Lalu Island Introduction
Lalu Island is believed to be the dwelling place of the highest ancestral spirit of the Thao people and was one of their early settlements. The Nantou County Government designated Lalu Island as a sacred site for the Thao ancestors to show respect for the Thao people. In 2000, the Thao planted umbrella trees on the island, symbolizing the continuity of their cultural heritage for generations. Lalu Island still holds its sacredness and symbolic meaning today. The Thao people believe that their highest ancestral spirit resides in Lalu. Traditionally, any woman wishing to learn to become a "Xianshengma" (the term for traditional ritualists among the Thao) must be accompanied by a senior Xianshengma to take a boat to Lalu Island, to feel the revelations of the highest ancestral spirit, and only after receiving consent can she be considered qualified to enter the practice. This emphasizes the sacred status of Lalu Island in the hearts of the Thao people. Over different eras and contexts, Lalu Island has been referred to by various names; during the Qing Dynasty, it was documented as "Zhu Yu," "Zhu Mountain," and "Zhu Zi Mountain"; the Japanese referred to it as "Tama Island"; after World War II, the Kuomintang government called it "Guanghua Island," meaning "Illuminated China." It was later officially renamed Lalu Island.
