| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺南大學 === 台灣文化研究所碩士班 === 99 === The social organizations of the Rukai and Paiwan belong to the same class rank.
The aristocracy in these societies enjoys a lot of privileges. Tribal tattoo, for example,
is one of them. It is also a symbol for social status. The Rukain and Paiwan
aristocratic women’s hand-totem patterns are definitely a sign of class identities.
These characterized patterns share a more representative meaning of clan cultures.
In this study, its main purpose is to discuss: 1. The meanings and sorts of
decoration rights in the Rukai.2. How the Rukain women obtain their rights in Wutai,
Pingtung. How hand-totems are operated, what these specific tools are, and why these
totem patterns are designed in different ways.3. Contemporary hand totems of the
Rukai culture in modern times.4. The changes and adjustments of hand totems in the
Rukai culture.
To carry the point of this research, besides the collection of related data and
documents, we''ve also made interviews with 11 old women with hand totems and 3
villagers in the Wutai Tribe. Also by drawing and taking photos of these totem
patterns, we intend to understand the real images of each totem picture.
According to these interviews, most old ladies in this tribe had their hand totems
operated at their own houses. Later in the era of Japanese occupation over Taiwan,
some of them, on the other hand, hid themselves in the fields or farms and tattooed
their hands there. In most cases, it takes them nearly two days to complete the whole
totem procedure. Young Rukains use special needles to create hand totems while the
elderly tattoo themselves by barbules of orange trees or bamboos. Moreover, they
paint these totems with dust and ash from the bottom of pots. Hand-totem patterns of
lord and loon are different. It is forbidden that women with hand totems can’t eat meat
or something salty and with water. Besides, pregnant women are not allowed to watch
this tattoo ritual. Female villagers who have hand totems need to wear gloves in front
of tribal holy places.
To sum up, the conclusion of this research is: Hand totems indeed represent the
class ranks and social structures of the Rukai, including virginity and patents’ love.
These totems also reveal the life style and social regulations in this tribe. It is
important to record this cultural value and treat as a life material for generations.
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