踏溯台南

踏溯台南

文學院 通識教育課程

Migration and Settlement of the Siraya Tribe

Route Introduction

108西拉雅C

 

The Grand Kuwa of Kabuasua

   The place where Alid is being worshipped is called Kuwa. There are three partitions in the Big Kuwa. The middle partition worship Alid the chief god, on the eastern and western ends. Alid is also worshipped in kuwas. The deity is represented by eupatorium in a kettle or an urn. People worship the spiritual power in the urn, though the operation of "water" and "direction" and performing rituals with "rice wine" and "betel nuts" as offerings. The annual night worship and Xiao-Hai worship on the 4th or the 5th day of the ninth month on the lunar calendar are considered the new years’ time for people of Kabuasua.

   The night worshipping is held annually on Alid's birthday on the 4th day of the 9th month on the lunar calendar, which also implies the relationship between Man and Nature marked by the festivals.

   The night worshipping comes in two main parts: "Worshipping and Thanking Alid with Sacrificed Pigs" and "Chanting Songs to Show Respect to Alid." The ritual is roughly divided into (1) Offering the Pigs (2) Inviting Alid (3) Tapping the Pigs (4) Covering with Cloth (5) Turning over the Pigs (6) Chanting Songs. Among these, chanting is done by tribal women walking in a circle hand-in-hand, dancing, and pacing to the music.