Yu-En Yen (Kavalan language: Aing banday, 1938—) was born in the Kodic Tribe of Fengbin Township, Hualien County[1]: 40  and recognized by the Ministry of Culture (Taiwan) in 2021 as the preserver of important traditional crafts "Kavalan banana fiber weaving (ni tenunan tu benina."[2] She is also the widow of Wan-Lai Jie, a pioneer in the Kavalan Revival Movement.

Life Story

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Yu-En Yen was born in 1938 in Kodic Village. Her father, A-Jih Yen, was a member of the Kalewan tribe[3]. In 1955, she married Wan-Lai Jie at the age of 17, who was seven years her senior. They first lived in Fengbin. Three years after their marriage, Wan-Lai Jie left his job at the Fengbin Township Office, and the family moved back to Xinshe to settle. Yu-En Yen was 28 years old at that time.[4]

Yu-En Yen and Wan-Lai Jie returned to the Kalewan tribe in Yilan in 1988. They heard from their aunt and A-Mei Gao that the Kavalan people used to wear clothes made of fabric woven from banana fiber; wearing such clothes represented a certain social status. No one was able to weave banana fiber fabric at the time they returned, which amazed Yu-En Yen.[5]

In 2001, during the "Dr. Mackay's Collection of Taiwanese Aboriginal Artifacts Exhibition" held at the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines, a sample of a Kavalan woman's ceremonial skirt was displayed. Upon seeing this display, Yu-En Yen was deeply moved. She became determined to revive weaving.[6]

Reviving the Kavalan traditional craft of banana fiber weaving

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Later, Yu-En Yen returned to Xinshe Tribe and, with her husband, visited tribal elders such as Abi, Ibay, and Ayok. They attempted to retrieve the traditional banana fiber weaving techniques from the childhood memories of the elders.[7] Initially, Yu-En Yen learned from Ibay various techniques, including how to operate a ground loom. In 2005, they established the "Xinshe Banana Fiber Workshop."[8]: 38  According to Yu-En Yen, at the beginning of their journey to revive the traditional craft, no one was weaving banana fiber fabric. They relied on the memories of the tribe's elders, who had seen their grandmothers weaving banana fiber, and started experimenting based on their descriptions. After multiple failures, they finally achieved results. Since the traditional loom frame was lost, they inserted four pillars directly into the ground to set up a new loom.[9]

Currently, Yu-En Yen is proficient in the entire process of Kavalan banana fiber weaving and familiar with the indigenous terminologies regarding tools and techniques. Before harvesting banana trees, extracting banana sheaths, scraping banana fibers, and weaving, she performs the ritual of paspaw (offering) to seek ancestral blessings, demonstrating her thorough understanding of the craft and its cultural significance.[10]

Achievements and Honors

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  • May 2021  Recognized by the Ministry of Culture (Taiwan) as the preserver of important traditional crafts, commonly referred to as a "Living National Treasure."[11]
  • August 2021  Received the Indigenous Wisdom Elderly Award from the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC).[12]

References

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  1. ^ 小海. "香蕉絲藝師-嚴玉英". 鄉間小路. 43 (12). doi:10.6707/agri.201712_43(12).0004.
  2. ^ 文授資局傳字第11030052822號[dead link]
  3. ^ 楊功明 (2011). 「一人尋根,全族尋根」-論偕萬來與噶瑪蘭族文化復振. 國立東華大學族群關係與文化學系. p. 43. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  4. ^ 陳淑華 (2006). "《噶瑪蘭族》第參部‧重現─祖先!請聽我們唱自己的歌". 蘭博電子報. No. 127. 宜蘭縣立蘭陽博物館. Archived from the original on 2023-04-26. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  5. ^ 花孟璟 (2021-09-29). "傳承香蕉絲織布 嚴玉英獲頒「人間國寶」". 自由時報. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  6. ^ 顏怡今. "將耆老腦海裡的記憶變成技藝 香蕉絲編織工藝的復振與傳承". 傳藝Online (137). Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  7. ^ 花孟璟 (2021-09-29). "傳承香蕉絲織布 嚴玉英獲頒「人間國寶」". 自由時報. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  8. ^ 小海. "香蕉絲藝師-嚴玉英". 鄉間小路. 43 (12). doi:10.6707/agri.201712_43(12).0004.
  9. ^ 顏怡今. "將耆老腦海裡的記憶變成技藝 香蕉絲編織工藝的復振與傳承". 傳藝Online (137). Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  10. ^ 文化部文化資產局. "噶瑪蘭族ni tenunan tu benina香蕉絲織布". 國家文化資產網. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  11. ^ 楊惠芳 (2021-05-25). "原民人間國寶張鳳英、嚴玉英獲殊榮". 國語日報. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  12. ^ 林有清 (2021-07-30). "2原民獲國際智慧耆老獎". 中華日報. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-04-22.