歷史/時代
2023 實體與數位同步
《看不見的文字》以布農族祭司Laung Mangdavan創造祭事曆為核心,追溯其面對文化危機時,以圖紋記錄傳統的勇敢行動。書中結合田調經驗與歷史脈絡,探索布農族信仰、小米神話與文字創生,呈現原住民族在時代挑戰下的智慧與回應。
This book centers on the creation of the Ritual Calendar by Bunun priest Laung Mangdavan, tracing his courageous act of inscribing tradition through symbols in the face of cultural crisis. Combining fieldwork and historical research, the book explores Bunun spiritual beliefs, millet mythology, and the invention of a visual language—offering insight into how Taiwan’s Indigenous communities have responded to the pressures of modernity with resilience and wisdom.
臺灣大學中文系畢業,東華大學創作與英語文學研究所MFA。1995年參與編輯李明亮先生《臺灣民主國郵史及郵票》一書,多年後改寫為《臺灣老虎郵:百年前臺灣民主國發行郵票的故事》。著有《神父住海邊:裴德與AMIS的故事》、《越嶺紀》、《凡人的山嶺》、《製圖師的預言:十六世紀以來關於花蓮的想像》、《我的不肖老父》等。
A graduate of the Department of Chinese Literature at National Taiwan University and holder of an MFA from National Dong Hwa University's Creative Writing and English Literature program, the author has long been engaged in literary and historical writing. Beginning with editorial work on a philatelic history of the Republic of Formosa, he later transformed the material into a narrative work for general readers. Over the years, he has published multiple books exploring Indigenous issues, mountain crossings, family memoirs, and historical imaginings of eastern Taiwan.
★國藝會「臺灣書寫專案」作品 當今布農部落最常見圖騰 十九世紀末丹大溪畔最深長的憂思 一九二○年代,日本發現Qanituan(加年端)的祭事曆。殖民當局對木板上的圖紋感到吃驚,他們從未見過臺灣原住民族使用文字或符號,何況是深山裡的布農族。祭事曆引爆關注,成為燦爛博覽會的展覽品,報紙大肆報導。 十九世紀末,出於某種驅力,Laung Mangdavan 創造祭事曆。四十年後,臺灣總督府視學官橫尾廣輔彷彿印第安納.瓊斯,似乎為了證明某事,狂熱搜找更多祭事曆…… 二○一九年,本書作者王威智參與文化部文化資產局「布農族音樂Pasibutbut特展——來自Mai’Asang的聲音」,撰擬文案與展覽手冊。這項工作讓他更深地認識pasisibutbut這首傳揚島內外的古謠,理解布農族以這首沒有歌詞的詠歌傳達了對小米的崇愛與珍視,還意外遇見祭事曆。曆板古舊,其上斑駁的圖紋勾起多年前他偶見「布農文字」的記憶。 展覽結束後,王威智加入文化部推動國家文化記憶庫計畫「布農族祭事曆原鄉的故事」團隊,二度走上關門古道,行前偕同各路夥伴拜訪花蓮縣萬榮鄉馬遠村、南投縣信義鄉地利村的布農族耆老,聆聽他們所知的祭事曆,也前往臺灣大學人類學博物館與國立臺灣博物館的庫房親睹沉默了幾十年的祭事曆。 一開始王威智關注的焦點是祭事曆裡的「繪文字」,這是日治時期以來關於祭事曆的傳統討論課題之一。隨著拼湊局部且碎散的關於祭事曆的記載與描述,他漸漸將目光轉向可能為祭事曆創造者的Laung Mangdavan與其時代。一個本來不需要書面紀錄的口述傳統及其執行者,何以一夕之間殫精竭慮創造「文字」?Laung Mangdavan可能遭遇或預見了某種挑戰。 英國史家湯恩比(Arnold Joseph Toynbee)曾提出「挑戰與回應」之論,認為民族、文化、組織與運動都有面對挑戰、陷入危機之時,回應挑戰的方式決定如何處理危機,而後者決定結果。湯恩比歸納了四種回應的方法:退回過去;對未來產生白日夢式的憧憬;自我封閉,以神秘經驗處理挑戰帶來的衝擊;直視危機,試著將之化為有利未來發展的元素。 那麼,祭司Laung Mangdavan遇到什麼挑戰? 一八八七年,「集集水尾道」(即關門古道)開通,這是清帝國最後一條「撫番道路」,為「牡丹社事件」後清帝國面對國際挑戰的回應之一。這條橫貫
★ A featured title in the Taiwanese Writing Project supported by the National Culture and Arts Foundation. Today’s most common Bunun symbol traces back to a deep historical anxiety along the Danda River. In the 1920s, Japanese authorities discovered the Qanituan Ritual Calendar—wooden boards inscribed with mysterious symbols. Surprised to find writing among Indigenous peoples, the calendar was widely exhibited. Created in the late 19th century by Bunun priest Laung Mangdavan, the calendar may have been a response to threats from the Qing Empire’s frontier expansion. In 2019, the author encountered the calendar while curating an exhibition and later conducted fieldwork with elders and museums. This book reveals how one priest turned oral tradition into visual form, showing a powerful act of cultural resilience.