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Excitement is in the air at Minsheng Elementary School, Namasia District. It is 10 a.m. and the Bunun people are dressed in traditional costume and preparing for the annual Ear-Shooting Ceremony. This ceremony has been held every year since 1994, created to pass on Bunun traditional hunting methods, warrior spirit and unity. The Ear-Shooting Ceremony pays tribute to the tribe's heroic hunters and gives the younger generation opportunity to learn how to shoot. Even children are taught to shoot bows and arrows.
The ceremony begins with a ritual, performed by 5 to 6 heroes. It is a memorial to the great ancient hunters and a prayer for their blessing. After the ritual the men then go hunting while the women brew millet wine. They await the men's return, anticipating abundant game. The ceremony's name is derived from the Boar's ears, hung in the ceremonial hall.
When the men return everyone enjoys delicious fresh game, acquired during the hunt. The Bunun then sing "Pasibutbut" with their unique eight-part harmony. This is a sacred song, praying for a plentiful harvest of millet. Hunters then sing "Malastapang" which is designed to scare enemies by showing off their magnificent merit and hunting record. The singing ends with "Pisusling", a drinking song.
Bunun traditional culture, singing and activities such as husking rice with a pestle and mortar, weight relay, boar catching, and arrow shooting, should certainly not be missed. Visitors can also purchase Bunun handicrafts and agricultural products.
那瑪夏區──射耳祭
【文／侯雅婷；攝影／康村財．鮑忠暉】
早上10點，彩色帳蓬，映著藍天，那瑪夏區民生國小的空氣中飄著興奮的氣氛。布農族族人著傳統服飾盛裝出席，正進行的是布農族一年一度的射耳祭。
那瑪夏區從民國83年開始舉辦射耳祭，迄今邁入第17年。長於狩獵的布農族因時代變遷和生活型態的改變，為傳承狩獵文化和勇士精神，因此衍生「射耳祭」。其意義為尊敬擅長狩獵的英雄及教導小朋友練習射擊，也象徵族人們團結一心。
揭開序幕的是由5-6位英雄聚集祈禱的祭槍儀式，其用意為祈福。之後英雄們狩獵去，族裏的女人則開始釀製小米酒，等待英雄們返回，呈上豐盛的狩獵成果。祭典會場懸掛山豬耳朵為靶，教導男童射擊弓箭，接著表演者會一起享用狩獵美食，全體族人還會一同演唱「小米豐收歌」。除了布農族以獨一無二的「八部合音」，演唱動人的天籟，英雄們「報戰功」，意即大聲說出過去狩獵的戰績，彰顯狩獵英雄的彪功顯赫，以恫嚇敵人，更與最後演唱的「飲酒歌」連成一氣，令人讚嘆。此外，現場還有傳統的搗米、負重接力、捉豬和射箭等活動，加上手工藝及農特產品展，讓遊客體驗布農族傳統文化。
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