Lalu Island Introduction
Lalu Island is said to be the dwelling place of the highest ancestral spirit of the Tsou people and was one of the early settlements of the Tsou. The Nantou County Government has designated Lalu Island as a sacred site for the ancestral spirits of the Tsou people to show respect for them. In 2000, the Tsou people planted Ficus macrophylla trees on the island, symbolizing the continuous cultural heritage of the Tsou descendants. Lalu Island still holds its sacredness and symbolic significance today. The Tsou people believe that their highest ancestral spirit resides on Lalu, and traditionally, any woman wishing to learn to be a "Xianshengma" (the Tsou term for traditional ritual masters) must be accompanied by an experienced Xianshengma to board a boat to Lalu Island, to feel the inspiration of the highest ancestral spirit. Only after receiving approval can she be considered qualified to enter the practice; this shows the sacred status of Lalu Island in the hearts of the Tsou people. However, Lalu Island has had several different names throughout various eras and contexts: during the Qing dynasty, it was referred to as "Zhuyǔ," "Zhushan," and "Zhuzi Mountain"; the Japanese called it "Tamashima"; and after World War II, the Kuomintang government named it "Guanghua Island," meaning "Radiance of China." It was later officially renamed Lalu Island.
