The sounds of nature: A tribute to the Namaxia Tribes

Text & Photos / Kaohsiung City - Bureau of Cultural Affairs
 
“You are the lily of the deep mountains, blooming silently without a word, swayed by the gentlest mountain breeze, gazing up at the starry sky.” Bunun singer Wang Hung-en’s “Moonlight” carries a tender melody that brings to mind the image of clear rivers meandering and green mountains undulating. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Typhoon Morakot. Let’s return to Namaxia together and ask, “How are you?” Mihumisang!

The Scenic Qinqin Highway boasts stunning mountain and river views.
Provincial Highway 29 is the main road leading to Namaxia, but locals prefer to call it the “Qinqin (Dear) Highway.” All the road signs along the way are written in both local Indigenous languages and Romanized spellings: Naluduza, Haliol, Anhana, Dupuluan, Wengweng Bridge... Each bridge leads the way to the tribes. “Provincial Highway 29 runs from Dakanuwa in Namaxia to Linyuan in Kaohsiung, abbreviated as ‘Da-Lin’ (DARING),” an explanation from a local reveals. It suddenly dawns on you, and you can’t help but smile at the optimistic and romantic spirit of the residents.

Visit the site of the Japanese Shrine in Dakanuwa Tribe
Starting from Provincial Highway 29, you first arrive at Dakanuwa Tribe, which became the administrative center of Namaxia after Typhoon Morakot. The Maxinghalan Pedestrian Landscape Bridge in Dakanuwa is located right behind the Namaxia District Office. It was built to shorten the commute for local schoolchildren and improve transportation for residents. With its red structure and triangular totem art design, the bridge embodies the meaning of “children of the sun.”

The waterfall behind Minsheng Elementary School formed naturally after Typhoon Morakot and was thus named “88 Waterfall” in its memory. From the Maxinghalan Pedestrian Landscape Bridge, you can clearly admire the majestic view of the 88 Waterfall.

During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese left two shrine sites in Namaxia, one of which is in Dakanuwa. The Japanese shrine sits amidst an original bamboo forest and was part of the Japanese administrative area during that era. At the entrance stands a distinctive red torii gate. The stone steps, once carried up the mountain by the Bunun people burdened with heavy stones, still bear the marks of time. The stone walls, approach path, sacred path, and foundation of the shrine remain well-preserved. Next to the newly built stone lanterns are the original bases of old stone lanterns. Beside the shrine, there was also a temizuya (hand-washing pavilion), though now it can only be imagined.