Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team | Photos by Tsai Kunlin
Japan’s UNESCO-listed Gassho Village resembles a fairytale dreamland, offering enchanting scenery in every season. Deep in the forests of Alishan Township, Chiayi County, there is a community whose architecture closely resembles a scaled-down version of the Gassho Village. This is De’ena, the ancestral home of the Tsou people, holding significant meaning for the tribe’s industries, traditional wisdom, culture, and way of life. In August 2009, Typhoon Morakot devastated the La Ji Tribe. Massive mudslides caused by torrential rains left residents homeless. In their search for a permanent home and to ensure the survival of their people, after years of effort, De’ena was finally completed on December 15, 2014, and handed over to residents on February 10, 2015.
De’ena in Alishan Township, Chiayi County, features architecture resembling a scaled-down Gassho Village (Photo by Tsai Kunlin)
De’ena (Toe’uana) means “a flat, safe land away from the riverbed” in the Tsou language. Out of respect for nature, the steepled houses are built on elevated foundations to minimize disruption to the terrain and preserve soil and water conservation. Tribal members participated in the construction of the permanent homes, conceptualizing the style and features of their residences while incorporating Tsou cultural totems and characteristics.
The Tsou people chose their ancestors’ land as the site for their new life, which holds great significance for them (Photo by Tsai Kunlin)
Out of respect for nature, the steepled houses of De’ena are built on elevated foundations to minimize disruption to the terrain and preserve soil and water conservation (Photo by Tsai Kunlin)
To promote Tsou culture, De’ena offers homestays and a variety of cultural art programs and guided tours. Aside from providing an alternative accommodation option in Alishan, it also allows visitors to learn about Tsou culture and lifestyle. Through immersive experiences, travelers can enrich their journey with cultural and traditional elements.
De’ena offers homestays and a variety of cultural art programs and guided tours (Photo by Tsai Kunlin)
Tsou people were involved in the construction of De’ena, designing the style and features of the houses and incorporating Tsou cultural totems and characteristics (Photo by Tsai Kunlin)
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