Lion Township Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall Introduction
The Lion Township Museum of Cultural Relics is located in Fenglin Village, Lion Township, Pingtung County, adjacent to the Lion Township Office. It is a museum rich in indigenous cultural characteristics, designed to resemble an indigenous stone house with walls and a roof that reflect this style. The walls feature totem carvings of various subjects such as the many-banded krait, chieftain figures, and pottery, and the architectural design and decorations were collaboratively completed by Li Jixiang, the chairperson of the Lion Township Representative Council, along with artist Hsieh Wende from Mudan Township and sculptor You Cheng-chou from Makasha Township. The building's exterior is strongly infused with the colors and styles of the Paiwan tribe, making it the first museum dedicated to Paiwan cultural artifacts. In the Paiwan society, the class system is quite strict, where only the nobility has the right to carve designs into the pillars of their homes. Common patterns include snake motifs, human figures, human-snake integration patterns, wild boar designs, and deer motifs. These patterns are characterized by their static, frontal, and symmetrical qualities, and the majority of the carvings are expressed in two-dimensional space. The finished wood sculptures exhibit a rugged style that reflects freedom and originality, predominantly using red, black, and white colors. The Lion Township Museum of Cultural Relics primarily houses a diverse collection of Paiwan artistic creations, notably featuring the "Centennial Wood Carving of the Hunter's Club" made from century-old beech wood. This carving is a remarkably thick door panel adorned with indigenous human figures and is considered a rare and valuable artifact. Originally part of a well cover in Fangliao Township, it was secured and planned for display in the museum through the efforts of the Lion Township Office and the Fangliao Cultural Relics Promotion Association, and it now serves as the museum's treasured piece. Moreover, besides being a space for exhibiting indigenous artifacts, the Lion Township Museum of Cultural Relics also sells handcrafted leather carvings made by local indigenous women, including keychains, wallets, coin purses, and pencil cases. Not only are these items of high quality and beautiful in design, but they also carry meaningful stories, making them excellent gift choices for both others and oneself.
