5. TRUKU Weaving Folklores and Taboos

(1)Pregnant women are not allowed to pass the stove cooking thread, because people believe if so, the thread would not turn white. But the cooker of thread is not restrained by the taboo (interviewing Mrs. Ching-hsiang Hu, 2007.02.06).

(2)Ramie collection and weaving are work of female and male are forbidden from it, as female are not allowed to touch hunting tools of men. If the taboo was violated, the works would be negatively impacted (interviewee: Mrs. A-hsueh Liang Li, 2006.11.30)

(3)Do not let children eat chicken wings. If so, girls cannot learn weaving well in the future, and boys may not able to get quarries as their elbows pointing outwards while hunting and getting stuck by grass cluster or vine around the tree (Interviewee: Mrs. A-hsueh Liang Li, 2007.02.16 )

(4)Women knowing Slebehang (diamond weaving) can tattoo in face, not only presenting clan symbol but also implying the woman has completed the important task of her life – weaving. The texture of Slebehang cloth is the same as lines tattooed in the woman’s face. All face-tattooed women would be led to Ling Bridge (the place full of ancestor’s souls) after death. And one should present respect to those wearing cloth with diamond woven figure.

(5)According to legends, Sediqs were not allowed to burn weaving box and take it away after death in the past, which should be left for future use of one’s children. If no children to inherit the box, it should be stored in the back wall of the house, and maybe deposited to untilled valley burying deads and their wearings, if detected eaten by moth many years later. The elderlys warned that weaving tools shouldl not be burnt, because it was not easy to be obtained, so that people would bury the weaving box underground if found no daughter to inherit.

Data source: Traditional Atayal Sediq Weaving Culture, by Tie Mi Na Wei Yi (Zeng, Ruilin)
Note-> The book total records 10 tales related to weaving legends.