Wood Carving: Paiwan Ancestor Posts & Palauan Itabori

 

Itabori design: From the collection of the Belau National Museum, Inc. (BNM)

In the last wood carving post, Palauan itabori was shown to be an artform that has greatly evolved since its contemporary origins in 1935 yet still honors its roots in the symbolism and stories of traditional bai. The National Taiwan Museum’s ancestor posts likewise are culturally meaningful for Paiwan family structure yet have also evolved into the present-day. 

Many of the similarities between the two types of wood carving come from deeper similarities between Taiwan’s indigenous tribes and Palau. For example, both are part of the Austronesian language family. Furthermore, females hold positions of importance: traditional Palauan society is centered around matrilineal clans, while many indigenous groups, such as the Amis, have matriarchal societies.

A final interesting similarity to observe is how cultural heritage, tradition, and customs evolve over time. Both wood carving examples demonstrate that culture is not static and “pure” but instead is open to innovation and outside influences. Cultural preservation then comes from adaptation. This can be seen in how the modern Paiwan ancestor post is more three-dimensional than its older counterparts, while storyboard carving is a relatively “new” artform (but with ancient roots) that is now an important element of tourism in Palau.

 

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Special thanks goes to the Belau National Museum for their help with researching itabori and providing the images of itabori and bai used in these three posts. You can visit BNM's website here.