Professor Gao Ye-ying has lived among the aboriginal tribes of Pingtung, a south coast city, for ten years. He lives in an old-style, lowframe, Japanese-type house, decorated only with aboriginal artifacts of bamboo, rattan, and stripped wood. A 44 year old artist, Professor Gao has entered the lives of the Pingtung tribes, and become an expert on their culture.

Professor Gao first went to Pingtung to teach and paint. "I was motivated by works on the South American Indian tribes when I was in college. This led to my own research into the aborigines of Pingtung and, eventually, to a thesis paper. After coming to Pingtung, I became fascinated with the carvings and the use of color on decorative items. Little by little, I got to know and love the people."

Now they're old friends. But when Gao first arrived in Pingtung, he had a difficult time in carrying out his research. The people did not want to show an intruding outsider their intricate carvings for they were essentially religious items or family heirlooms. He had, at first, to content himself with sketching from a distance. But now, after ten years, he is a community member, and aboriginal students come to his home to study art. Gao has, in turn, studied their language, partaken of their traditional wine, and studied aboriginal dances.

Their handicraft items are not easy for an outsider to understand. In order to truly appreciate their art, he says, one must inspect it from their viewpoint. For example, aboriginal works are heavily influenced by the aborigines' perception of natural disasters as omens, and by their use of their faith in ways that may gain protection. For them, art exists as a means to express religion; the two, therefore, are equally sacred.

There is a popular myth which clearly demonstrates this approach to life. A highly poisonous snake which lived in the jungle aroused the intense fears of the tribes' ancestors. Later, this fear turned to reverence. Romantic stories were created revolving around the snake, which became the first male ancestor of the noble class: Long, long ago, the snake turned into a handsome young lad who chose a lovely bride. Their offspring were all nobles, while offspring of the common green snake were the common people. As a result of their religious fascination with snakes, snake designs and winding, curling figures can be seen throughout their artwork. Although decorative, their real purpose is to ward off evil spirits.

Gao says that this two-class society of Pingtung is similar to that of other aboriginal tribes in Taiwan. All employ natural and human images painted in red, green, and yellow (symbolic of nature) in their art items, clothing, and houses. Since it was usually the nobility which had leisure time for carving and weaving, many famous aboriginal artists are descendents of noble families.

Recently, as a result of declining yields in farming and hunting, many young people have left their villages for "greener pastures". Treasures and family heirlooms, with few people to care for them, have fallen pray to natural elements such as wind and water. Many of them have been destroyed or ruined.

Gao notes, "The aboriginal crafts are invaluable not only for intrinsic value, but because they are a record of an ancient people's history, vividly depicting their culture and folkways."

So he has taken an active interest in preserving these relics and has purchased many items for a collection. Where he cannot purchase an item, he asks an artisan to craft one for him.

He recalls similar cultural atrophy in other tribal cultures as a result of migration. Most of the people had left the villages and, pillagers or fortune hunters shipped the cultural relics abroad for sale or personal display. Gao took it upon himself to gather as many items as possible and ship them to a safe location. "These things are theirs. I'm only helping to preserve them for their descendents," Gao says. He has had offers to sell his collection for prices as high as five times the original cost, but is determined to eventually hand it over to a cultural organization for proper care and display.

Prof. Gao has written many articles for magazines about aboriginal items, hoping to kindle interest and encourage scholarly work in native Taiwan cultures.

His efforts have already borne fruit. In July 1981, the Tainan city government sponsored a Southeast Asian art exhibition in which many aboriginal items were displayed. Aboriginal craftsmen in their seventies and eighties were invited to demonstrate carving and weaving techniques. Hopefully, thinks Prof. Gao, this is just the beginning.

[Picture Caption]

1. Pro. Gao Ye-ying. 2. Traditionally dressed aborigine woman chewing betel nut. 3. Paiwan aborigines use stone slabs to build their homes. 4. Newly married Rukai aborigine woman. According to tradition, she must give up her former carefree lifestyle of singing and dancing. 5. Welcoming a guest. 6. Pottery vase heirloom.

1. Prof. Gao standing at the door of an aborigine home. 2.3. Aboriginal heirlooms, said to have been brought to Taiwan from outside, are particularly valued. 4.5. Human figures incorporated in Rukai aborigine clothing. 6.8. Snake-like patterns on Rukai cloth. 7. Satchel for betel nuts.

1. Iron saber. 2. Wooden ladle. 3. Ladle with human face carved on the handle. 4. Saw handle. 5. Prof. Gao at work, seated on a tribal chief's chair he bought. 6. One of Prof. Gao's finished aborigine works.

Traditionally dressed aborigine woman chewing betel nut.

Paiwan aborigines use stone slabs to build their homes.

Newly married Rukai aborigine woman. According to tradition, she must give up her former carefree lifestyle of singing and dancing.

Welcoming a guest.

Pottery vase heirloom.

Prof. Gao standing at the door of an aborigine home.

Aboriginal heirlooms, said to have been brought to Taiwan from outside, are particularly valued.

Aboriginal heirlooms, said to have been brought to Taiwan from outside, are particularly valued.

Human figures incorporated in Rukai aborigine clothing.

Human figures incorporated in Rukai aborigine clothing.

Snake-like patterns on Rukai cloth.

Satchel for betel nuts.

Snake-like patterns on Rukai cloth.

Iron saber.

Wooden ladle.

Ladle with human face carved on the handle.

Saw handle.

Prof. Gao at work, seated on a tribal chief's chair he bought.

One of Prof. Gao's finished aborigine works.