THE ISSUANCE OF THE TAIWAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CULTURAL SERIES COIN SET--THAO
PRESS RELEASE Release Date: November 19, 2007
THE ISSUANCE OF THE TAIWAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CULTURAL SERIES COIN SET--THAO
The Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will issue the 10th coin set of the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Series--THAO on November 22, 2007. A total of 55,000 sets will be issued. The Bank of Taiwan is appointed as the delegate of the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to deal with the sale of the coin sets. Each set, including a NT$20 proof coin in circulation and a commemorative proof copper medal, costs NT$250. Each person may purchase only one set of coins at one time.
Among the various ethnic groups, Thao has the smallest population in Taiwan. The Thao people live mainly in Barawbaw, Sun Moon Lake and Tapina, Dingkan, Shuili Township in Nantou County. Legend has it that the Thao ancestors came to Sun Moon Lake chasing after a white deer. Impressed by its scenery and fertile soil, the tribe moved and settled by the Lake. During the period of Japanese colonization, the Thao villages around the Lake, including Tarinkuan, were submerged due to the construction of the Sun Moon Lake Power Plant. Prior to the construction, Thao were moved to Barawbaw, later re-named Dehua or Sun Moon village, which has since become their largest community. Ancestor worship forms the core of the Thao religion. Every household has an "ulalaluan," a rattan basket in which they believe dwell the ancestral spirits of the family. Besides household ancestral spirits are clan ancestral spirits and the supreme ancestral spirit . The latter is the one from whom the whole Thao descended. He dwells inside a red cedar tree on Lalu in the middle of the Lake. He has the power to exorcise evil spirits and thus protect his people.
We are grateful to the Council of Indigenous Peoples, Executive Yuan, for examining the symbols and literature used in the preparation for the issuance of this coin set.