Taipei: An elder of Taiwan's Indigenous Pinuyumayan tribe has been named the country's latest "National Living Treasure" for preserving the tribe's traditional weaving techniques, which have been passed down orally. The Ministry of Culture announced that the review committee agreed on recognizing Sunay Paelabang, in her late 80s, for her mastery of Pinuyumayan traditional weaving, known as "tenun."
According to Focus Taiwan, the ministry officially recognized tenun as an important traditional craft preserved by Sunay Paelabang in February 2024. The recent announcement marked her as the 30th National Living Treasure since the title was first awarded in 2009.
Tenun, which has been handed down through generations, requires a formal apprenticeship and involves rituals conducted by a shaman both before and after training. The process also includes numerous taboos, making it a complex tradition to master. Although Sunay Paelabang was familiarized with tenun from childhood, she only began her formal apprenticeship in 1999.
Sunay Paelabang has made significant contributions by documenting and systematizing the weaving knowledge that was traditionally passed on orally. She stands out as one of the very few elders who master the Pinuyumayan horizontal back-strap loom, possessing expertise in both traditional weaving and embroidery. She will be officially honored at a ceremony in Taitung on Oct. 12.