Central Bank of China

PRESS RELEASE Release Date: November 17, 2003




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THE ISSUEANCE OF THE TAIWAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CULTURAL SERIES COIN SET¢wTSOU


The Central Bank of China will issue the 6th Coin Set of The Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Series"TSOU on November 20, 2003. A total of 100,000 sets will be issued. The Bank of Taiwan and the Central Trust of China are appointed as the delegates of the Central Bank of China to deal with the sale of the coin sets. Each set, including six different coins in circulation and a commemorative copper medal, costs NT$350. Each person may purchase up to two sets of coins at one time.


The Tsou people live mainly in Alishan Township, Chia-I County; and their settlements have expanded to Nantou and Kaohsiung counties. They are divided into groups of Southern Tsou and Northern Tsou according to their regional distribution. Their traditional subsistence was maintained by horticulture, hunting, and fishing. Tsou is a patrilineal society in which men inherit properties. On the community ground of the Tsou people there exists a Men's House(kuba)used as its center with a sacred tree nearby. The kuba traditionally played a key role in political, economic, and religious activities. Women were prohibited from entering the kuba. Major annual rituals of the Northern Tsou include the festivals of Millet Seeding, Grass-cutting, and Harvest.


We are grateful to the Council of Indigenous Peoples, Executive Yuan, for examining the symbols and literature used in the preparation for the Coin Set.