Unique and unusual ethnic entertainment village of Bo Nong

Tourists visiting Taiwan often seek authentic local experiences, making the villages of ethnic minority groups unique destinations.

In Taiwan, there are approximately 62,000 Bunun people, with Taitung County alone accounting for about 31,000 (50%), distributed across the towns of Xinyi, Nantou, Yanping, Hairui, etc.

We visited Taoyuan Village in Yanping Township, Taitung County – home to the Taitung Bunun tribe, with several dozen ancient houses clustered at the foot of the central mountain, on both the west and east sides.

The pristine, peaceful beauty of Bu Nong Indigenous Village, Taitung County.

In this tourist village, you can freely pose and take photos at many unique angles.

The name Bố Nông has a long history, and it has been used ever since the Japanese occupation. Many legends tell of the Bố Nông people being born from stones, gourds, and dung. Legend says that in ancient times, a gourd fell from the sky. When the gourd broke, a man and a woman appeared, and their descendants are now the Bố Nông people!

Taitung has a developed agricultural sector thanks to its clean climate and nutrient-rich soil. In Yanping, the Borong people are primarily engaged in agriculture. Their livelihoods are based on farming and animal husbandry. Their traditional food consists mainly of agricultural products such as millet, corn, and sweet potatoes. Today, Borong villagers mainly eat rice and sweet potatoes; their supplementary foods include wild vegetables, seaweed, and tree beans.

The Bo Nong people are robust, sturdy, dark-skinned, and have strong voices. Their clothing and jewelry consist of traditional garments made from animal hides, jute, etc. The Bo Nong follow a patriarchal system. This ethnic minority group has a belief in spirits (Hanitu), trusting in individual abilities; illness and misfortune are linked to spirits. The ear-piercing ritual is a common Hanitu belief practice. Other rituals include dances to pray for a bountiful millet harvest.

They are gifted in traditional music . The music of the Bo Nong ethnic group is famous for its "Eight-Part Chord," used in rituals to pray for a bountiful millet harvest. Every year, around November-December, the Bo Nong people hold a ceremony to germinate millet seeds, praying for a successful harvest. After the ceremony, they select young men and women to gather in a circle and sing a prayer for a successful millet crop.

They believed that those sweet melodies and harmonies reached the gods, heard by heaven and earth, and would bless the villagers. With sincere prayers for abundant millet harvests, heavy stalks, and a bountiful crop, they sang with burning hearts, reverence, and sacredness.

Tourists watch a performance of traditional music from the Bo Nong ethnic group.

At the Búnng Recreational Tourism Village in Yanping, Taitung, we experienced their traditional animal skin carving techniques, tried our hand at hunting, and enjoyed performances of traditional folk music, including the classic eight-part choral piece praying for a bountiful harvest. This was the most memorable activity on our tour of the tribe.

In particular, visitors can enjoy a distinctive local meal. All the dishes, including rice, fish, vegetables, and fruits, are organically sourced locally.

There are currently 16 recognized Austronesian tribes in Taiwan. They comprise a total of 600,000 people, representing approximately 2.6% of Taiwan's population.

A SERIES OF MUST-SEE PHOTOS AT TAITUNG BUNUN:

Local artisans guide tourists on the technique of carving images on animal skins.

Swing the hammer with all your might...

Experience being a "sculptor"

A sample of a handcrafted item.

The finished product

"Harvesting" handmade souvenirs

Testing your hunting skills. Looks intense!

Amateur archers

Dance and song to pray for a good harvest.

The ritual of giving gifts to tourists.

Food made from locally grown ingredients.

"The eaves cast long, slanted shadows / A private sorrow, a pang of sadness, all alone" (Kieu)

Source: https://nld.com.vn/doc-la-lang-dan-toc-giai-tri-bo-nong-196250325114932647.htm