Lanyu has six tribes, including the Yeyou, Fisherman, Hongtou, Langdao, Dongqing, and Yeyin. The six villages have their own different migration history, myths, legends and cultures and still show a high degree of autonomy. It is up to the tribes to manage public affairs, each with their own traditional areas. As time goes by, the Tao are developing a new life style with their own characteristics.
Hougtou Village (Imourod)
Within the tribe, Patai Bay of Hougtou Village is the cradle of the flying-fish culture and is the first place on the island to hold the rite of fishing season every year. The tribal beach is an important place of worship. In the area of Patai Bay and on Small Orchid Island the main marine fish hunting activities take place. In the Hongtou Village, it can be seen used military land, such as Orchid Island headquarters, sentry, Daoxiang Village ,that is Chung Cheng Park, and other historical sites. Restaurant, accommodation, health care, financial institutions, township offices are also in here. Taiwan-power-company storage the nuclear energy waste in Lanyu and it is located at the end of the border of Hougtou Village.
Yeyin Village (Ivalini)
Here is the island to retain the most complete traditional settlements, due to the world-class landscape, In 2002, the Cultural Affairs Committee of the Executive Yuan presented it as one of the potential sites for Taiwan’s world heritage. The tribe is divided into the traditional house and the modern cement house, some elderly people still live in traditional houses.
Fisherman Village (Iratay)
Fisherman Village is located in the South Orchid Island between Hongtou Village and Yeyou Village. ?Tribal living patterns into a long shape, fishing ground in front of the tribal ocean.? Fisherman’s new church interior modeled on traditional building space is quite special, and the right stone ladder Taro field in the right side of the church took nine years to build and has been used for more than a century. ?People in Fisherman Village to kill flying fish for the four knives, very different from other tribes to kill the fish culture.?
Yeyou Village (Yeyou)
There are many businesses (shops) along the street. The only one senior-high school, and gas stations are also in Yeyou which is the most convenient and popular area. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, cargo ships carrying residents and daily necessities park in Kaiyuan Harbor. The most of cargos were sent to farmers’ associations supermarket. In those days, peasants often gather in front of the supermarket selling wild vegetables, seafood and handicrafts, which is like a lively picture.
Dungqing Village (I-ran-mey-lek)
Looking into Dungqing Village, eyes are located on the Lanyu religious symbol on the column, which is the only large column of the six tribes. The big driftwood column was collected by motor boat hauling from the Sea in 2003. After, tribal people and local artists made efforts to create the beautiful images of the village entrance now. Despite the elders worried that this initiative could be breaking the taboo, but now it has become a new landmark of Dungqing Village. At summer nights the place is transformed into a night market, people sell Taiwanese snacks and homemade sweet potato desserts and handicrafts. Therefore it has increased some fun of life on the island.
Langdao Village (I-raraley)
Before the road opened, Langdao Village was the necessary path from Dongqing Village and Yeyou Village. Langdao Village has the richest natural landscape on the island. The traditional underground houses are surrounded by modern buildings that increase fancy views in Langdao Village. In 2007, the tribe built “Boat Ipangana 1001” a 14-people-boat, the boat was rowed around Taiwan. This action is not only a local initiative but also crossed the traditional constraints and taboos of Tao.
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