Special Exhibition On Indigenous And Hakka Traditional Clothing Kicks Off In Miaoli

A special exhibition on “Hidden Meanings behind Indigenous and Hakka Traditional Clothing Patterns (衫間密語：原客服飾圖紋个對話)” kicked off at Taiwan Hakka Museum in Miaoli County on Aug. 4, 2021, taking place until Feb. 28, 2022.  

The exhibition is being held by the Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center (THCDC) in partnership with the Bureau of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, Taichung Museum of Fiber Arts, Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines (順益台灣原住民博物館), and Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli Regional Branch of Workforce Development Agency of the Ministry of Labor.

The show’s opening ceremony was attended by Minister Yiong Con-ziin of the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC), Deputy Minister Qucung Qalavangan of the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP), Deputy Magistrate Teng Kuei-chu (鄧桂菊) of Miaoli County, Chairperson Bakan Pawan of Tapei City’s Indigenous Peoples Commission, Chairperson Xu Shi-xun (徐世勲) of Tapei Hakka Affairs Commission, Deputy Director Hsieh Ming-hui (謝明輝) of Hsinchu County’s Civil Affairs Department, and President Lee Woei-shyan (李偉賢) of National United University.

HAC Minister Yiong said that the exhibition is one of the events to pay tribute to Taiwanese indigenous peoples this year, adding that the Council organized a series of activities to mark the Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This year, apart from the special exhibition, HAC also released a promotional video telling a story about the collaboration between the indigenous and Hakka groups, Yiong noted, saying that the Council started to work with scholars to rewrite the shared history of the indigenous and Hakka people. The Minister hopes that, through these activities, both ethnic groups can become more familiar with each other and establish a deeper relationship.

Minister Yiong explained that, different from being suppressed in the period of authoritarianism, Taiwan’s native cultures have been valued for decades in democratic society. However, when it comes to indigenization, various ethnic groups on the island should engage in communication and treat each other with respect instead of regarding each other as strangers, said Yiong.

The Minister expects that the exhibition will enable visitors to learn more about the cultural characteristics of indigenous and Hakka groups, building diverse cultures in Taiwan through dialogue between both ethnic communities.

According to THCDC Director-General Ho Chin-liang (何金樑), the special exhibition focuses on the clothing patterns of the two ethnic groups, exploring the differences in traditional clothing tailing and wearing and offering a glimpse of varied ethnic lifestyles, value, and aesthetics through totems and symbols. Ho added that the exhibition demonstrates the interinfluence between indigenes and Hakkas is translated by modern designers into a new philosophy of art.

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The Opening Of The Special Exhibition On Indigenous And Hakka Traditional Clothing

HAC Minister Yiong Attended The Opening Of The Exhibition.