202410/28
The Chiayi Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) and the Chiayi County Tsou Hunters’ Association have jointly published a new book, Hupa ta Cou-A'toana (Tsou Hunting Grounds, Surveys, and Narratives), which was released at the end of September. The book focuses on the hunting grounds of the Tsou in Alishan Township, Chiayi County, systematically revealing for the first time their distribution across eight Tsou tribes. To share the survey findings with a wider audience, four book-sharing events will be held in Chiayi County and City starting on October 30. Each session will be moderated by President Yangui Poiconʉ of the Chiayi County Tsou Hunters’ Association, with discussants including the book’s two lead authors—Professor Pu Chung-Yung, a Tsou hunter scholar, and Principal Fang Hung-Ying, a female hunter. Additionally, representatives from government agencies, other tribes, and researchers will be invited as speakers.
The book Hupa ta Cou-A'toana is the result of a three-year field survey, documenting eight Tsou tribes, thirteen hunting trails, and interviews with twenty Tsou hunters. One of the authors, Pu Chung-Yung, explained that in creating traditional hunting ground maps, they also gathered stories of the hunting grounds’ cultural and natural landscapes. These maps not only capture the rich history of Tsou hunters’ lives in the mountain forests but also preserve the deeper layers and cultural essence of hunting practices. Hunting has traditionally been the most significant economic activity for the Tsou, intricately connected to kinship, social organization, land ethics, and religious beliefs among various clans—essentially forming the core of traditional Tsou culture. However, there remains room for discussions regarding hunting culture in the context of national laws, ecology, and animal protection issues. Continuous dialogue is necessary to reach a consensus.
Director Chang Tai of the FANCA Chiayi Branch stated that the publication of this book represents a significant milestone in the Tsou’s progress toward hunting autonomous governance, providing proof that contemporary hunting culture and mountain forest management can coexist and thrive. In recent years, the FANCA has actively promoted initiatives such as community forestry, hunting autonomous governance, wildlife population monitoring, removal of invasive species, humane animal damage control, ecological compensation for Formosan black bear conservation, and the use of improved hunting tools. Many of these initiatives have involved Tsou tribal partners, aiming to provide diverse channels for the public to appreciate indigenous traditional culture and to establish a constructive dialogue platform.
Hupa ta Cou-A'toana is now available for purchase at the Government Books Store, Wu-Nan Books, Books.com.tw, and at physical stores including Courage Bookshop, Hoanya Bookstore, and Hunter Story Studio in Chiayi County and City. The four book-sharing sessions will be held on October 30 at 6 p.m. at Courage Bookshop, November 7 at 6 p.m. at Hoanya Bookstore, November 18 at 2 p.m. at National Cheng Chung University Library’s Creative Classroom, and November 20 at 10 a.m. at Hunter Story Studio in Hosa no Tfuya. Information on these sessions can be accessed via the registration link, and details are also available on the FANCA Chiayi Branch’s Facebook page.