Pas-ta'ai
Pas-ta'ai(矮靈祭), the “Ritual to the Short People”, is a ritual of the Saisiyat people, a Taiwanese aboriginal group. The ritual commemorates a tribe of the "little People" or "little black spirits" they say used to live near them. The ritual is held every two years and all Saisiyat are expected to participate.
Legend
According to the legend of the Saisiyat, the short people, who were less than a meter high and lived on the other side of the river, excelled in singing and dancing and were invited to the harvest festivals of the Saisiyat. The short people, however, were lascivious and often made advances towards the Saisiyat women. One day, some young Saisiyat decided to take revenge because of this disrespectful act. They cut the sturdy tree on which the short people rested. All the short people, except for two elders, fell from the cliff and died. These two surviving elders taught the Saisiyat the songs and dances of the Pas-ta’ai ritual and then left for the east. In order to appease the spirits of the dead short people, the Saisiyat began to hold the Pas-ta’ai and beg for forgiveness.[1]
According to the legends, the short people had magical skills and brought luck to the Saisiyat if treated with respect or handled well.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b "A Past that Has Witnessed Gratitude and Resentment: The Legend of the Pas-ta'ai". culture.teldap.tw. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
External links
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