Seeking the Koko' Ta'ay - (Brill Taiwan Studies) (Hardcover)

About the Book

For many centuries, Indigenous peoples of Taiwan and the Pacific have told tales of a mythical population of little people. This multidisciplinary volume explores the genesis of these myths from the perspectives of writers, linguists, archaeologists, and other experts.

Book Synopsis

This volume, edited by Tobie Openshaw and Dean Karalekas, will guide you on a multidisciplinary journey through Indigenous peoples' centuries-old lore of "little people" in Taiwan and the Pacific. Learn about the Taiwan SaiSiyat people's paSta'ay ritual, still held to this day to commemorate the koko ta'ay. Follow the distribution of the legends, interspersed with original stories by modern Indigenous authors. Explore the archaeological find of small-statured negrito remains in Taiwan, and delve into the most current research on the topic by linguists, anthropologists, folklorists, and other specialists to unravel the mystery of what--or who--inspired these ancient legends.