Established in 1908, the National Taiwan Museum is Taiwan's oldest natural history museum, boasting a vast collection of precious artifacts. From Taiwan's abundant natural history specimens to historical relics and indigenous cultural treasures, the museum offers a comprehensive look at the
island's past and present.

https://www.ntm.gov.tw/

National Taiwan Museum

The National Technical Museum in Prague was founded in 1908. Over a period of more than a hundred years, extensive collections have been established here that document the development of many technical fields, natural and exact sciences and industry in the territory of today's Czech Republic.

https://www.ntm.cz/en

National Technical Museum

The Journey Begins

Formosa Island and The Pescadores, 1871 Charles W. Le Gendre and Julius Bien

Are you ready to enter the mountain forest and become a hunter?

Dialogue with the Ancestral Spirits

Visiting Ritual: Informing the Ancestral Spirits

Adventures in Mountain Forests

The Hunter’s Gear 1

The Hunter’s Gear 2

The Hunter’s Gear 3

Into the Hunting Field

Observing the Environment

Listen carefully

Find out your prey’s favorite food

Trap Post

Inspecting Traps

Hunting Hut

Bonfire Stories：Taiwan Indigenous Myths

Spotting Preys

Are you ready to become a Yami (Tao) Seaman?

Sailing with Strength

Longing to Sail

The Sacred Flying Fish

The Dream of the Flying Fish

The Kuroshio Current & Yami(Tao) Calendar System

"I Wish I Were a Fish Scale in That Ocean" , Syaman Rapongan

Animated Film: Libangbang (The Flying Fish Have Arrived)

The Challenge of Boat Building 1

The Challenge of Boat Building 2

The Challenge of Boat Building 3

Yami (Tao) Fishing Boat (Tatala): Creator: Syaman Rapongan, Yami (Tao) Tribe

Yami (Tao) Fishing Boat (Tatala): Creator: Syaman Rapongan, Yami (Tao) Tribe 2

Boat Launching Ceremonies

Setting Sail: how do the Yami(Tao) people navigate at sea? 1

Setting Sail: how do the Yami(Tao) people navigate at sea? 2

Setting Sail: how do the Yami(Tao) people navigate at sea? 3

"The Eyes of the Sky"

Improvisation: Handmade Pottery Figurines of the Yami (Tao) People

Improvisation: Handmade Pottery Figurines of the Yami (Tao) People 1

Improvisation: Handmade Pottery Figurines of the Yami (Tao) People 2

Stylistic Expressions: Hunters' and Seamen’s Artifacts

Stylistic Expressions: Hunters' and Seamen’s Artifacts(1-5)

Stylistic Expressions: Hunters' and Seamen’s Artifacts(6-8)

Stylistic Expressions: Hunters' and Seamen’s Artifacts(9-14)

Stylistic Expressions: Hunters' and Seamen’s Artifacts(15-20)

Stylistic Expressions: Hunters' and Seamen’s Artifacts(21-24)

Stylistic Expressions: Hunters' and Seamen’s Artifacts(25-26)

Stylistic Expressions: Hunters' and Seamen’s Artifacts(27-28)

Stylistic Expressions: Hunters' and Seamen’s Artifacts(29-31)

Hunting Photograph

Intro

Hunters’ Trail

Seamen’s Course

Muses from the Sea and Mountains

“Taiwan's Heritage: Traditions and Techniques of The Indigenous Hunters and Seamen." is a special exhibition co-organized by the National Taiwan Museum and the National Technical Museum (Czech Republic). It is being held at the National Technical Museum in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The exhibition focuses on the mountain and ocean culture of Taiwan's Indigenous Peoples and is presented through four themes: "The Journey Begins", "Adventures in Mountain Forests", "A Longing to Sail" and "Muses from the Sea and Mountains: Artistic Representation of Taiwan Indigenous Hunter and Seaman from the collection of National Taiwan Museum" Through these themes, the exhibition focuses on the hunters and seamen of the Taiwan indigenous peoples, who are part of the Austronesian language family. Through their adaptation to the environment, they have developed effective and environmentally friendly hunting techniques. Let us transform into "hunters" and "seamen" and follow the footsteps and perspectives of Taiwan's indigenous peoples to explore the survival wisdom and the beauty of hunting techniques they have developed on this island.

Taiwan's Heritage: Traditions and Techniques of The Indigenous Hunters and Seamen

Materials

Yami(Tao) fishing boats are not canoes . They are  made from over 20 wooden planks. The wood for the planks is chosen based on the required hardness, buoyancy, or flexibility for each part of the boat. It usually requires more than 6 different types of wood. No nails are used in assembling the planks; instead, wooden pegs and mortise-and-tenon joints are used, showcasing the high level of craftsmanship and practical wisdom of the Yami(Tao) people.

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Building Process

Starting from bottom to top: keel, first layer of planks, second layer of planks, and finally the third layer of planks.

01、02
Upper Side Plank
branch or root bifurcations ideal for use.

02
Upper Middle Plank
lightweight, low density, capable of withstanding paddle pressure.

03、04
Second Layer Plank
slightly lighter in weight.

05
First Layer Plank
resistant to decay, heavy, helps maintain the boat's center of gravity.

05
Bow and Stern Keel
heavy, hard, durable for towing

06
Hull Keel
heavy, hard, durable for towing