Tainan's KUVA Plan Infuses Siraya Culture with Modern Flair

Tainan City is breathing new life into Siraya indigenous culture with its "Rebuilding KUVA Revitalizing Settlements Plan." This comprehensive initiative focuses on preserving and promoting the rich heritage of the Siraya people, ensuring their traditions are not just archived but actively integrated into daily life and public consciousness.

The plan encompasses a wide range of activities, from meticulously documenting traditional Thatched-roof house construction techniques to training local guides for settlement tours. It also involves designing authentic tribal cuisine and fostering cultural tourism. A significant aspect is the revival of ancient Siraya melodies and the creation of a "story wall" to recount the community's history. These efforts aim to make the precious culture accessible and engaging for both locals and visitors.

Beyond cultural preservation, the city is supporting the development of distinctive local products. These include intricate cross-stitch crafts, Liuhexi bamboo fans, and "over-mountain fragrance" (Aglaia odorata) tea bags, which carry deep cultural and ceremonial significance for the Siraya. "Over-mountain fragrance" is considered a sacred plant, used by female shamans in rituals to guide ancestral spirits and symbolizing their protection and spiritual anchor.

The term "Kuva" itself, meaning "public shrine" in the Siraya language, represents the heart of the community's ceremonial, deliberative, and educational activities. The KUVA plan, initiated in 2013 and enhanced with a tiered guidance mechanism since 2023, aims to revitalize these cultural centers. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che highlighted the importance of this work, noting that the Siraya were officially recognized as an indigenous group in Tainan during former President Lai Ching-te's tenure as mayor, a crucial step for the Pingpu indigenous communities.