746 is the number of indigenous villages officially ratified by Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) from 2010 until 2015. Gateway is a personal project, a reason to take me every village on the list.
Laiyi Township is quintessentially Paiwan due to its geography and population. It sits in the center of the nine indigenous townships of Pingtung County; its Paiwan population is 7,643 strong with five villages claiming over 1,000 residents. In total, there are ten Paiwan villages under seven tsuns (state administration unit). The artery linking these villages is the Pingtung County Highway 185.
Kuljaljau (1,331 residents)
The largest village in the region, Kuljaljau issues strong Paiwan-ness in its surrounding and people. Also full of history, this village is also a stronghold for Paiwan traditions and customs. Maleveq or the God-Human Covenant Ritual Celebrated Once in Five Years, for example, is the most important ritual still practiced by Kuljaljau after so many years.
Calasiv (546 residents)
Siljevavav (337 residents)
Both Calasiv and Siljevavav are under Dan-lin Tsun.
Correction: Tjalja'asiya in the map and photo should be corrected to Tjana'asiya.
Tjana'asiya (525 residents)
Tjuwaqau (188 residents)
These two Paiwan villages are probably best known to students of the linguistics of the Paiwan language as the most important pioneer study made by Professor Chang Hsiou-Chuan (Department of Applied Foreign Languages, Tajen University) was based in the dialects of Tjana'asiya and Tjuwaqau. As Tjuwaqau is only a bridge away from Puljetji of Taiwu Township, Professor Chang also suspected influence from the Puljetji dialect.
Yes, to understand Paiwan or another indigenous language, one needs to see it from the most minute human settlement, a village. This topic is for another time.
Tjalja'avus (1,139 residents)
Tjalja'avus is another big Paiwan village in Laiyi. It situates itself in the easternmost corner and yet is already a new site for the people.
The old Tjalja'avus in the mountains, as I was told, still retains the complete site. On normal days, the site is closed, but appointments can be made with the local to visit the old village. The hike is worth it.
Pucunug (1,040 residents)
Pucunug is a beautiful village. It is also the place of birth for a famous local band called 'Boxing', some future Paiwan linguists, and the current Paiwan news anchorwoman at Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation. Obviously, a beautiful environment breeds beautiful minds.
Vungalid (1,083 residents)
Vungalid is a power in the region.
When Paiwan of old Payljus and old Takamimura were relocated to the current Nan-ho Tsun some decades ago, a headman was invited from Vungalid to come to the new settlement to handle inter-village strife and manage day-to-day business.
Almost every single significant Paiwan totems are neatly presented in this arch gate: Eagle, Hundred-Pace Snake, Clay Pot (probably a male pot) and Eagle Feathers.
Payljus (448 residents)
Takamimura (1,006 residents)
Nan-ho is the tsun, settlement, opened up for the Paiwan of old Payljus and Takamimura. These two villages used to be in fact managed by different chiefs or headmen, and the people speak different dialects of the Paiwan language.
Regardless, the state relocation project lumped them together in one region to give them a safer and better life (although according to some scholars, such intention is never pure and benign). To avoid inter-village conflicts, a third power was invited in to oversee things. At present, it is even bigger than Kuljaljau in demography, but probably less cohesive for the reasons stated above.
Laiyi Township （來義鄉）
Kuljaljau 古樓部落
Calasiv 丹林部落
Siljevavav 喜樂發發吾部落
Tjana'asiya 義林部落
Tjuwaqau 大後部落
Tjalja'avus 來義部落
Pucunug 文樂部落
Vungalid 望嘉部落
Payljus 白鷺部落（南和村）
Takamimura 高見部落（南和村）
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