The Sustainability of Paiwan Food Plants

The relationship between Paiwan and their food plants
are examined in terms of the functional roles of food
processing technologies and traditional ceremonies on
the sustainability of Paiwan food plants. Three
specific case studies of Paiwan food plants are
presented as examples of possible outcomes of
changes. The persistence of traditional practices is
not only dependent on finding new cultural meaning to
traditional cultural practice but also the economic
means to create the environment that is conducive to
their continuous existence. The Paiwan are undergoing
a period when they are being challenged to preserve
their cultural identity while at the same time, adapt
to social and economical pressures. In addition, the
village landscapes of several Amis villages in
Hualien County were also surveyed. There is a
significant difference between the Paiwan and Amis in
terms of the number of food plants, or specifically,
ancient food plants found in the villages. This
study has demonstrated that ancient food plant
species composition in a village can be used as an
indicator for cultural identity. The implication is
that village landscape does reflect cultural identity.

Autorentext
Y. Han Lau''s research interests include Southeast Asian
ethnobotany, theoretical ethnobiology and complex system
theories. He has conducted extensive ethnobotany field research
in East and Southeast Asia. His current research focus is on the
evolution of complexity in biocultural systems.

Klappentext
The relationship between Paiwan and their food plantsare examined in terms of the functional roles of foodprocessing technologies and traditional ceremonies onthe sustainability of Paiwan food plants. Threespecific case studies of Paiwan food plants arepresented as examples of possible outcomes ofchanges. The persistence of traditional practices isnot only dependent on finding new cultural meaning totraditional cultural practice but also the economicmeans to create the environment that is conducive totheir continuous existence. The Paiwan are undergoinga period when they are being challenged to preservetheir cultural identity while at the same time, adaptto social and economical pressures. In addition, thevillage landscapes of several Amis villages inHualien County were also surveyed. There is asignificant difference between the Paiwan and Amis interms of the number of food plants, or specifically,ancient food plants found in the villages. Thisstudy has demonstrated that ancient food plantspecies composition in a village can be used as anindicator for cultural identity. The implication isthat village landscape does reflect cultural identity.