Lion Township Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall Introduction
The Lion Township Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall is located in Fenglin Village, Lion Township, Pingtung County, adjacent to the Lion Township Office. It is a museum rich in indigenous cultural features, with walls and roofs designed to resemble traditional indigenous stone houses. The walls are adorned with totem carvings of the hundred-step snake, tribal leader figures, pottery urns, and more. The architectural design and decorations were completed in collaboration with the chairperson of the Lion Township Township Representatives Council, Li Jixiang, artist Xie Wende from Mudan Township, and sculptor You Chengzhou from Magic Township. The building exhibits a strong presence of the Paiwan people’s culture and is the first cultural relics museum of the Paiwan tribe. The social hierarchy of the Paiwan tribe is strictly defined, with only the nobility having the rights to carve the totems on house pillars. Common patterns include snake patterns, human figures, human-snake motifs, wild boar patterns, and deer motifs. These motifs are characterized by their stasis, symmetry, and frontal presentation, with most carvings belonging to a two-dimensional expression. The finished wood carvings exhibit a rugged style that is free and unconstrained, and the colors predominantly used are red, black, and white. The Lion Township Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall primarily collects various artistic creations of the Paiwan tribe, particularly the "Hunting Society's Century-old Wood Carving" made from hundred-year-old beech wood. This wood carving is a very heavy door panel carved with indigenous figures, making it a rare and precious artifact. Originally used as a well cover in Fangliao Township, it has become the museum's treasure through the efforts and planning of the Lion Township Office and the Fangliao Cultural Relics Promotion Association. In addition to serving as an exhibition space for indigenous artifacts, the Lion Township Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall also sells handcrafted leather products made by local indigenous women, such as keychains, wallets, coin purses, and pencil cases. These products not only boast quality and beautiful designs but also carry meaningful stories, making them ideal gifts for both personal use and presentations.
