Jiu Wa Wan Tribe Introduction
Jiu Fa Wan Village is the ancestral origin of the Paiwan and Rukai tribes, located in the mountainous area at an altitude of over 800 meters. It has the geographical advantage of being high up facing the sea, neighboring She Lu Village, Hao Cha Village, and Gao Yan Village across the Nai Liao South River. In the distance lies "Dawu Mountain," the holy mountain of the Paiwan tribe, which not only serves as a defense against external invasions but is also a beautiful place that is remote from the world. In the early days, Jiu Fa Wan Village had about 100 households. During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese authorities forcibly relocated the Indigenous people of Gao Yan and She Lu Villages to Jiu Fa Wan Village. After the restoration of Taiwan, the Nationalist Government relocated residents from the three tribal groups to the present-day Ma Jia Village, Jiu Fa Wan Village, and Bei Ye Village, resulting in the original village being renamed Jiu Fa Wan Village. The once-thriving Jiu Fa Wan and She Lu Villages eventually had only a few households left, and the more remote Gao Yan Village has long been uninhabited. Although Jiu Fa Wan Village has been relocated, a small number of Indigenous people still reside here, cultivating the land together with their relocated kin, planting areca nuts, millet, sweet potatoes, and tree beans. Due to their continued existence here, Jiu Fa Wan Village has preserved over ten complete slate houses. To prevent the culture of the village from fading away, the villagers united in consensus and effort to embark on a village reconstruction project. After its reorganization, Jiu Fa Wan Village not only restored the exterior appearance of the slate houses but also paved slate paths within the village. Visitors can follow the paths to explore the ritual grounds, driftwood pavilions, display barns, and roasting racks, allowing them to experience the beauty of Indigenous culture in its pristine form.
