Monument of the Ancestral Origin of Indigenous Peoples Introduction
According to the oral traditions of the Puyuma people, Taiwan was originally submerged under the sea, and there was a land connection between Lanyu (Orchid Island) and Green Island. Later, Taiwan Island floated to the surface, while the original land sank into the sea, and even the sun and moon disappeared, leaving only five siblings alive. One boy was pushed into the sky to become the sun, a girl became the moon, and the other siblings—a boy and two girls—drifted to the mountains near Sanhe Village and Huayuan Village in Taitung's Taimali Township. The landing place is referred to by the indigenous people as "Luhua'an" or "Banabana," which means "place of origin" in the Puyuma language. It is also the site of the Monument of Indigenous Ancestors' Place of Origin. In 1960, the monument "Place of Origin of Taiwan Indigenous Ancestors" was erected on the hillside by the sea in Sanhe Village. During the 1980s, it was brought to attention due to local suggestions, leading the county government to seek funds for renovations, expanding the area and facilities, adding interpretation signs, and enhancing the landscaping, resulting in its current scale. Every year around the Tomb Sweeping Day, Puyuma people from Zhiben and Jianhe communities visit to pay respects to their ancestors, expressing gratitude and remembrance. The Amis people from Dulan Village in Donghe Township also erected a worship platform here to fulfill their ancestors' instructions and regularly come to pay their respects, expressing their nostalgia for their ancestors. The site of the Monument of Indigenous Ancestors' Place of Origin features explanations of Puyuma migration, commemorative illustrations of their arduous journey, inscriptions, and memorial stones. Visitors can ascend the cement steps to learn about the process of indigenous migration to Taiwan.
