Jianhe Community (Shema Village) Introduction
Jianhe is located in the southwest of Taitung City, on the edge of the Taitung alluvial plain. It is backed by mountains and faces the sea. The community consists of six settlements, listed from north to south as follows: Jian Shang Road (Shang Jianhe), Jianfeng, Jiandong (originally Teng), Yuchi, Xin she (Xia Jianhe), and Minsheng. Among the six settlements, Xin she is the largest, most populated, and most concentrated, so it is common for people to refer to Jianhe simply as Jianhe. The residents are primarily from the Puyuma tribe, with others being early migrants from the west. The industry is underdeveloped, leading to population outflow, and there is a low proportion of young adults. Since 1998, the Council for Cultural Affairs of the Executive Yuan has subsidized Jianhe Community with NT$3 million under its "Revitalization of Local Traditional Industries" program, establishing the "Jianhe Wood Sculpture Art Village." Guided by Hagu, a tribal leader and renowned indigenous sculptor in Taiwan (with the Han Chinese name Chen Wensheng), residents are taught wood carving. Under his mentorship, the residents of Jianhe Community have acquired solid carving foundations and abundant creative inspiration. As a result, every street corner and household wall within the community features board sculptures and wood carvings on display. This gives Jianhe Community a distinctive indigenous style and a unique space for artistic and cultural exhibitions, ensuring the long-lasting transmission of wood carving skills and Puyuma traditional culture.
