[Taiwan's Slow Micro Travel] Sharing the Taste of the Land

During this period of despair, the tribe also began reflecting and trying to rediscover its identity. In the past, the prosperity of tourism made us forget the tribe’s spirit of sharing and connection with the earth. After the disaster, the tribe grew quiet, but it also allowed us to once again smell the scent of Mother Earth. The soil beneath our feet was not just a path for tourists entering the village, but the source of life itself. Thus, “wisdom” and “heritage” became the guiding principles for revitalizing Chashan after the disaster. The tribal youth held their own meetings and decided to first clean up the village, then explore the former tourist spots. Through trial and error, we gradually reached a consensus to unite everyone’s strength and recreate new value for Chashan. However, once the tribal environment was cleaned up, which direction should we head next?

 

One day, we visited a relative who did weaving and talked for a long time, discovering that all the finished woven items were made from ti plant leaves—ti plant weaving is one of the local traditional crafts. We brought this idea to the Community Development Association to discuss how to revive the tribe’s traditional skills. The association invited the tribe’s master artisans (grandmothers) to teach the techniques and gathered women and young people to combine traditional weaving skills with creative methods, developing a more diverse range of ti plant woven products.

Later, especially when the Alishan National Scenic Area Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications launched the “Returning Home to Tsou Journey” campaign, tourists were once again led back to Chashan Village to discover new ways to experience the area. The association also trained tribal guides and introduced indigenous cuisine, inviting residents to participate enthusiastically. Tourists returned to Chashan, and the efforts during this period transformed into economic value for the tribe. Ti plant weaving, crispy bamboo shoots, and natto-like pickled seeds became the main featured products, while the meals cooked in the tribal kitchen amazed guests. “I want to pack some to take home!” “I’ll definitely come again!” Such reactions gave the tribe renewed confidence and inspiration. The advice from tourists and all sectors also gave us the courage to boldly incorporate many traditional elements, such as wild boar hunting experiences, warrior hunting, and fire-obtaining rituals from the heavens. The combination of culture, legends, and nature allowed us to see the value of our own culture, and the heartfelt praise from visiting travelers gave us even more motivation to keep moving forward.