Sabu Tribe Village Introduction
Sapulju tribe is located in Xinxing Village, Jinfon Township, Taitung County. It is an East Paiwan indigenous tribe surrounded by mountains on three sides and the ocean on one side. To the south lies the Dawang tribe in Taimali Township, to the north is the Lubakat tribe in Taimali Township, to the east is the Pacific Ocean, and to the west is Jinzhenshan. Facing the Pacific Ocean, the environment is serene. The old name was "Sapulu" (SA PU LU), and after Taiwan's retrocession, it was renamed "Lubakat," which translates to "Xinxing Tribe" in Mandarin. Before the 39th year of the Republic, the Sapulju tribe was part of the territory of the Lubaka tribe in Taimali Township, designated as a hunting restricted area. The tribespeople of this territory refer to it as Sapulju, which means "lonely and desolate" in Paiwan language. The Sapulju tribe is composed of four major tribes and eight prominent families. The four major tribes are "Jiubinmao Tribe," "Budong Tribe," "Jinhuang Tribe," and "Skato Tribe." In the Jiubinmao Tribe at South Dawu Mountain, there are two families: "Bafafalung Family" and "Gushacha Family." The Budong Tribe at North Dawu Mountain is represented by the "Luofaneyao Family." In the Jinhuang Tribe at South Dawu Mountain, there are four families: "Delunahfnafke," "Ginilu Kouyang," "Jiuji As Family," and "Dufeilung Family." The Skato Tribe has the "Skato Family," which collectively forms the eight chiefs of the Sapulju tribe. Starting from the entrance of Xinxing Elementary School, a series of paintings and stone slab art lead visitors into the world of indigenous culture. Whether in the parking shed, on the walkway, or in the restroom, the walls are adorned with traditional Paiwan totem figures and other artworks, filled with the flavor of traditional Paiwan culture. At the traditional stone house of the chief in Xinxing Village, you can admire the wooden sculptures of amateur artist Gambi and gain a deeper understanding of the beauty of Paiwan culture.
