Jianhe Community (Shema Village) Introduction
"Jianhe" is located southwest of Taitung City, at the edge of the Taitung alluvial plain, backed by mountains and facing the sea. The community consists of six settlements, which from north to south are: Jianshang Road (Shang Jianhe), Jianfeng, Jiandong (originally Teng), Yuchi, Xin She (Xia Jianhe), and Minsheng. Among the six settlements, Xin She is the largest, with the highest population density, so it is often referred to simply as Jianhe. The residents are mainly from the Puyuma tribe, with other early immigrants from the western regions. The local industry is underdeveloped, leading to a phenomenon of population outflow and a small proportion of young adults. Since 1998, the Council for Cultural Affairs of the Executive Yuan has allocated NT$3 million to support the Jianhe community through the "Revitalization of Local Traditional Industries Program," establishing the "Jianhe Woodcarving Art Village." Under the guidance of famous Taiwanese indigenous sculptor and tribal chief Hagu (Han name: Chen Wensheng), the residents of Jianhe community have developed strong woodcarving skills and rich creative inspirations. As a result, every intersection and corner of the community's streets, as well as the walls of each household, showcase wooden carvings and reliefs. This gives the Jianhe community a significant indigenous style and a unique space for cultural and artistic display, allowing the woodcarving craftsmanship and Puyuma traditional culture to be passed down for generations.
