Orchid Island is a volcanic island formed by volcanic eruptions occurring on the Luzon Volcanic Arc between Taiwan and the Luzon Island of the Philippines. Orchid Island consists of volcanic tholeiite andesite and basaltic agglomerates. Main rocks of the island, which were formed during volcanic activities in the early Miocene, are mainly made of andesite and its agglomerates. Since the texture of these rocks is extremely hard, the island is full of steep mountains, hills, and tablelands, of which ten hills are higher than 400 meters and two are higher than 500 meters. Hungtoushan (meaning Red-headed Mountain), the highest peak on the island, reaches 548 meters in height.

There are fringing reefs formed by large amount of coral reefs around the island’s coastal area. On the eastern and northern coasts, risen coral reefs are wide, while the island’s coastal rocks have developed into cliffs or sea caves due to strong coastal erosion. Altogether, they form a unique landscape.

The climate of Orchid Island is the tropical zone of hot and humid weather, which is characterized by sudden rain and strong winds. There are abundant fauna and flora that make good use of the environment on the island. There are six mammal species, 101 bird species (including 24 resident species and 77 migratory ones), 15 reptile species, three amphibian species, and 400 insect species.

Among them are many rare and endemic species, including two mammal endemic species and three rare bird species. The Elegant scops-owl (Otus elegans), Whistling green pigeon (Treron formosae), and Asia paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradis) are considered the most valuable; while the Red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva), Red-billed starling (Sturnus sericeus) and Japanese thrush (Turdus cardis) are rare species. Also, there are two endemic reptile species.

Iconic butterflies such as the Magellan birdwing (Troides magellanus), Lanyu common albatross (Appias paulina minato), black-and-white veined tiger (Danaus melanippus edmondii), and Lanyu snow skipper (Tagiades trebellius), can be found on Orchid Island. Magellan birdwing, in particular, has become one of the four rarest butterflies in Taiwan due to excessive harvesting of its main dietary plant, the Slender dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia debilis), by herb suppliers and excessive capturing of the butterfly itself.

While butterfly species in this area are mostly the same as those found on Taiwan proper, other species on Orchid Island are also similar to those in Okinawa. There are also nine species that belong to the Philippine area. Therefore, the island is the ideal region to study the biological connection of insects in Taiwan and neighboring areas.

Orchid Island is situated on the waters where the Kuroshio Current flows northwards. Surrounded by coral reefs, the island is supported by the Kuroshio Current that nourishes abundant marine life and creates beautiful underwater landscapes.

Since the water in the subtidal zone next to Orchid Island is clear without pollution, there are massive and beautiful coral reefs which contribute to rich marine life and diverse underwater landscapes. There are 405 tropical fish species and many invertebrate species found in these waters.

The Tao

The Yami (Tao) people  live in Orchid Island off coastal Taitung County. Yami people call themselves “Tao,” which means “people” in their language. 

1. Flying fish culture

Every March, when schools of flying fish (Exocoetidae) approach Orchid Island in pursuit of  the Kuroshio Current, Yami people will hold the Flying Fish Festival to pray for fishes to come. They will start fishing after the ceremony is held, but are only allowed to attract fishes by using torches at night. They have to wait until April before being allowed to go fishing with small boats in the daytime while resting at night.

Between May and July, catching flying fishes in the daytime is allowed, making it the busiest fishing season. However, Yami fishermen are prohibited from catching fishes other than the flying fish during this timeframe. After the Mid-Autumn Festival in September, the consumption of flying fishes will be prohibited, and the  remaining flying fishes will be thrown away. 

2. Semi-subterranean houses

The Orchid Island has a tropical marine climate with an average annual temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. It is hot throughout the year except winter. As the island lies on a route frequented by typhoons and lacks high mountains (the highest peak is only 548 meters tall) to block typhoons, Tao ancestors developed the semi-subterranean  house to stay safe during typhoon season. Also, to avoid summer heat, these houses contain balconies with fences, which are the best spots  to rest during summer days.

3. Tatala boats

The wooden canoe known as Tatala carries the wisdom of Yami ancestors. Every year after the Flying Fish Festival, the Yami people will start building boats, starting with boat owners collecting suitable wood from the forests, and then processing and finishing boats in their  workshops.

4. Artistic talents

Exquisite carving and paintings on the canoe represents the Yami people’s artistic talents. Patterns such as agates, silver helmets, and ocean waves are part of their life. Figure paintings, on the other hand, represent the hero and emblem of each family. The most important pattern used by the Yami is the gear-shaped eyes. They serve as eyes and talisman of the canoe to protect fishermen from evil sprits and disasters when sailing. In addition to the skill of canoe-building, weaving, pottery-making, forging items with gold and silver also embody  Yami art and aesthetics.

5. Social structure

There is no clan system in the Yami society. Their social structure revolves around fishing and the highest authority are given to senior members of the tribe. Social activities follow the paternal system and are managed by fishing teams. Social groups are comprised of families with the same bloodline, as well as fishing teams are formed by men working together as a group and sharing food during fishing trips. Each village on the island operates  autonomously, and together the villages form a complete tribe.

6. Traditional clothing

Men wear sleeveless, collarless, and short tops with thongs as outerwear. Women wear knitted clothes with short skirts. All handmade clothes are white color with black-and-blue strips.

Dating back to the early 17th century, a journal kept by the United East Indian Company has recorded data about Orchid Island and its use by Chinese merchants as a marine marker  pointing the way to the Philippines. At the meantime, Orchid Island appeared under the names of Botol Tobago and Botol Tobage in nautical charts made in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Han people, however, had little knowledge about the island.

The earliest historic record of Orchid Island can be dated back to 1618  during the Ming dynasty, when scholar Chang Luan called it “Red Bean Island” in his East & West Oceans Reference Anthology. In 1772 during the Qing dynasty, imperial high commissioner Huang Shu-jing renamed it as “Red-headed Island” in “Records from the Mission to Taiwan and its Strait,” which is the earliest document about Orchid Island and its residents. However, it contained only several hundred words of description about the island.

According to Hengchun County records, the Qing government sent some 20 officials, including Chou Yo-chi and Wang Chiao-nien, to inspect the island in 1877. After the investigation, the island was officially recognized as part of the imperial domain and was placed under the governance of Hengchun County.

After the First Sino-Japanese War, Orchid Island was ceded to Japan on June 2, 1895 in accordance to the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which stated that “China cedes Japan in perpetuity and full sovereignty of the Pescadores group, Formosa (Taiwan) and the eastern portion of the bay of Liaodong Peninsula together with all fortifications, arsenals and public property.”

On August 7 of the same year, the Japanese foreign minister and the Spanish Envoy in Japan made an agreement recognizing the two countries’ separate territories in the western Pacific region, and confirmed that Orchid Island belonged to Japan. In 1899, Japanese General Takashima Tomonosuke demanded the governor-general of Taiwan to examine the island.

In 1918, American merchant ship Benjamin Seal capsized near Eluanbi and its debris flowed to Orchid Island. The incident triggered an international conflict, and Japan subsequently tightened its control over the experts inspecting Orchid Island. After the retrocession of Taiwan on October 25, 1945, Orchid Island was returned to the Republic of China.

On January 19, 1946, the Nationalist government established the Red-headed Island Township under Taitung County according to the Organic Regulations of County and Town of Taiwan Province. The township office was located in the Red-headed Village in the southern part of the island. On November 24, 1946, the Taiwan Provincial Government renamed it as Orchid Island for its rich production of Moth orchids.

Criterion V

The Yami (Tao) people on Orchid Island have developed a special kind of architecture to handle  the severe weather effects and the long and narrow coastline that is prone to wind erosion. This architectural characteristic of Yami culture is reflected in the design of their traditional houses, workshops, and boat houses.

Since there is no natural shelter on Orchid Island, Yami semi-subterranean houses can protect residents from wind and rain., From these unique dwellings, the Yami people developed their unique local culture and customs, making these semi-subterranean houses an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement by the sea and meeting the fifth selection criterion for inclusion to the World Heritage List.

Criterion IX

The Orchid Island’s beautiful landscape is composed of many hills and a narrow coastline. The beautiful natural environment, volcanic rocks, charming sea view, and local legends come together to form the beautiful Orchid Island. The rainy season, which averages to 200 days of rain throughout the year, has created various landscapes such as  waterfalls and mist on the island. Moreover, the traditional Yami culture is closely tied with the ocean and flying fish, making the natural scenery even more unique and relevant. This meets the ninth selection criterion for inclusion.

Cultural characteristics of Orchid Island

Worship of Magamaog: The Yami (Tao) believe that Magamaog was the deity who taught the tribe the knowledge of agriculture, fishery, and boat-building, thus they use his imagery to decorate vessels and tools, especially the ceremonial staff used in traditional rituals.

Traditional architecture

There are traditional buildings that are still in use by the Ivalino Tribe of Lanyu Township in Orchid Island, including main semi-subterranean houses that face the ocean. These houses are often equipped with workshops, fenced balconies, and racks for drying fish.

Artistic features

The Yami people living in Orchid Island are the only indigenous marine-faring people of Taiwan. Their traditional canoe is made of 21 or 27 wooden boards taken from different trees. Thecanoe is then carved with exquisite and representative patterns of the Yami culture, such as human figures, geometric shapes, and concentric circles.

Fishing culture

Drying one‘s fish catch is part  of the fishing culture in Orchid Island. There are several ceremonies and taboos that need to be observed during the process. [CAPTION] This is a fighter from the Ivalino Tribe of Lanyu Township showing his first mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) catch. His silver helmet, which is regarded as a sign of good fortune, hangs on the side of the fish-drying rack to pray for a bountiful fish harvest.

Material culture

The philosophy of Yami people’s life, which permits nature to take its course, is practiced in their material culture.  Their crafts are representative of the primitive art forms used by  the Austronesian tribes in Taiwan. The male accessory of “Coconut shell container with clay figure” is an example of this type of primitive art.

Traditional settlement

The traditional tribe of the Yami people in Orchid Island includes two complete villages, the Ivalino Tribe and Iraralay Tribe, comprising 37 and 14 housing units respectively. However, these semi-subterranean houses are gradually vanishing due to lack of maintenance, as many people from the Ivalino Tribe have moved into modern public housing units instead.

Primitive art

The unique location of Orchid Island makes it home to rare animals and plants. It is also the northernmost region related to the Austronesian cultural group,  which is characterized by its unique primitive art.

[EXHIBITION] To respect and protect the unique culture and traditions of thisminority group, as well as preserve the precious cultural and natural assets of Orchid Island, this exhibition of primitive hopes to help the island become included in the World Heritage Site list.