Sacred Pot from Paiwan tribe

The Meaning of Earthenware Pots in Paiwan Culture

Paiwan ceramic pots are categorized into male, female, and hermaphrodite types based on their decorative motifs.
Male pots are typically adorned with the hundred-paced snake design—a symbol of masculinity—and geometric patterns such as diamonds and triangles. Suns and human figures are also frequently used.
Female pots are often marked with nipple-like dots symbolizing femininity, as well as concentric circle patterns. Hermaphrodite pots feature a mix of male and female design elements.

Among the Paiwan, old ceramic pots are believed to house the spirits of ancestors and are thus considered sacred. Numerous legends across Paiwan villages link these pots to the mythical origins of village chiefs’ ancestors. Each type of pot has a specific name based on its decorative design.

Pots serve various roles: ritual tools, bride-wealth gifts, or everyday containers for food. Their value depends on their use, with ritual and bride-wealth pots regarded as the most precious. The traditional techniques for making these ceramics have been lost, passed down orally but no longer practiced.

Plain, round pots—highly prized by the nobility—are considered the most valuable. Paiwan people treat pots with great respect, as if they were living beings. They adorn them with necklaces and avoid holding them by the rim, considered the “head” of the pot.

Some researchers believe these pots were originally imported from other tribes and later produced locally. Others argue that tribal migration reduced dependence on agriculture, leading to a decline in pottery use. Over time, the limited number of pots that survived became rare and valuable.

In traditional Paiwan society, only nobles were permitted to own pots. The number and quality of pots were clear indicators of wealth and status. Rooted in legend and social structure, these ceramic vessels remain deeply meaningful in Paiwan culture.