Taitung Luye Yongkang Tribe | Hunter's Table x Authentic Happiness in the Mountains

At the Yongkang Tribe in Luye, Taitung, you'll transform into a Bunun hunter, traversing the Wildlife Trails and experiencing the mountain culture of archery and spear throwing. Ascend Yongling Mountain, a hidden gem nestled in the valley's forests, for breathtaking views of the Hualien-Taitung Valley. Join Bunun hunters around a fire to roast pork, and savor dishes prepared with traditional Bunun ingredients. Each dish is filled with gratitude for nature. All the touching moments are found only in the Yongkang Tribe, the Uni Nang!

- Yongkang Tribe One-Day Experience Introduction-

▲ Baptism Before the Secret Trail

Take a shuttle bus to the Yongling Mountain sacrificial site, approximately 900 meters above sea level. Led by a tribesman, you'll perform a ritual using clean water, corn, and sincere communication with local ancestral spirits, respecting local culture. Then, you'll hike the Wildlife Trails, experiencing the hunter's forest culture and participating in archery and spear throwing competitions. Along the way, you'll enjoy a phytoncid-infused cleansing bath. The final shout before exiting the mountain signals the completion of the baptism, and the secret realm lies before you!

▲ A Happiness Hunter's Table in a Secret Realm
The table is based on the food that Hu Mingzhi and Wang Meihua ate as children, their father and their tribe's lifestyles, and their daily meals, categorized into eight main ingredients. This meal, named "Eight-Part Harmony Meal in Memory of Their Father," was also a winner of the third Taitung Slow Food Championship. Later, under the guidance of A-Mei Chef Chen Yaozhong, our workshop chef Wang Meihua collaborated on a new presentation. During the meal, the stories of the dishes are introduced, complemented by a vast view of the earth, creating a sense of relaxation, both physical and spiritual. Therefore, the meal has been renamed "Happiness Meal." We hope that everyone who has eaten here will find a sense of happiness in the future!

▲ Prayers on the Descent
Descending the mountain to the Yongkang Tribe's sacred tree, under its protection, participants learned about the Bunun people's gratitude for the sacrifices and dedication of animals, and the unique Bunun tradition of reporting military achievements and their significance. The warriors then gathered to sing a chorus of prayers, praying for happiness, well-being, and good health for all present!

▲ A Sweet Farewell Dance
Walking to the Uni Nang Multicultural Workshop, participants were free to dress in their own indigenous style. Regardless of ethnicity, they gathered in a circle to sing and dance as one family, ensuring they would never forget their most important friends and family. Finally, everyone took turns making the workshop's special brown sugar and turmeric mochi, a sweet farewell to the past.

-About the Yongkang Tribe in Taitung-

Located in the northeast of Yanping Township, Taitung County, near the internationally renowned Luye Plateau, the Yongkang Tribe is primarily Bunun. "Uninang" means "thank you" or "grateful" in the Bunun language. The Bunun people's illustrated calendars record seasonal activities and rituals. Their most famous ritual, the "Ear Shooting Ceremony," is held annually before a century-old kaempferia tree. Warriors gather here to thank their prey for their sacrifice, ensuring the tribe's survival.

Yongling Mountain, the mountain behind the Yongkang tribe, serves as a crucial gateway for hunters to access their hunting grounds. The Bunun, deeply connected to the mountains and forests, offer sacrifices to their ancestors before entering. Offerings are welcome, even plain water. Respect and sincerity are paramount. The Bunun, skilled hunters and attuned to the rhythms of the mountains and forests, developed a prayer sound (commonly known as the Eight-Part Harmony). This is not a direct reference to choral singing spanning the octave, nor is it an original Bunun term. It mimics the sounds and rhythms of nature, emphasizing harmonious resonance and reflecting the Bunun people's close bond with nature.