CLC Students Embrace Atayal Culture in Wulai Adventure
【Article by Chinese Language Center】
In mid-October, as the autumn gradually came near, it’s the perfect time to explore Taiwan’s local culture. To offer international students studying Mandarin a closer understanding of Taiwan’s rich diversity, we, the Chinese Language Center, organized a one-day trip to Wulai, where students connected with the traditional wisdom of the Atayal tribe. This event aimed to promote cross-cultural understanding while fostering unity and resilience through the team-oriented traditions of Atayal hunter culture. Given the venue’s capacity, the event was split into 2-3 groups, each with around 60 participants.
The journey took students through Wulai’s famous hot springs and old streets before winding up the mountain roads to arrive at the “Gesuw Camp” of the Atayal tribe. Established by the tribal leader Gesuw to preserve Atayal culture, the camp is a well-known indigenous hunter school that attracts visitors from near and far for its dedication to cultural preservation. As the activities began, Gesuw welcomed the students with the words, “Learn well—our indigenous survival skills in the wild are powerful!” Energized, students joined him in a loud call of “Lokah! Lokah! (Let’s go!)” before following the tribal elder’s traditional chant of blessings to set the day in motion.
Dressed in traditional Atayal clothing with symbolic facial markings, the students transformed into Atayal hunters and tribal princesses as they followed seasoned hunter-teachers—Toraw, Behuy, Yumin, Maray, and Hacyo—into the forests to explore the local ecosystem and learn about the Atayal way of life. Behuy, the youngest hunter in the tribe, led students in a simulated wild boar hunt, symbolizing the honor and accomplishments of Atayal hunters, who earn the privilege to marry their beloved after a successful hunt. Students learned not only about traditional hunting techniques and traps but also crafted bamboo rice tubes and enjoyed a special lunch featuring grilled meats seasoned with fragrant maqaw spice.
After lunch, the hunter instructors organized students into teams to try their hand at archery. Cheers in multiple languages filled the air as they competed, creating a lively scene of enthusiasm and camaraderie. To wrap up the experience, students gathered for a mochi-pounding finale, working together and cheering each other on to create a chewy, delicious mochi topped with maqaw honey and peanut powder—a perfect end to the day.
Following the event, many students eagerly shared their memorable experiences with family members, with some even proclaiming, “I definitely want to come back again!”
Photos from the experience can be found on the CLC Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/clcnccu/) and Facebook fan page(https://www.facebook.com/CLCNCCU/).