Xiangtian Lake Introduction
Located in Donghe Village, Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, there are currently over twenty households with a population of around two hundred, making it the largest settlement of the Saisiat people. It is said that hundreds of years ago, there was originally a lake here. The ancients named it "Xiangtian Lake" (also known as "Yangtian Lake") as they looked up at the sky while at the lake. Later, due to the erosion from a tributary of the Dadong River cutting through the lakeshore, the water of the lake drained away, leaving behind fertile lakebed soil that became a basin in the mountains. The indigenous people who migrated here developed it into arable land. Xiangtian Lake is at an altitude of 738 meters, bordering Guangtian Mountain Ridge and Luchang to the southeast, connecting with Penglai Village to the southwest, and with Nanjing Village and Donghe Village to the northwest. Guangtian Mountain is a subordinate ridge of the Jiali Mountain Range. The eastern side is steep and formed by the cutting and erosion of the Dadong River, while the western side has gentler slopes with a wider ridge. Xiangtian Lake is located in the western slope of the mountain, where terraced fields spread throughout the basin, surrounded by cypress forests, mixed woodlands, and bamboo groves, all lush and green. Due to its higher elevation, it is often shrouded in mist during winter and spring, with white clouds drifting, creating a fairyland-like atmosphere. The Xiangtian Lake hosts a ceremony every two years and a grand festival every ten years called the "Ailing Festival," which holds significant historical meaning and an air of primal mystery, making it the most important festival for the Saisiat people. The Ailing Festival is held around the 15th day of the tenth month of the lunar calendar every two years for four days and three nights. The Saisiat people hope that visitors come with a sincere and respectful attitude towards indigenous culture to jointly preserve the original appearance of the Ailing Festival. Origin of the Ailing Festival: In ancient times, the short black dwarfs, who were less than one meter tall, possessed various skills. They taught the Saisiat people agricultural practices and methods of worshiping gods, enabling the Saisiat to have stable livelihoods. During harvest time each year, the Saisiat invited the black dwarfs to the village to celebrate the harvest, but over time, the invited black dwarfs behaved inappropriately towards Saisiat women. During one Harvest Festival, the Saisiat set a trap leading to the deaths of the black dwarfs. After that, the harvests were no longer as bountiful as in previous years. To comfort the deceased black dwarfs, they held the "Ailing Festival," which used to take place annually but has now changed to a minor celebration every two years and a grand celebration every ten years.
