House and Power: Contemporary Politics in the tribe of Paiwan

I analyzed the Paiwan tradtion changing in comteporary context.Compared with past studies, house is still the basic unit in the society. House is kept by wife and husband and inherited by the eldest child (vusam), who is responsible for his/her sibling. Chief is considered the eldest child of the tribe, and it determinated the position. The Paiwan was seen a hierarchy society. But power structure could change by marriage or wealth. Especially through village relocation, indiviual ability has made power structure difference. Meljveq(五年祭、人神盟約祭) is an important ritual for chief communicating with ancestral spirits. Recently Meljveq of this tribe was registered as cultural heritage of government by an association. It caused conflict between two chiefly househould in the tribe due to the right of making decision on this ritual. It shows the system of culture heritage takes great effect on local culture.