Iwan Kainu, one of the last Atayal aborigines in Taiwan left to have a traditional facial tattoo died at the age of 103
Taiwan News
Date: 2018/01/17
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Iwan Kainu (簡玉英, Chien Yu-ying), one of the last members
Iwan Kainu. (Photo by Tobie Openshaw)
of the Taiwanese indigenous Atayal (泰雅) tribe to have a facial tattoo and a national treasure, died yesterday morning from complications from the flu at the age of 103, reported UDN.
Kainu was one six known surviving members of the Atayal tribe who retained the traditional facial tattoo symbolizing their achievement of womanhood after mastering the skill of weaving. Men were expected to capture the head of at least one enemy tribe member to earn the right to receive their distinctive tattoo and thus achieve manhood.
Facial tattoos for both genders were banned under Japanese rule, and thus the tradition ended, never to be revived. [FULL SORY]