Description
Book SynopsisThe Sediq and Truku Indigenous peoples on the mountainous island of Formosa today called Taiwan say that their ancestors emerged in the beginning of time from Pusu Qhuni, a tree-covered boulder in the highlands. Living in the mountain forests, they observed the sacred law of Gaya, seeking equilibrium with other humans, the spirits, animals, and plants. They developed a politics in which each community preserved its autonomy and sharing was valued more highly than personal accumulation of goods or power. These lifeworlds were shattered by colonialism, capitalist development, and cultural imperialism in the twentieth century.
Based on two decades of ethnographic field research, Truly Human portrays these peoples’ lifeworlds, teachings, political struggles for recognition, and relations with non-human animals. Taking seriously their ontological claims that Gaya offers moral guidance to all humans, Scott E. Simon reflects on what this particular form of Indigenous
Table of Contents
List of Figures List of Tables Note on Orthography Preface Introduction 1. Introduction to Taiwan and Its Indigenous Peoples 2. Samat (Forest Animals) 3. Mgaya (Headhunting) 4. Utux (Spirit) 5. Lnglungan (Heart) 6. Tminun (Weaving) 7. Conclusion Epilogue: Indigenous Peoples and Relations with China Glossary of Foreign Words References
