Puyuma Tu'Tu wood carpentry recognized as 'important traditional craft'

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) Taiwan's Puyuma Tu'Tu wood carpentry has been listed by the Ministry of Culture (MOC) as an "Important Traditional Craft" of indigenous cultural heritage, with Puyuma tribal chief Haku designated as the technique's preserver and recognized as a national living treasure.

On Wednesday, the MOC convened the 2025 Traditional Craft Review Committee, which unanimously approved the registration of Puyuma Tu'Tu wood carpentry as one of the nation's "Important Traditional Crafts."

According to the Bureau of Cultural Heritage, 30 cultural practices have been registered nationally as Important Traditional Crafts, including the Paiwan tribe's tjemenun and the Puyuma tribe's tenun.

The MOC said in a press release that Puyuma Tu'Tu wood carpentry reflects the tribe's rich historical memory and aesthetics, playing an irreplaceable role in tribal ceremonies, daily artifacts, and culture.

Registration as an Important Traditional Craft is expected to boost the craft's visibility and support its conservation in the Kasavakan tribe in Taitung County.

The designated preserver, Haku, born in 1943 in the Kasavakan tribe, is the 69th tribal chief. He began practicing traditional carpentry at the age of 42, focusing on figures in the Puyuma hierarchy and the evolution of tribal culture.

Unlike earlier Puyuma bas-relief carvings on flat surfaces, Haku's sculptures are more modern, with individual rustic yet expressive strokes.

Wang Yu-hsin (王昱心), a member of the Traditional Craft Review Committee, said Haku has devoted over four decades to traditional carpentry. He incorporates ancestral legends, tribal rituals, and daily life into his works, using a chisel and wood to tell stories.

Wang added that Haku embraces his role as tribal chief to raise the visibility of Puyuma traditional religion and values through his art.

The MOC said it will follow the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act to assist the preserver in maintaining the craft. The ministry will also collaborate with local authorities and the tribe to develop Puyuma wood carving culture and preserve and pass down this invaluable indigenous heritage.