Aboriginal costumes have great significance in tribal societies. According to Lee Saa-lih (李莎莉), director of the Taiwan Folk Arts Museum in Peitou (臺灣民俗北投文物館), they indicate social status, reflect social changes, and are symbolic of tribal identification. In general, aboriginal costumes are made with bright, eye-catching colors, usually with bold and striking accessories, Lee says. The designs are styled in simple, natural, primitive and contrasting patterns. Natural objects, such as the sun or a rainbow, are incorporated into the designs. However, each aboriginal tribe displays its own distinguishing qualities in its costumes.
For example, the Pingpu Groups (平埔族), the most wide spread group of 10 different sects, have simple designs on their clothing. The men wear vests based on the colors of black and white, with patterns in red. Plenty of examples can be seen at the exhibition of male sleeveless jackets or garments made of hemp.
Amis (阿美族), the largest tribe on the island, and Puyuma (卑南族) are both known for their embroidery. The Puyuma tribe is famous for producing energetic pop singers like A-mei (阿妹) and it's natural to imagine their clothing as colorful, which can be well verified by the exhibit items in the show. Leg coverings or sleeveless garments of Puyuma men, for example, have more elaborate patterns than say, the Amis' clothing, usually based on a single color with some linear designs. Some interesting items from the Amis are the skirts made of paper mulberry tree barks, dating from mid 20th century.
Taiwan's second largest tribal group, the Atayal (泰雅族), is known for its weaving. Clothes are based on the materials of hemp, wool and cotton. Some of the male garments on view are beaded and they belong to the noble class of their society. The Atayal are fond of white and red, and the patterns center on stripes and geometrical lines.
The costumes of the Paiwan tribe (排灣族), the third largest among the 11 tribal groups, are beautifully patterned and beaded. Designs, such as snakes and indigenous people, are seen here that are different from the clothing of the other tribes, which are based on mostly linear designs.
Also worth noticing are the accessories of the Saisiat (賽夏族). They adorn nearly every part of the body ? the forehead, the ears, the chest, the waist, the arms, and the ankles. Some exotic items on view include a hip ornament made of bamboo, hemp and cotton, and female leg ornaments made of hemp, round pearl buttons and small bronze bells.
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