(Photo credit: IG@mafana_tw)
In Taiwan, the largest Amis community is in Taitung. As such, the Amis Harvest Festival is one of the area’s most important cultural events. During the Harvest Festival, many Amis villages express their gratitude for nature’s abundance and respect for their ancestors through song, dance, and other rituals.
Cultural Significance of the Harvest Festival and Related Rituals
The Harvest Festival, which originated during the agrarian era as a celebration of the millet harvest, is the most important gathering for the Amis people. Through a series of rituals that includes ancestor worship along with song and dance performances, the Amis commemorate ancestral spirits and pray for peace, an abundant grain harvest, and the absence of natural disasters.
(Photo credit: IG@mafana_tw)
Singing and dancing are the most important part of the Amis Harvest Festival. Even though men and women take on different roles, the whole tribe participates in order to experience the meaning and spirit of the Harvest Festival. The festival also has many restrictions that everyone must respect. For instance, participants must undergo cleansing rituals and women are not allowed to participate in men’s ancestral worship ceremonies. Thus, the public is reminded to respect local cultural customs when attending the Harvest Festival.
2024 Harvest Festivals in Amis Villages throughout Taitung
The Amis Harvest Festival is a lively part of summer in Taitung. Following an abundant harvest, the festival season kicks off on July 11 in Malaolou Tribal Village, Chenggong Township. Many indigenous villages in Chenggong Township also start their harvest festivals in mid-July. This includes Douli Village from July 12 to 15 and Pisirian Village from July 15 to 21 as well as other indigenous events at Yushui Bridge, Xiaoma, and Zhongan from July 12 to 15. Meishan, Qilin, Minfeng, Yiwan, and Pingbu also hold festivals around this time. In addition, Chenggong Township also holds a large joint Harvest Festival on August 10.
(Photo credit:台東縣關山鎮公所)
Zhenbing Village of Changbin Township holds its Harvest Festival from July 18 to 21. Guanshan Township holds theirs in Yuemei Village on August 25 and from August 15 to 18 in Dianguang Village. In addition, there are other sacred ceremonies in Degao Village, Xinfu Village, and Tana Village from August 16 to 18.
When attending a Harvest Festival, please remember:
- Respect local culture by asking for permission before taking pictures or recording video.
- Follow announcements to see if a tribe is open to the public on a given day.
- Understand that certain rituals and ceremonies are not open to the public. Please do not attend these events.
- If villages offer guided tours, please book in advance. This gives visitors a chance to get a deeper understanding of tribal culture while supporting the local economy.
- Respect all of the rules and regulations of the tribe. For instance, adhere to restrictions on dress.
By following these guidelines, visitors can truly experience and appreciate the rich cultural tradition of an Amis Harvest Festival. For dates and schedules regarding indigenous events throughout Taitung, please visit the official website of the Taitung County Indigenous People’s Bureau (https://aborigine.taitung.gov.tw/) or contact relevant township offices or the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration.
We hope that the 2024 Amis Harvest Festival is as lively and grand as in years past. Through jubilant celebration, we can help pass down and celebrate this piece of unique cultural heritage.
Phone numbers for Taitung’s township offices:
- Taitung City Office: (089)325-301 #160
- Chenggong Township Office: (089)851-004
- Luye Township Office: (089)580-136
- Guanshan Township Office: (089)811-179 / (089)811-034
- Changbin Township Office: (089)832-139 #245
- Donghe Township Office: (089)896-200
- Taimali Township Office: (089)781-301
- Beinan Township Office: (089)381-368
- Chishang Township Office: (089)862-041
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