Taiwan aborigines: a ceremonial Rukai knife

[yuanzhumin]

Dear Migueldiaz,

Many thanks for your kind words.

For what I know, the sun is usually symbolized by a circle among the Taiwanese aborigines, mostly the Southern tribes. It can be a circle, a double circle or a circle with sun rays patterns. Among the Rukai and the Paiwan, this is a symbol reserved for the noble linages, whether it is tattooed on the body or carved on a house beam or a knife handle. Definitely not for commoners. It has a particular significance for the Rukai.

The single representation of a man or a woman is usually an ancestor that is protecting a family or a village.

Here is a link to a Rukai altar panel with a repeated double circle sun pattern:
http://www.formosatribal.com/show.php?item_id=231

For the books, the best one in English is :
http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=qhYeAAAAMAAJ

Here after you have few other references:
http://www.formosatribal.com/english.html

Best

Nicolas