Yehliu Old Village Introduction
The "Yeyin" is called Ivalino by the Dawu people, referring to the saddle vine. Legend has it that the ancestors of Yeyin were originally from Batan Island in the Philippines. They crossed the sea to Orchid Island and married a widow there. After the marriage, the widow abandoned her two children from a previous relationship and returned to Batan Island with her husband, where she gave birth to two sons. Not long after, a famine struck the island, and out of necessity, the family relocated back to Orchid Island, originally intending to seek refuge with the father-in-law, but they were expelled. The couple and their children, homeless and lost, went to the southeastern coast, which was uninhabited at the time, and established the present-day Yeyin tribe in the wilderness. Traditional housing in Orchid Island is a residential style developed in response to the hot and windy climate, characterized by semi-subterranean structures. Generally, it consists of three parts: the subterranean main house, a workroom, and a terrace. The main house, also known as the "underground house," is built 1 to 2 meters below ground level, providing warmth in winter and coolness in summer, with excellent insulation. It also protects against typhoons, northeast monsoons, and earthquakes, making the Yeyin tribe’s elders reluctant to change it into modern housing, thereby preserving traditional architecture and making it the tribe with the most intact underground houses. While visiting the old village, it is important to note that traditional underground houses still have elders residing within them, who may not welcome uninvited visits or unauthorized photography. It is advisable to stay at a guesthouse near the Yeyin tribe the night before your visit, allowing tribe members to personally guide you through their underground houses. Such strict restrictions stem from the clear division of seniority and ethics among the Dawu (Yami) people. Even local residents who enter without permission may be expelled by the elders. This aspect requires special caution; while traveling, please respect the lives of local residents! More travel tips for Orchid Island.