Information
The Bunun live in the mountainous regions of central Taiwan. They are patrilineal, have strong family bonds, and practice the extraction of certain front teeth as a sign of social identity as well as adulthood. The Bunun are good singers and often sing when working. Their harmonic skills are beautiful and elegant, and they impressed the world with their "Millet Harvest Song" at an international ethnic music convention in 1953. They a population of approximately 45,000 people They have 5 distinct sub-tribes, the Takbunuaz, the Takibaka, subTakbunuaz, Takibaka, the Isbukun, the Takivatan, and the Takituduh. Present day Isbukun, Takivatan, Takituduh. Bunun still live in village units, but unfortunately many of the younger generations are drawn to the big cities searching for jobs.
Origin
In the past, after the harvest season, the Bunun men would hunt for seven days. When they brought the prey back to the village, they would celebrate the Malahadisa (Ear Hitting Ritual) that was held once a year. Malahadisa (Ear Hitting Ritual) was the biggest ceremony in the Bunun tribe, with social, cultural, family, economic, military, political, and educational functions. The ritual included major events such as the sprinkling rite, hunting, ear shooting rite, barbecuing pork, splitting the pork, spear rite, honor rite, and wizard rite.
Activities
According to the tradition, the ceremony was held at the home of the warrior that had hunted the most prey in the year. After the shaman prayed to the ancestors' spirits, the ritual would begin. The elders in the tribe would "blow the ears" of the young children, begging that all of them would grow up safely. Then, they continued to teach the young children how to shoot the meat with bows and arrows, training them to become good archers. Meanwhile, the adults would put on the traditional clothes to carry out the "ear shooting" ceremony. They shot the deer ears to worship abundant gains in hunting, a good harvest in farming, and affluence in trade in the next year. After the government forbade hunting. The Bunun people no longer used deer ears. Now, they use a paper target instead. The hunters participating in the spear rite should cleanse their bodies piously. At the beginning, the shaman would light the fire on the ground, and then the hunter would hold the spear and wave it over the fire. As the rite was completed, the Bunun warriors would gather and go hunting. From time to time, they would find the prey very soon. After they took the prey back to the tribe, they formed a circle around the prey and toasted each other with millet wine. When they were drinking the wine, they would chant their genealogy and hunting experiences in a high tone to celebrate their accomplishments. As the honor rite was completed, the elders would lead the chorus to chant the "Prayer for a Bountiful Millet Harvest Song", which was the famous "eight-bar chorus" of the "eightBunun people.
Location
Bunun Tribe
Pictures
HERE IS A PICTURE OF A BUNUN FAMILY/TRIBE
COOL BUNUN TIKI STATUE
THE LENGENDARY SKULL WALL
MR. BUNUN/RUKAI CHIEF THANKS YOU ALL FOR ENJOYING THIS WONDERFUL BUT BORING PRESENTATION! MR. BUNUN/RUKAI CHIEF THANKS YOU ALL FOR ENJOYING THIS WONDERFUL BUT BORING PRESENTATION! MR. BUNUN/RUKAI CHIEF THANKS YOU ALL FOR ENJOYING THIS WONDERFUL BUT BORING PRESENTATION! MR. BUNUN/RUKAI CHIEF THANKS YOU ALL FOR ENJOYING THIS WONDERFUL BUT BORING PRESENTATION! MR. BUNUN/RUKAI CHIEF THANKS YOU ALL FOR ENJOYING THIS WONDERFUL BUT BORING PRESENTATION! MR. BUNUN/RUKAI CHIEF THANKS YOU ALL FOR ENJOYING THIS WONDERFUL BUT BORING PRESENTATION! MR. BUNUN/RUKAI CHIEF