Fakong Tribe’s harvest festival recognized on Taiwan's major folk customs list

貓公部落豐年祭列入台灣重要民俗名錄

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Fakong Tribe in Hualien on Saturday received a Ministry of Culture certificate recognizing its “Ilisin no Fakong” harvest festival as a major folk custom, making it the sixth Indigenous tradition on Taiwan’s national list.

The designation was approved last year. Held annually from Aug. 5–10 in Fakong Village, the festival reflects the heritage of the Amis people, according to the ministry.

The Fakong Tribe is the largest Amis settlement in Fengbin Township and one of the most important Amis communities in Taiwan.

“Fakong” refers to the giant crinum lily, found in abundance by the Amis ancestors when they settled in the area, symbolizing resilience and vitality. “Ilisin” is a central Amis thanksgiving ritual honoring ancestral spirits and celebrating the harvest, a tradition observed since the tribe’s founding.

Ceremonies include welcoming the spirits, performing traditional songs and dances, and sending the spirits off, with participation from all age groups.

Fakong Tribal Chief Kao Chin-wan (高金萬) said young warriors visited the sacred Mount Qilai ahead of this year’s celebration to conduct rituals for a successful festival. He pledged to preserve the tribe’s culture and pass its traditions to future generations.

Other Indigenous traditions recognized as major folk customs include the Tsou’s Mayasvi, the Makotaay Amis Ilisin, the Saisiyat PaSta’ay, the Siraya’s Dongshan Kabuasua Night Ceremony, and the Thao’s Tungkariri Lus’an.