The Center for Traditional Arts has been running a field investigation series, “TALinks,” introducing more than 30 teachers and students from various departments to the world of traditional arts of the indigenous communities.
The first stop took them to a two-day camp at the Kanting community of the Bunan people in Taitung to learn their unique art of making tapa, or bark cloth.
The first day of the camp began with a walk around the community to understand the natural environment and culture of Kanting, an activity led by Ms. Liu Chin-chiao, who is a master of various traditional arts and crafts, including tapa.
Liu explained how to choose and fell suitable paper mulberry trees for making tapa. The master noted that the trees must not be too old, as it is easier to beat the bark of younger trees into tapa.
After each of the participants of the camp had picked and felled their trees, they went back to the tribal center where they were joined by Ms. Chen Shu-yen, who taught them how to make tapa.
During the activity, each participant beat the bark in a way matching their own designs. Then the pieces were left to dry, while Ms. Liu took the team to the mountains to collect yams that would be used as dyes for the bark cloth. She also explained how to use different dying and sewing tools.
The two-day camp was fruitful. The students not only learnt how to make tapa, but also got to understand more about the value of this traditional art.