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Island Folklore: Taiwanese Tales & Traditions

An online repository of Taiwan’s folktales, history, legends, myths and traditions.

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Sun Moon Lake
Austronesian Folktale MythologyJanuary 4, 2018February 28, 2020

Sun Moon Lake

The indigenous folktale on the origin of the name of Taiwan’s beautiful Sun Moon Lake.

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Sundown
Austronesian Folktale MythologyDecember 21, 2017February 28, 2020

Sundown

An ancient Atayal tale that tells of two suns in the sky and the hero who shot one down.

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Red Cloak
Austronesian History Legend SiniticDecember 7, 2017February 28, 2020

Red Cloak

As newcomers settled in Taiwan, they faced the terror of the island’s notorious headhunters.

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In the Shadows
Austronesian Mythology Sinitic TraditionNovember 2, 2017October 7, 2020

In the Shadows

Fairies, genies and demons—Eurasian hinterlands are home to mythical beings, like Taiwan’s “mô-sîn-á.”

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Bear and Leopard
Austronesian Folktale MythologyJune 29, 2017February 28, 2020

Bear and Leopard

Black Bears and Clouded Leopards were not always black and spotted. This is their tale.

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The Great Flood
Austronesian MythologyApril 13, 2017February 28, 2020

The Great Flood

From the Holy Bible to Taiwan’s indigenous Formosan tales, flood myths feature widely in ancient literature.

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Our Lady's Child
Austronesian Folktale History Indo-EuropeanMarch 16, 2017January 3, 2023

Our Lady’s Child?

Take a guess: Is this a German fairy tale? Or is it a Taiwanese folktale? Explore the secret behind stories from opposite sides of the earth.

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Matriarch
Austronesian History TraditionMarch 2, 2017March 10, 2021

Matriarch

In the ancient homeland of the Amis and Puyuma peoples on Taiwan’s Pacific coast, women once ruled. Learn about these traditional matriarchal societies!

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Dwarves Who Fell
Austronesian Mythology TraditionDecember 22, 2016October 7, 2020

Dwarves Who Fell

From pygmies to dwarves, legends of “little folk” exist all over the world, including Taiwan.

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Paiwan Origin Myths
Austronesian MythologyDecember 15, 2016July 5, 2020

Paiwan Origin Myths

The Paiwan people have many origin myths. Here is a sampling of these Paiwan origin tales.

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Tattooed Faces
Austronesian Mythology TraditionDecember 7, 2016February 28, 2020

Tattooed Faces

The Atayal are an ancient Austronesian tribe indigenous to Taiwan. This is their origin story.

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The Rooster's Crow
Austronesian Folktale MythologyDecember 1, 2016February 28, 2020

The Rooster’s Crow

Why do roosters crow? Why do stags have antlers? Why are dogs good deer-hunting companions?

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