• Date:2025/05/16 – 2026/03/15
• Location:Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology Exhibition Hall Ⅱ
• Content:

Clothing is necessary in human life—not only for warmth, covering the body, and protection, it also symbolizes culture and society. Clothing has evolved over time, influenced by changes in era, environment, and technology. Different ethnic groups across regions have their own traditional ways of making clothes. This exhibition centers on the Austronesian people, From ancient clothing-making techniques such as bark cloth and weaving to modern new crafts, allows us to rediscover and reinterpret the cultural meanings conveyed by their clothing, and highlights the wisdom of ancient people who took from nature and used what was natural.

[Pounding: Continuancing of Bark]

In the Pacific Rim, the distribution of bark cloth is closely tied to the history about the spread of Austronesian people. In Taiwan and Oceania, the bark of paper mulberry is best choice of making bark cloth. The process of making bark cloth usually involves several steps: collecting the bark, then beating, washing, dyeing, and adding decorations to make the bark cloth. Bark cloth is firm and strong, making it difficult to be torn. It provides body not being stuffy also protection from cutting by plants, to make it an ideal material for clothing in hot climates. Archaeologists have discovered a distinctive tool called as “the grooved stone beater” in some sites, which is similar to the bark beater currently used to make bark cloth in Southeast Asia. In Taiwan, remnants of the same stone tool unearthed at dozens of archaeological sites indicate that Taiwan had bark cloth culture in prehistoric time.

[Weaving: Interlacing of Threads]

Prehistoric people made woven items by means of biodegradable materials such as plant fibers. Through the unearthed potteries with cord-marked, and spinning tools, archaeologists can proof the development of plant fiber utilized technique. Weaving is regarded as one of the most important skills for women to have. In Austronesian societies, weaving has meaning related to women's maturity, social status, and ethnic identity. As being skilled, Atayal girls will receive facial tattoo ritual once reaching adulthood. For Iban women in Sarawak, Malaysia, weaving know-hows and skills are passed down from mother to daughter. The materials and patterns used in Austronesian weaving are varied, often derived from nature, and have developed into knowledge and traditions passed down through generations.

[Passing: Reborn of Clothing Arts]

The traditional clothing craftsmanship of the Austronesian were gradually replaced by the replaced by ready-to-wear clothing. However, with the recent wave of cultural revival, these materials and techniques have become creative elements in Austronesian arts. As time changed, those also have evolved into a symbol of tribal beliefs and a newly developed creation. To bring indigenous craftmanship into daily life, emerging generation of artisans have used newly developed dyeing techniques and materials to produce a variety of practical accessories. This allows traditional weaving, which records the cultural context of the tribe, to interlance and to correlate the past and the future, also traditions and creations.