Social Bond - Picking/Eating Lice 虱 - Formosan Reports (1910-1940)


Top - Male-Male Social Bond (Picking Lice)
Bottom - Saliva Fermented Beverage for Guests
Paiwan (1930)

I recently borrowed from my neighbors a number of books to browse - they are Japanese reports of Formosan indigenous peoples during 1910-1940. 

I realize that there are some interesting observations to make on my part based on my rather extensive travels over the last four years since covid lifted. 

I noticed there are frequent mentions on Lice-picking 取虱  and saliva-fermented-beverage 嚼酒 (traditionally chewed and spit preferably by young women)

Examples - 
 1. Social Bond  - Picking/Eating Lice  虱 

Kutu-proto IN is one of the proto examples Austronesian linguists use. Japanese identified 虱 kutu etymology IN (Indonesian) and made consistent linguistic comparison with Formosan languages.

Saisiyat, Tao (Lanyu) Female-Female Social Bond
Paiwan  Male-Male Social Bond

Saisiyat example is mentioned in the 'ta-ai' tale about short-people community's social activities before the fatal event resulted in their 'dying-out' . 

Details HERE

Tao

Paiwan

2. Saliva-Fermented-Beverage 嚼酒

Paiwan

This interesting topic I have mentioned here, based on recent Peru, Vietnam trips 




ps I also noticed my neighbors label pages where their handicraft-revitalizations are based on.






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