Jianhe Community (Shama Village) Introduction
Jianhe is located to the southwest of Taitung City, on the edge of the Taitung alluvial plain's fan apex, with mountains at the back and the sea in front. The entire district comprises six settlements, listed from north to south as follows: Jianshang Road (Shang Jianhe), Jianfeng, Jiandong (formerly known as Teng), Yuchi, Xinshe (Xia Jianhe), and Minsheng. Among these six settlements, Xinshe is the largest, with the highest and most concentrated population, which is why people generally refer to Jianhe by using Xinshe's name. The residents are primarily of the Puyuma people, with others being early immigrants from the west. The industry is underdeveloped, and there is a phenomenon of population outflow, particularly among the young and middle-aged. Since 1998, the Council for Cultural Affairs of the Executive Yuan has subsidized the Jianhe community with NT$3 million through its "Revitalization of Local Traditional Industry Program," establishing the "Jianhe Woodcarving Art Village." Under the guidance of the renowned indigenous sculptor Hagu (Han name: Chen Wensheng), the community members have developed strong woodcarving skills and creativity. As a result, every intersection and corner of the streets, as well as the walls of each residence in the Jianhe community, showcase wood panel and wood carvings. This has given the Jianhe community a distinctive indigenous style and a unique space for cultural and artistic display, allowing woodcarving techniques and Puyuma traditional culture to be passed down for generations.
