Rainbow and Bridge Ancestral Spirits - Saisiyat and Paiwan example (Anthropology Note 293)
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
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| Ta'ai 大隘 Tribe ta'ai tale - Bridge 橋 (虹) 納涼. Connection to Spirits 神 |
I am surprised to find Saisiyat word for bridge appears borrowed from Japanese 納涼 . At least I find no matching words that make sense or find other terms that can explain. And it certainly match the tale illustrated by ZALAN. Interesting, isn't it.





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