Lion Township Cultural Relics Museum Introduction
The Shizi Township Museum of Cultural Relics is located in Fenglin Village, Shizi Township, Pingtung County, adjacent to the Shizi Township office. It is a museum that showcases indigenous cultural features, with walls and roofs designed to resemble traditional indigenous stone houses. The walls are adorned with totem carvings, including the hundred-step snake, chief figures, and pottery urns. The architectural design and decorations were collaboratively completed by Li Jixiang, the chairman of the Shizi Township representative assembly, artist Hsieh Wende from Mudan Township, and sculptor You Chengzhou from Majiab Township. The exterior of the building exhibits strong Paiwan tribal colors, and it is the first museum dedicated to the Paiwan tribe. The Paiwan society has a distinct class system where only the nobility is entitled to carve designs on the support columns of their houses. Common motifs include snake patterns, human figures, combined human-snake designs, wild boar patterns, and deer patterns. These motifs exhibit stillness, positivity, and symmetry, with carvings primarily representing two-dimensional expressions. The finished wood carvings showcase a rugged style that is free and unrestricted, while coloring typically utilizes red, black, and white tones. The Shizi Township Museum of Cultural Relics mainly collects various artistic creations of the Paiwan tribe, particularly the "Hundred-Year-Old Wood Carving of the Hunting Society," crafted from century-old banyan wood. This impressive piece is a very heavy door panel carved with indigenous human figures and is a rare and precious artifact that was originally used as a cover for an ancient well in Fangliao Township. Thanks to the efforts of the Shizi Township office and the Fangliao Cultural Relics Promotion Association, it has become the museum's prized treasure. In addition to serving as an exhibition space for indigenous cultural relics, the Shizi Township Museum also sells handcrafted leather products made by local indigenous women, such as keychains, wallets, coin pouches, and pencil cases. These items not only boast high quality and beautiful designs but also carry meaningful stories, making them the perfect gift choices for oneself or others.
