Tagalog and Malay Language in Peru! (Anthropology Notes 238 - 273)

Portugal 2023 inspired me to 'note things down' @Lisbon

Note 238 Tagalog and Malay in Peru! 

Spanish "Raya" Meaning  Stripe

"Paso de la Raya"  is at an altitude of 4335 meters above sea level.  The highest point of the journey to Cusco and Puno . Scenic view of stripe (line) where mountains meet.

Raya linguistics I later found shared with Spanish
1. Tagalog raya meaning stripe, line.

2. Malay raya meaning high ground, greatness, related terms like hari raya in Malay mean "grand day" or "great celebration".

Note 239 Pina" (or piña) means pineapple in Spanish and Tagalog

Lima Peru

Lisbon Portugal

Piña Tagalog is a traditional Philippine fiber made from the leaves of the pineapple plant.

Note 240 Madagascar-Austronesian seafaring origin. 

Really quite far, isn’t it. Portuguese went along Madagascar but didn’t set afoot because their destination was India (1498).

Exactly like Portuguese with Taiwan. They probably shouted out something (Formosa) but didn’t set afoot because their destination was SE Asia. 
Portuguese reached Japan in 1542-43.
Nagasaki became key trading port around 1571. (Which the map indicated and the purpose of the map on Portugal-Japan historical connection)

The first inhabitants of Madagascar, around 2000 years ago, were Austronesians from the Sunda Islands (Malay Archipelago)

Note 241  Tuba, Lamba, Nipa (palm /coconut) 

Malayo-Polynesian (Guam Philippines Vietnam) Austronesian

Traditional Fermented Beverage

I would say Tuba, Lamba, Nipa share same Malayo-Polynesian linguistic root. I don’t see reason they are not.

Note 242  Lambanog (linguistic root - Nipa) Chicha 

Toxic Traditional Fermented Beverage 

Spanish Colonial

One of our Peru members got seriously ill for a week after drinking (purple corn) Chicha!!!

Note 243 Kavalan pig trail 

Kavalan no buta (豚) 
Kagoshima kurobuta" (黒豚) 

Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan is home to Ryukyuans, an indigenous Japonic-speaking ethnic group, particularly in the Amami Islands.

Kavalan black pig (meat very popular in Taiwan) is said Kagoshima's 鹿兒島 Berkshire breed. 

The Berkshire is a traditional breed until the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries when it was substantially modified (in improving performance) by cross-breeding with small black pigs imported from Asia.

Berkshire pigs were exported to Japan in the 1860s (The Bombardment of Kagoshima 鹿兒島 1863) and became numerous there.

Kagoshima Berkshire known in 20th century, apparently derives from two British Berkshire pigs imported to Japan in the 1930s, is considered a separate breed. Which I guess is what Taiwan's Kavalan pig is about in present days.

Kavalan's oo-ti/hei-zhu origin is trademarked Kagoshima kurobuta. Kagoshima Kurobuta has an interesting history - said to have been brought in from Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa ) about 400 years ago.

 Agu pig (Okinawa native pig) origin appears unclear. But for Taiwan's anthropology-minded folks - Lanyu pig is a clear case to explore. 

Note 244 Portuguese Macau

“In 1542/1543, Portuguese explorers became the first Europeans to reach Japan, a significant event that predated their formal settlement of Macau. Macau was not established as a permanent Portuguese trading post until over a decade later, in 1557, after trade relations with Chinese authorities had been re-established. “

Note 245 Formosa/Formoso in Portugal 

Ria Formosa - Lagoon Oyster Farm. (Taiwanese DNA)

Porto Formoso Azores -  Tea and Pineapple Farm - The only place in Europe.

"DNA barcoding reveals that the common cupped oyster in Taiwan is the Portuguese oyster Crassostrea angulata (Ostreoida; Ostreidae), not C. gigas" HERE.

Note 246 Korean/ Mongol Dumpling - Beef 
Roman/Moscow/Siberia/Eastern European - Beef and Pork 

I noticed in Taipei a Traditional-Korean-Celebration-Food menu featuring stuffed dumplings filled with BEEF. 

Beef ingredient would be the standard filling served in Korea/Beijing/Tibet-being true to its Mongol origin. 

What’s also interesting is the common beef and pork fillings which I first noticed in Moscow- from a Siberian dumpling dish (pelmeni) that looks like ‘wanton’ served in clear broth. Siberians nicknamed it 'ears'. 

Then I experienced it again in London a workshop about Ancient Roman cuisine. Then most noticeable recent experience is in Polish cuisine. 

(PS Marlena Spieler once told me Jews in Spain ate pork to disguise Jews identity to avoid prosecution, for survival)

Note 247 Rice and Tofu - Traditional Meat Fillers

Stuffed Cabbage and Yunnan Sausage

Poland. England. Japan. Taiwan

Stuffed cabbage is believed a Jewish origin. Stuffed with rice as meat-filler becomes a tradition from back in the days when meat supply was scarce. I had known about it but never tried one until in UK - in a Polish restaurant near London.

Same as dumplings - beef and pork mix is a tradition. 

Yunnan sausage is a classic example of using tofu as meat-filler in East Asia. Serves similar result - bigger volume, protein supply, and added texture.

Note 248 King Cake - French Origin

Recently I was offered a piece of French ‘King Cake’, first time ever, and immediately reminded me of Portugal’s ....Turned out! France is the origin!

Bolo Rei (King Cake) originating from France's gâteau des Rois is a festive staple featuring vibrant-colored crystallized fruit, powdered sugar...

Two traditional celebration cakes shown on photo @Lisbon -

King’s Cake (French origin) and Black Cake (Caribbean tradition)

 

Note 249  South Africa Natal  -Caribbean-Portugal 

This Black Xmas cake I saw in Lisbon is one of the reasons Portugal inspired me to ‘write thoughts down’. 

- It took Portuguese 10 years to reach India via South Africa. 

- Natal (after the Portuguese word for Christmas) is a former province in South Africa (renamed KwaZulu-Natal) 

- Caribbean Black Cake is a traditional celebration cake with cultural heritage. 

Note 250 Suez Canal Open and Formosa Oolong Tea Instant Hit in New York 1869

Suez Canal replacing Cape Town in 1869 as key trade route between Europe and Asia

1869 is a significant year for Formosa oolong tea - John Dodd shipped 130000 kg Formosa oolong tea directly to New York through the newly opened Suez Canal . 

Formosa oolong tea phenomenon has begun thanks to Suez Canal and John Dodd a marketing genius. (The Story of Taiwan Tea Hong-Ming Cheng and Katy Hui-Wen Hung)

Note 251 Cosmology - Maya, Inca and Paiwan (Taiwan)

Note 252 Erythrina corallodendron 珊瑚刺桐 - translated to Chinese (in China and Taiwan) "Zaiton"刺桐  - aka former name of Quanzhou. 

@Easter Island

Same as in Taiwan (in particular for plains indigenous community) , Zaiton 刺桐 grows abundant. Literal EVERYWHERE the moment getting off the airplane. 

Local guide showed us its seeds - rosary symbolism.

Zaiton 刺桐, however, in Easter Island was introduced in recent decades. Probably from Australia. Said to grow to function like thorny 'fence' to guard. Apart from its vibrant red flower color a visual delight.

Eucalyptus abundant in Peru and Chile certainly was introduced from Australia. 

Note 253 Hakka White-Jade-Radish Couplet (Culinary Linguistics) 

Full details HERE. 

Note 254 Primary-Color Tradition. 

Ancient Egyptian Source -  Mineral Stone.

Cairo Egypt

Cantona Mexico

I think I did the right thing - although totally unplanned. 

To see Egypt before Mexico.

Note 255  早田文藏 Hayata Bunzō - Inspiration Behind Osaka-Expo-2025 Taiwan -House Uniform 

My friend 黃志成 reminded me that this lovely uniform for Taiwan House at Expo 2025 Osaka was inspired by Bunzō Hayata who identified and named more than 1600 species of Taiwanese plants.

It’s in my blogpost which I prepared for Kew Gardens London HERE.

Note 256 Hualien 'Black Mineral Mud' - Pottery Tradition and Jade (?)

Could recently discovered Hualien ‘black mineral mud’ had helped Amis pottery tradition or even Jade washing and cutting (as in mineral sand)?

Note 257 Loanwords Diversity. Not Language Diversity. 

Saisiyat ‘fire’ quite likely derived from Latin/Chinese loanword- 羅氏鹽膚木 . Which indigenous use to make gunpowder. Expect several other loanword variations. 

Prolific variations is an indication the word is loaned.

Note 258  ‘汲水’ Not ’運水’. 

It's been done after 1990 language revitalization using Chinese word 汲 . HERE.

Note 259 Matu'uwal Atayal - Geolinguistics

Atayal ‘Matu'uwal’ 汶水 (place, group name) is borrowed from Hakka ‘vún súi’ 汶水. I see! 

ngiù vún súi (牛汶水)

Geolinguistics I guess. I mean Matu'uwal Atayal live in a Hakka populated area.

Reference - ngiù vún súi (牛汶水) @ Hualien Hakka table.

Note 260  Kavalan Horse - Ketagalan Buffalo?

Revitalization (to give a new life) in most cases is not Restore (to its origin which is lost or largely lost).

Kavalan horse. Ketagalan buffalo?

Looks like Kavalan and Ketagalan language- revitalization is mixing buffalo and horse?? Based on a word list supplied by Austronesian linguist followed by local interpretations and hypothetical analysis.

Duck - as for Ketagalan 鴨 -quite likely there is this sound locals think means duck so that ‘sounds’ becomes to mean ‘duck’. Standard contemporary interpretation and revitalization strategy (remake. new)

Note - Words from the Philippines should not be automatically attributed to Spanish or Austronesian influence-They could may well be from Hokkien traders who brought them from the Philippines back to Southern China then to Taiwan. Tomato is a good example.

I am inclined to disagree with Professor Paul Jen-Kuei Li 李壬癸 on the implication that Kavalan kbayu (loanword from Spanish word for horse) is a result of 17th century Spanish 'short-stay' in Northern Taiwan. Ie what Spanish 'left' behind.

There remains a possibility the word was brought to Taiwan in the same route as Tagalog kamatis did - to Fujian and then Taiwan through Hokkien traders.

Horse -
Tagalog kabayu
Taiwan

(Northern Kavalan ) kbayu (source Paul Li)

Ketagalan kalabau (water buffalo? 牛)

Tomato-

Tagalog kamatis
Taiwan (Southern) kam-a-bit 柑仔蜜)

Note 261 “SMALL” Malayo- Polynesian Austronesian Language (Easter Island, Vietnam, Maori)

• "Bánh Ít": Means "little cake," referring to its small
• Rapa Iti - Small Rapa   Rapa Nui - Big Rapa

• 
  
  

I accidentally discovered some interesting linguistic facts from Vietnamese Ramie ‘cake’ .

That Polynesian (Easter Island, Maori based on my experience) word for SMALL and one of Vietnamese word (there are a few) for SMALL share same linguistic root.

DETALS HERE.

Note 262 Ramie Weaving Tradition - Fine and Coarse - different Social Class (Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines)

DETAILS HERE.

Note 263 Peru High-Ranked Officers and Paiwan/Rukai/ (Bunun) High-Tiered Class 

@ British Museum London Peru Section

Pleated materials were all imported. 1930s Japanese documentations.

Note 264-266 First and Largest-Scale Indigenous Research Undertaken in Taiwan 1949-1952. 

Participating researchers and scholars included Chinese, Japanese (leading anthropologists, pathologists who were allowed to stay in Taiwan to continue research and teaching after Japanese WWII surrender), Taiwanese historians and medical professionals. 

Published research results include - 

林衡立 Lin Hen-Li (Historian) Who published in 1956 "THE SONGS OF THE PAS-TAAI"  and "The Analyses Of The Myth Of Shooting Suns" (1962). 

Details HERE and HERE (Check out update - mataLa and Lin's kapatara 12/10/2025)  

Consequently I don’t think anyone can authoritatively comment or make judgments (in 2025) of this 1952 video without showing evidence of understanding and examining the followings - 

1. The content of 1949-1952 Saisiyat - related reports. 

2. 1956 Lin’s Ta’ai song report and the challenge of producing this report. What did he say? And without further examining-

3. How 30 years later Lin’s 1956 effort was overthrown in 1980s by Hu Tai-li and primary Saisiyat Zhu clan (there are 3 Zhu clans in the system). And the data and source Hu and Zhu used for their hypothetical claims and their analysis credibility.

林憲 Rin Hsien  (Pioneering psychiatrist)

 No. 34 HERE. 

林宗義 Lin Tsung-yi (Pioneer Psychiatric-Studies) 

No. 29 HERE

林宗義 Lin Tsung-yi - Standing second from right

林憲 Rin Hsien - Standing third from right 

Dr Rin's wife from first marriage was half-Atayal, half - Saisiyat from Chingchuan, Wufeng township, Hsinchu county. 

Here are pages from his published articles resulting from this largest-scale indigenous research.

Saisiyat area in the study of 1949-1952 is 'Amutoura' (in 1899). Today known as Da'ai 大隘 (Northern Saisiyat)

林宗義 Lin Tsung-yi Psychiatric studies pioneer 

No. 29 HERE

Incredible Taiwan History-
Incredible Peoples Story-

1942 林茂生 林宗義 father and son
also on photo 朱昭陽 許丙 @Tokyo

1946 林宗義 wedding photo gift to 朱昭陽.
A year later Lin's father disappeared/murdered.  

1942, 1946 赤榕會 at Tokyo 

1947 228 incident Lin Tsung-Yi's (林宗義) father Lin Mosei (林茂生) disappeared/murdered. 

1948 ROC was a founding member of the World Health Organization (WHO)

1949-1952 Lin leading medical research team on Indigenous mental illness 

1965 Lin officially appointed as the head of the WHO Mental Health Team

"Hargrebbs personally invited Lin Tsung-yi to serve as a mental health consultant for the WHO. At the time, Lin had almost never heard of the WHO, and he was almost moved to tears by the enthusiastic praise and deep resonance he received from the foreign experts. Starting in September 1955, Lin Tsung-yi attended the expert meeting in Geneva for the first time, and in 1965 he was officially appointed as the head of the WHO Mental Health Team, launching a global-scale study and investigation of mental illness. This marked the first and only meeting between Taiwan and the WHO in history." (Original Source "The Reporter" HERE.)

Note 267  - Austronesian linguists hypothetical analysis is often done under three (four)- way translations - 

Indigenous-Japanese-Mandarin-English.

Question: What if Proto-Austronesian claims become invalid or analysis proven inadequate? How reliable were/are these analysis? HERE. and HERE.

Note 268 The First Christmas Tree in Europe and in Portugal

The first Christmas tree in Portugal was in this room.  Introduced by German-born King Consort D. Fernando II around 1844 at the Pena Palace.

The first Xmas tree in Europe said to be in Germany.

Note 269 臺灣赤楊/ 臺灣榿木(Alnus Formosana) Formosan alder has a symbiotic relationship with an actinomycete which fixes nitrogen in the soil. (1930)

What can be seen or read today about indigenous agroforestry, many (and most) are sourced from Japanese records in 1930s.

1930s Bunun cultivation of Formosan alder under Japanese supervisions (active and extensive cultivation during Japanese Administration for its economy and soil preservation value)

2017 Studied as Atayal tradition sourced from 1930s Japanese records.

Note 270 Fatherland not Motherland (Vietnam)

 Tổ 祖  Fatherland

quốc 故 Ancestral

故鄉 Hometown

Fatherland not Motherland.
Because it’s 祖 Tổ. 

祖 Tổ is father‘s side.
故quốc is ancestral. 

No. 271 272 273 The Role 1930s Japanese Documents Play In 2000 Indigenous Revitalizations Is Phenomenal- HERE.

Tsou/Bunun Pig-Killing 

Tsou Bird-Trap

Indigenous boar/pig vocabulary 

Examples HERE.

2025 Summary List

Anthropology Observation VII (Notes 212 - 237 ) HERE

Anthropology Observation VI (Notes 181-212) HERE

Anthropology Observation V (Notes 153-180) HERE

Anthropology Observation IV (Notes 112-152) HERE

Anthropology Observation III (Notes 83-111) HERE

Anthropology Observation II (Notes 52-82) HERE

Anthropology Observation I (Notes 1-51) HERE