Decades ago, Japanese colonists in Taiwan banned facial tattoos, decrying them as a form of mutilation. But now as activists and historians try to preserve Taiwan's fast disappearing aboriginal culture, the facial tattoo is getting respect.
Taipei, June 25 (CNA) A posthumous citation from President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) was presented at a memorial service for Ipay Wilang (林智妹), the last government-designated preserver of Indigenous facial tattoos in Taiwan in her home village of Tawsay, Hualien County on Saturday.
Ipay Wilang, the last surviving government-designated preserver of traditional indigenous facial tattoos, passed away on Saturday.
She died at her home in Hualien County, said Kimi Sibal, a Hualien-based historian who cowrote a 2016 book on Taiwan’s then six remaining indigenous facial tattoo preservers.
Ipay Wilang, a Sediq, had returned to Hualien earlier on Saturday after being discharged from a hospital in New Taipei City, said Lo Mei-ching (羅美菁), head of the New Taipei City Indigenous Peoples Department.
She had been living with her eldest daughter in New Taipei City and was taken to Tucheng Hospital on Friday after she became unwell after
/ Staff writer, with CNAIpay Wilang, the last surviving government-designated preserver of traditional indigenous facial tattoos, passed away on Saturday.
Taipei, June 18 (CNA) Ipay Wilang (林智妹), the last living government-designated preserver of traditional Indigenous facial tattoos in Taiwan, passed away at home in Hualien County Saturday, according to a local historian.