Lion Township Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall Introduction
The Shizi Township Cultural Exhibition Hall is located in Fenglin Village, Shizi Township, Pingtung County, adjacent to the Shizi Township Office. It is a museum that showcases the unique characteristics of indigenous culture, with walls and roofs designed to mimic the traditional stone houses of indigenous peoples. The walls are adorned with totem carvings of Hundred-Pacer snakes, chief figures, and pottery jars. The architectural design and decorations were collaboratively completed by Li Jixiang, the chairperson of the Shizi Township representative council, artist Hsieh Wende from Mudan Township, and sculptor You Chengzhou from Maja Township. The exterior of the building exhibits strong aesthetic elements of the Paiwan tribe and is the first museum dedicated to Paiwan cultural artifacts. The social hierarchy of the Paiwan tribe is clearly defined, with the privilege of carving house pillars granted only to the aristocratic class. Common decorative motifs include serpent patterns, human figures, human-serpent integration patterns, wild boar patterns, and deer patterns, which exhibit characteristics of static, frontal, and symmetrical designs. Most carvings reflect a two-dimensional space. The wood carvings possess a raw style that is freely unrestricted, and the colors commonly used are primarily red, black, and white. The Shizi Township Cultural Exhibition Hall mainly collects various artistic creations from the Paiwan tribe, most notably the "Centennial Wood Sculpture of the Hunting Association," carved from hundred-year-old beech wood. This substantial wooden sculpture serves as a door panel featuring a carved indigenous human figure and is a rare and precious artifact, originally used as a cover for an ancient well in Fangliao Township. Through efforts and planning by the Shizi Township Office and the Fangliao Cultural Promotion Association, it has now become the museum's prized possession. In addition to being a space for showcasing indigenous artifacts, the Shizi Township Cultural Exhibition Hall also sells handmade leather carvings produced by local indigenous women, such as keychains, wallets, coin pouches, and pencil cases. These products not only have excellent quality and beautiful designs but also carry meaningful stories, making them ideal gifts for others or for personal use.
