Where you must go
Scenic spots
Tsou Ma Lai Farm:
This farm was built on a valley terrace at the up-stream area of Zengwun Creek. Surrounded by hills at three sides, Zengwun Creek cut through the hills to form meanders and moon worlds as well as washed the corners of the meanders into terraces. Tsou Ma Lai has unique landscapes exclusive to this area; plus, there is no factories in the municipality of Danei Township, this place is left completely clean from manmade contaminations.
Nan Pao Golf Country Club:
No. 136 Toushe Village Danei Township – this is the address of Nan Pao Golf Country Club. It is right by the side of the Toushe Tribe House and near Tsou Ma Lai Farm. Nan Pao Golf Country Club has a large 27-hole golf course. Beautiful greens and cheerful breezes will send you into a relaxing afternoon. Lazing off in the breezes under the trees and fresh air is an enjoyment you will find nowhere else.
Siraya Park:
Siraya Park is in Toushe Village. Entrance to this natural park is free. Built on a piece of public land, this park was built along the hills and integrated into the nature as much as possible. Inside of the park, walking trails, suspended bridges, pergolas, and BBQ areas are featured. It is a center of village gatherings as well as a perfect place for family fun.
Toushe Tribe House Night Ritual:
Toushe's offering to the spirit of the first ancestor (Taizu, 太祖) takes place annually on the birthday of the first ancestor. This ritual has meaning in two layers – the first is to pay respect to the
ancestors and the second marks the important days in the seasons. The main activities of this ritual play around these concepts alternately. The first part of the ritual is held on the 14th and 15th days of the tenth month of the lunar calendar for celebrations of the first ancestor’s birthday, and the ritual to the seasons is an expression of gratitude and prayers to the source of life – the universe through the expression of the first ancestor. On the first day of the ninth month, the ritual opens the Siang (向) of the heaven and earth; on the first day of the tenth month, Sirayas burn the skulls of hogs as offerings to the spirits in heaven and open the Siang of songs; and on the 15th day of the tenth month Sirayas offer hogs, sing songs, close the Siang of songs, and close the Siang of the heaven and earth. The rituals last till the 30th day of the tenth month or the 1st day of the eleventh month (hang up the hog skulls). All of these sacrifices and rituals are closely related to the marks of seasons. Through annual rituals and offerings to the spirits, human existence and the experiences and emotions of human interactions incur and heritages are formed for generations after generations to follow.
There are three major elements In Toushe’s annual ritual – “Siang”, “Hog”, and “Songs & Dances”. “Siang” is a term in Siraya language. It has sophisticated implications - the magic of Sherman is called Making Siang, the holy water in the Ali bottle is the spirit of Siang, the water that has been put through the Siang ritual is called the Siang Water, the hogs offered to the first ancestor is called the Siang Hogs, putting Siang on a person or object is called Releasing Siang, and there is a Siang for songs and dances. The ritual starts with Siang opening and ends with Siang closing. From a certain aspect, the belief of the first ancestor (Taizu, 太祖) can be said to have been a cluster of Siangs. On the surface layer, Siang is a representation of a spirit belief, which preaches spirit permanency. The belief of spirits gives all lives the element of Siang, and through control and manipulation, this Siang dissolves bad lucks. The first ancestor is the originator of the art of Siang. In another word, Siang is everywhere, representing the forces in the universe. They can help as well as harm a person, and the first ancestor is in charge of these all mighty Siangs.
Siang must be carefully handled throughout the ritual. All priests (spirit mediums, head shaman, and chanter ) think that they are handling Siang with their lives at stake; they think that their lives might be in danger if they are not paying attention. There are three most important Siangs in the ceremony – the Big Siang of the universe, a Siang that protects the tribes, and a Siang of songs and dances. The Big Siang of the universe is released to enjoy the fun with the tribe during the festival week. On the 1st day of the ninth month, the Siang opening ceremony (opening the Siang of the heaven and earth) conducted by the spirit medium asks the Siang guardian – the first ancestor to release all Siangs in the universe. These Siangs are instruments of the first ancestor who uses them to help the tribe people throughout the year, so in the end of the year, these Siangs are to be released to enjoy the feasts offered by the villagers as so to repay for their hard work in the past year. Before the whole festival ended, a Siang closing ceremony must also be conducted, so as to call back all Siangs into the world of spirits. The Siang closing ceremony usually begins at the night of the 15th day of the tenth month and ends in the morning of the sixteenth day of the tenth month. Through one release and one retrieve, the world of humans and the world of spirits reach a new status of balance.
Tainan Astronomy Park:
(No. 34-2, Cusi Village, Danei Township, Tainan County; website: http://taea.tnc.edu.tw)
Spread across a land of 12 hectares, Tainan Astronomy Park is located in the Erchongsi Mountains of Danei Township. The land was provided by Beitian Temple free of charge to the county administration. Minimum light pollution with fantastic views as well as easy accessibility, this is the perfect place for the Home of Stars.
Tainan Astronomy Park has been built in two parts – an astronomy education hall and the outdoor park, including an observatory building, an observatory dome, a star bridge at the entrance, observation terraces, trails, a 76-cm telescope (the largest on the plain areas), and the largest observation dome in Taiwan (9 meter in diameter). The multifunctional hall has been designed for interactive demonstration to bring the visitor into the virtual reality world of stars. It is a fun way to learn and to experience the wonders of the sky.
Before this astronomy park, resources of astronomy education in southern Taiwan were lacking. To provide an optimum environment for teachers and students to learn about the enchanting stars, Tainan County constructed this astronomy world for education purpose. This park provides an environment for astronomy education as well as a window to the sky for wonderers of the universe or just simply seekers for an interesting holiday.