Lalu Island Introduction
Lalu Island is said 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 nutmeg trees on the island, symbolizing the continuous cultural heritage of the Thao descendants. Lalu Island still holds its sacredness and symbolic significance today. The Thao people believe that their highest ancestral spirit resides in Lalu. Traditionally, any woman wishing to learn to be a "Sien Shen Ma" (the term the Thao use for traditional priests) must be accompanied by an experienced Sien Shen Ma and take a boat to Lalu Island to feel the enlightenment of the highest ancestral spirit. Only after receiving affirmation can she claim to have met the qualification to enter the priesthood. This indicates the sacred status of Lalu Island in the hearts of the Thao people. Over different eras and backgrounds, Lalu Island has had several other names: during the Qing Dynasty it was referred to as "Zhu Yu," "Zhu Shan," and "Zhu Zi Shan," while the Japanese called it "Tama Island." After World War II, the Kuomintang government referred to it as "Guanghua Island," meaning "Illuminating China," before it was officially renamed Lalu Island.
