Customs of Taiwan's Indigenous People

Planting Taro and Traveling by Cart original: 種芋遊車 [Seal]

Brief Account of the Mo-er-sa

original: "沫兒薩略" (Mò'érsà Lüè). The Mo-er-sa (also spelled Muer-sa) are a subgroup of the Miao people, or sometimes identified as the Mulao, living in the mountainous regions of southwest China. "Lüè" indicates a brief ethnographic summary.

[Imperial Seal]

This expansive two-page illustration provides a vivid record of the Mo-er-sa people, likely from a Miao Albuman ethnographic genre of the Qing dynasty used to document the customs, clothing, and livelihoods of non-Han ethnic groups in the frontier regions. The scene highlights the diverse skills required to master the natural environment of the river and the social bonds that sustain the community through agriculture and local customs.

The Life of the Bank and Stream

The artist captures a variety of specialized activities being performed simultaneously along a rocky shoreline. On the left side of the composition, the focus is on movement and the transmission of culture:

• The Procession: A group is seen moving along the rugged path. Two men carry a large, heavy utility basketa "da-luo," a sturdy woven container used for transporting heavy loads over mountain trails suspended from a pole.
• The Parasol: A figure holds a parasol, which likely serves as protection for a high-status individual or perhaps shields a specific offering? from the sun.
• The Resting Place: Near a rocky stream bank, three individuals take a moment of respite. They sit beside a large, well-packed bag, perhaps containing seeds or harvested goods, illustrating the physically demanding nature of mountain life.

On the right side of the illustration, the focus shifts to the seasonal cycles of labor:

• Taro Cultivation: Two laborers are depicted hoeing a field in preparation for planting taroa starchy root vegetable that was a vital food source and "famine crop" in the mountainous southwest. Their rhythmic movement suggests a shared communal task.
• The Covered Cart: Moving across the upper landscape, a water buffalo pulls a covered cart. This traveling carta "you-che," often used for transporting people or goods between villages shows a passenger sheltered from the elements, highlighting the methods of transportation that connected these remote communities to the wider world.

The sparse, leafless trees and wide-open horizon suggest a scene set in early spring, a critical time for both travel and the commencement of the agricultural year.