Since 2004, Taiwu Elementary School has organized an annual mountain-climbing activity for its fifth and sixth graders to scale Mt. Dabajian in the early spring, around late March to early April. For 13 years, the tradition has never been interrupted and has become an important school custom. Even in the year following Typhoon Morakot (known as the 88 Flood), when trail conditions were extremely poor, the students still made their way to the Cedar Valley, proving themselves as members of the Paiwan tribe and children of the mountains.
This year, a total of 31 students, accompanied by teachers and parents, set off on the 29th. Their 3-day, 2-night journey covered 11 kilometers of mountain trails, with each student responsible for carrying their own nearly 10-kilogram backpack. Prior to the trip, the students trained by running 3 to 4 times a week to build stamina, and also practiced mountaineering on Mt. Lidingshan, which stands over 600 meters above sea level, and Mt. Pengjishan, nearly 900 meters high.
3 days, 2 nights — 11 kilometers of climbing
Teacher Chiamake has participated in every edition of the event since the first year, leading the children up the mountain each time. He said that Mt. Dabajian is the sacred mountain of the Paiwan people, and climbing it is a wonderful integrative learning experience. In addition to understanding Paiwan cultural heritage, students also learn about the landscapes, landmarks, flora, and fauna along the way, while developing self-discipline and the determination to complete the journey.
Inner reflection and self-dialogue
During the climb, students rarely speak, allowing them to engage in dialogue with themselves, to feel their own breathing, heartbeat, and the rhythm of nature — a powerful form of mindfulness training. Many parents also join the trip. Usually, due to busy work schedules, parent-child interaction is limited, but the journey provides more quality time together, strengthening bonds and improving relationships.
Sixth-grade students must reach the summit marker. The boys perform the warrior dance, and the girls sing traditional Paiwan songs to honor the ancestral spirits and the mountains, telling them that the children’s feet are strong and they remember the way home. They also pray for peace for the land. The students bring seeds of mountain crops such as millet and taro up the mountain. After offering them in a ceremony, they bring the seeds back down to plant, hoping for the ancestral spirits’ blessing for a bountiful harvest.