Lanyu's Largest Modern 20-Person Plank Boat to Sail to Batanes in June, Reconnecting Ancient Sea Route
Taiwan's largest modern 20-person plank boat, the 'Golden Friendship,' built by six Lanyu tribes, successfully completed its trial run and is set to sail to the Batanes Islands in the Philippines in early June. This historic voyage will reconnect an ancient sea route that has been severed for over 300 years.
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(Taitung County, May 1st, Central News Agency reporter Lu Tai-cheng) The 'Golden Friendship,' the largest modern 20-person plank boat collaboratively built by the indigenous people of six Lanyu tribes in Taitung, recently completed a stable trial run. It is scheduled to sail to the Batanes Islands in the Philippines in early June, marking the first long-distance voyage between the two places after more than 300 years of suspended travel.
Crafted jointly by the Council of Indigenous Peoples of the Executive Yuan, the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation, and the Yami (Tao) people of Lanyu's six tribes, the 20-person plank boat was completed in March this year and underwent its trial run on April 28th. It is expected to sail from Lanyu to Batan Island in June, completing the century-long reconnection of an ancient sea route that had been cut off for over 300 years.
After the trial run, Xie Xiuxiong, a tribe member involved in the boat's construction, told media that this 20-person boat, built by the six island tribes, took two years to complete. It is 12 meters long, 2.7 meters high, and 1.8 meters wide. When construction began, such a long 'keel' could not be found on Lanyu, so they had to search in Taiwan. Its structure is similar to general boats, and after the trial run, the hull structure proved very stable.
Crew member Liao Jinfu stated that this plank boat is the largest modern plank boat in Lanyu, breaking the tradition of 10-person boats with 10 paddles, and aims to inherit the legacy of ancestors who sailed to Batan Island 300 years ago.
Dong Enciz, from the Fisherman Tribe, expressed great confidence in this voyage and hoped such activities could continue. Xie Qingguang, a resident of the Dongqing Tribe, said, "This is the first time in 300 years we are sailing to Batan. I'm also very much looking forward to going to Batan to see what our ancestors were like. Our languages are mutually intelligible, making communication easier."
Maraos, Chairman of the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation, told the Central News Agency reporter today that this 'Lanyu-Batan 300-Year Historic Maiden Voyage Cultural Event' is a project jointly promoted by the Council of Indigenous Peoples, the Foundation, and the Lanyu cross-tribal boat-building team. It is expected to cross the Bashi Channel to the Batanes Islands in the Philippines in June, completing a century-long connection of the traditional ancient sea route that had been cut off for over 300 years.
He stated that Mavudis Island, the northernmost island of the Philippine Batanes Islands, is only 100 kilometers from Lanyu. The Tao people of Lanyu and the Ivatan people of the Philippine Batanes Islands share similar oral histories, with legends of trade, intermarriage, and migration between them since ancient times. To this day, 60% of their tribal languages are mutually intelligible, allowing for communication. However, their once frequent direct exchanges were suspended for over 300 years due to a historical misunderstanding.
Maraos added that this 20-person large boat is named 'Golden Friendship' and will sail from Lanyu to the Philippines in early June. The Lanyu delegation will participate in an exhibition and exchange during the Batan Cultural Festival on June 24th, led by Council of Indigenous Peoples Chairman Ljaucu.Zingrur, who will also invite the Batan Governor to experience paddling the boat. The Golden Friendship is expected to be displayed in Batan Island for a half-year for exhibition, exchange, and research. (Edited by Chen Ren-hua) 1150501
Crafted jointly by the Council of Indigenous Peoples of the Executive Yuan, the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation, and the Yami (Tao) people of Lanyu's six tribes, the 20-person plank boat was completed in March this year and underwent its trial run on April 28th. It is expected to sail from Lanyu to Batan Island in June, completing the century-long reconnection of an ancient sea route that had been cut off for over 300 years.
After the trial run, Xie Xiuxiong, a tribe member involved in the boat's construction, told media that this 20-person boat, built by the six island tribes, took two years to complete. It is 12 meters long, 2.7 meters high, and 1.8 meters wide. When construction began, such a long 'keel' could not be found on Lanyu, so they had to search in Taiwan. Its structure is similar to general boats, and after the trial run, the hull structure proved very stable.
Crew member Liao Jinfu stated that this plank boat is the largest modern plank boat in Lanyu, breaking the tradition of 10-person boats with 10 paddles, and aims to inherit the legacy of ancestors who sailed to Batan Island 300 years ago.
Dong Enciz, from the Fisherman Tribe, expressed great confidence in this voyage and hoped such activities could continue. Xie Qingguang, a resident of the Dongqing Tribe, said, "This is the first time in 300 years we are sailing to Batan. I'm also very much looking forward to going to Batan to see what our ancestors were like. Our languages are mutually intelligible, making communication easier."
Maraos, Chairman of the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation, told the Central News Agency reporter today that this 'Lanyu-Batan 300-Year Historic Maiden Voyage Cultural Event' is a project jointly promoted by the Council of Indigenous Peoples, the Foundation, and the Lanyu cross-tribal boat-building team. It is expected to cross the Bashi Channel to the Batanes Islands in the Philippines in June, completing a century-long connection of the traditional ancient sea route that had been cut off for over 300 years.
He stated that Mavudis Island, the northernmost island of the Philippine Batanes Islands, is only 100 kilometers from Lanyu. The Tao people of Lanyu and the Ivatan people of the Philippine Batanes Islands share similar oral histories, with legends of trade, intermarriage, and migration between them since ancient times. To this day, 60% of their tribal languages are mutually intelligible, allowing for communication. However, their once frequent direct exchanges were suspended for over 300 years due to a historical misunderstanding.
Maraos added that this 20-person large boat is named 'Golden Friendship' and will sail from Lanyu to the Philippines in early June. The Lanyu delegation will participate in an exhibition and exchange during the Batan Cultural Festival on June 24th, led by Council of Indigenous Peoples Chairman Ljaucu.Zingrur, who will also invite the Batan Governor to experience paddling the boat. The Golden Friendship is expected to be displayed in Batan Island for a half-year for exhibition, exchange, and research. (Edited by Chen Ren-hua) 1150501