving and misleading manner.
lim 鯉 in 鯪鯉 |a-lim photo taken in Kyushu Japan
The real issue is not building Formosan languages dictionary with contact languages and a mosaic of loanwords because ‘outside’ influences have been for centuries and that’s totally natural. And that’s Formosan languages.
The real issue is unidentified, unvalidated loanwords being ignored by Austronesian language linguists and continue to build PAN dictionary in a deceiving and misleading manner.
lim 鯉 in 鯪鯉 |a-lim photo taken in Kyushu Japan
No. 107
Atayal made-up ‘fertile land.’
You wonder why I became curious about Atayal ecology and etymology in particular in Syakaro and Smangus area while traveling in Japan.
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Smangus (French Savages)
Ko-raw (Japanese word for ‘Black’ Kuro)
No. 105
Before Japanese, Atayals draw/scoop water from river . Aka 汲水。
# Japanese introduced and taught Atayals the use of metal pipes and bamboo joints to redirect water for household supply.
# ie Before Japanese educated Atayals the knowledge and methods- Atayals collected water by drawing and scooping from rivers.
According to this Atayal elder - redirecting water using metal pipes and bamboo for household water supply was introduced and taught by Japanese.
Before Japanese, Atayals draw/scoop water from river . 汲水。
In 2016- I witnessed a group of Atayals at Smangus fixing the typhoon damaged bridge including installing metal pipes for household water supply - according to the elder - they learned it from the Japanese. Encouraged by the Japanese.
# ie Before Japanese educated Atayals the knowledge and methods- Atayals collected water by drawing and scooping from rivers.
According to this Atayal elder - redirecting water using metal pipes and bamboo for household water supply was introduced and taught by Japanese.
Before Japanese, Atayals draw/scoop water from river . 汲水。
In 2016- I witnessed a group of Atayals at Smangus fixing the typhoon damaged bridge including installing metal pipes for household water supply - according to the elder - they learned it from the Japanese. Encouraged by the Japanese.
No. 104
Atayal ecology and etymology
# First - Gong for River is Chinese loanword- most likely developed from 控溪 . Root most likely is associated with Hakka Da’ai 姜Giong . That’s how Atayal language revitalization works. Considerable impact from Da’ai 1835 establishment.
Compare the map of Miyama Kyoto and
‘Traditional Atayal ecology’.
There is a spiritual giant sacred tree, a watch tower, a shinto shrine, river, fishes and of course DEER (Syakaro).
Primary difference is church.
Smangus photos taken in 2016.
Now I understand how Indigenous cultural and language revitalization works. In this case - Atayal.
No. 103
Evidence of loanwords and result of indigenous interpretations
# Qalang Smangus =
Nation (Protected land) of Savages
Here is the evidence Qalang Smangus contains 2 loanwords-
1. Qalang (village. fence built from bamboo) is developed from bamboo.
# 圍欄 (alang) (*same with Amis)
2. Smangus very unfortunately is developed from French loanword ‘Savages’. Atayal made-up into ‘Fertile land.’
*Note - Amis has a similar case.
No. 102
# Formosan languages do not equal （Proto） Austronesian languages
If Atayal language contains so many loanwords ( as evidence shows - although no one interested in acknowledging and validating ) by definition it is not Proto- Austronesian.
The claim is questionable. Without further Formosan languages analysis and validation.
Austronesian languages linguists are not interested in evidence of loanwords.
Austronesian Linguists are not interested in acknowledging and validating loanwords.
They rather produce endless proposed etymologies . If that’s what they are committed to do.
# Formosan languages do not equal （Proto） Austronesian languages
If Atayal language contains so many loanwords ( as evidence shows - although no one interested in acknowledging and validating ) by definition it is not Proto- Austronesian.
The claim is questionable. Without further Formosan languages analysis and validation.
Austronesian languages linguists are not interested in evidence of loanwords.
Austronesian Linguists are not interested in acknowledging and validating loanwords.
They rather produce endless proposed etymologies . If that’s what they are committed to do.
Truth will come out one day.
Atayal and Bamboo loanwords
# Examples of how indigenous interpretations (revitalizations) is done - based on loanwords.
No. 101
# Typical Indigenous Interpretation
# Typical Indigenous language revitalization
# Atayal
Typical indigenous (Atayal) interpretation of loanwords.
In the case of Bamboo.
First you should understand-
Ru-Ma (Atayal Bamboo)
= Bamboo-Makino
Mandarin-Latin (Phyllostachys makinoi)
Here a page of typical indigenous interpretations based on bamboo -
All these are loanwords developed from bamboo.
They all contain the loan root word bamboo 竹。
For example-
1. Cup is to collect water 汲
2. Village - fence - built from bamboo
3. Roof is from bamboo
4. Water pump is made from bamboo
it is also clear from the Atayal elder - collect water 汲水 is introduced by Japanese.
- Therefore - the word for cup did not exist before Japanese.
# Examples of how indigenous interpretations (revitalizations) is done - based on loanwords.
No. 101
# Typical Indigenous Interpretation
# Typical Indigenous language revitalization
# Atayal
Typical indigenous (Atayal) interpretation of loanwords.
In the case of Bamboo.
First you should understand-
Ru-Ma (Atayal Bamboo)
= Bamboo-Makino
Mandarin-Latin (Phyllostachys makinoi)
Here a page of typical indigenous interpretations based on bamboo -
All these are loanwords developed from bamboo.
They all contain the loan root word bamboo 竹。
For example-
1. Cup is to collect water 汲
2. Village - fence - built from bamboo
3. Roof is from bamboo
4. Water pump is made from bamboo
it is also clear from the Atayal elder - collect water 汲水 is introduced by Japanese.- Therefore - the word for cup did not exist before Japanese.
No. 100
Japan inspired 2025
Deer Land etymology
1. Syakaro(Skaru)
2. Seediq
3.Truku
Japan inspired 2025Deer Land etymology1. Syakaro(Skaru)
2. Seediq
3.Truku
4. Amis (paper mulberry is deer tree in Hokkien)
鹿 Shika
鹿 lok (Hokkien)
Notes 83-100 are Japan inspired.They were done on most occasions 'at intervals' during my last 2025 Japan trips - at walking, transporting, or between eatings and waitings. whenever and wherever.
I posted them literally ‘on the spot’ to FB conveniently for the record - save them for a chance to update on this blogpost.
(Awaiting updates - currently on No. 82)
What strikes me most and which inspire me to knock out Notes 83-100 is deer etymology and indigenous interpretations in Alishan and Jade Mt areas.
Indigenous interpretations are valuable because they often give indications and implications of how these terms developed and in particular useful for locals to understand and relate to daily life. Indigenous locals need to understand in order to put into practice and pass onto generations.
HOWEVER - random made-up such as Smangus (Indigenous interpretation - Fertile land. God's tribe) from French word "Sauvages" for Savages is not only pointless but harmful. This kind of random made-up is to be discouraged and discontinued. Before they become 'permanently' harmful.
Note - some of these posts may appear repetitive developed from the same subject matter. But rest assured they are NEVER exactly the same. A new entry is made because there is something 'new' worthy of a follow-up.
Photos @ Kyoto prefecture. 2025
No. 88 Adam and Eve
No. 87
# Brother and Sister creation of origins in mythology. They gave birth to Gods with ‘genders’.
In 2024, I learned in Shimane (birthplace of Japan’s mythology) that there were said 8000000 gods in Japan who gathered around in one place in October. In 2025, I learned that these 8000000 gods were genderless until the said 7th generation brother and sister married each other and created Japan. There are male and female gods thereafter.Several indigenous Taiwanese have similar mythology-
Amis (Bunun) have brother and sister marriage
Saisiyat have earth mother - the beginning of farming and livelihood.
(Izanami (伊邪那美, Izanami-no-Mikoto) is a central figure in Japanese mythology, the goddess of creation and death, and consort of Izanagi. She is also known as the "earth mother" goddess, responsible for the birth of various kami (deities) and the creation of the Japanese archipelago)
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