Paiwans' Worship of the Totem of Snake

Overview of Gaoshan Totem Culture

Origins and Universal Ethnic Totem Beliefs

Totemism (图腾崇拜) is an extremely ancient and unique cultural phenomenon in human history. Almost all ethnic groups in China, including some extinct ancient ethnic groups, have experienced totem worship in their historical development, and certain ethnic groups have retained relevant cultural relics to this day. The Gaoshan ethnic group (高山族) is a typical representative with distinctive and well-preserved totem culture that has been passed down for a long time.
According to historical documents, folk mythological legends and modern academic investigations, all nine tribes of the Gaoshan ethnic group have formed unique totem customs. The totem objects are diverse in categories, covering living creatures and natural objects. Common animal and plant totems include chickens, dogs, cattle, monkeys, deer, ermines, lions, spiral shells, tortoises, insects, birds, snakes, trees, bamboos and calabashes. Inanimate objects and natural phenomena such as huge stones, clouds and the sun also serve as important totems of the Gaoshan people.

Snake Totem Worship of Paiwan People

Core Belief and Mythological Origin

The Paiwan people (排湾族) are most famous for their devout snake totem worship. A wealth of folk myths circulate among the Paiwan people, telling that their ancestors were born from the eggs of sacred snakes. Though these legends sound incredible to outsiders, they constitute the core of the Paiwan people’s spiritual cognition.
The Paiwan people firmly believe that they share an inherent blood bond with snakes. They regard snakes as their ancestral origin, just as modern humans recognize that humanity evolved from apes. Moreover, they consider the sacred snake, which gave birth to their ancestors, as the patron god with supreme supernatural power, capable of protecting the Paiwan people from hardships, sufferings and misfortunes in daily life. Therefore, the snake has become the most revered totem and the most important spiritual belief of the Paiwan community.

Taboos and Cultural Manifestations

To gain continuous blessing and protection from the totem god, the Paiwan people have formed strict traditional taboos: they never hunt, harm or eat snakes. Meanwhile, they integrate snake totem elements into all aspects of life and art. Vivid snake patterns are carved and painted on residential buildings, ancestral spirit posts, weapons, and daily utensils including wineglasses, spoons, bamboo tubes and pots.
This custom has fostered the highly sophisticated snake totem carving art of the Paiwan people. All items decorated with snake patterns are regarded as sacred ritual and daily objects. Any profane behavior or disrespectful words toward these sacred totem decorations are strictly prohibited, reflecting the Paiwan people’s sincere reverence for their snake totem belief.