"She brushed off a sea of colors and sparked the hint of treasure as she flew passed the corners of Taiwan." —Taiwan aboriginal folklore.
The Rukai tribe saw the butterfly as their heroic emblem. It was believed that people had to fly swifter than the butterfly to become a hero. In some unknown ancient time in the past, a butterfly was born in the hidden valleys of the Taiwan central mountain range. The richness of the land and the diverse culture nurtured the butterfly as she grew, and gave her a beautiful pair of wings. She stretched her wings wide and flew out all over Taiwan, from the mountains, the valleys, to the fields. Along the journey, she brushed off a sea of colors and sparked the hint of treasure.
The tribal chief dispatched men to follow the butterfly, but she was so fast that even on clouded leopard heels, the men were unable to catch up.
"We must collect every single piece of treasure that was left from the butterfly to bring her back again," said the tribal witch. At this the chief summoned the warriors and commanded them to set off into every inch of land in search of the treasures. Whoever finds all is to be recognized as the Hero.
Thousands of years later, the ancient legend still bears its significance in the hearts of the the modern Taiwanese people. Taiwan is at the crossroads where tradition and modernism coexist and complement each other. It is the place where cultures of the Chinese, the indigenous people, and the West meet and interweave, forming the basis of a unique Taiwan cultural pot. This pot radiates colorful diversity, a symbolic resemblance of the butterfly's wings, and the essence, the cultures, the treasures that lie within awaits the curious passersby to discover and relish.
Now, you are one step away from the path of her adventure. Come from the outside world to the land of Taiwan, and let the butterfly open her land to the world.
Thousands of years later, the ancient legend still bears its significance in the hearts of the the modern Taiwanese people. Taiwan is at the crossroads where tradition and modernism coexist and complement each other. It is the place where cultures of the Chinese, the indigenous people, and the West meet and interweave, forming the basis of a unique Taiwan cultural pot. This pot radiates colorful diversity, a symbolic resemblance of the butterfly's wings, and the essence, the cultures, the treasures that lie within awaits the curious passersby to discover and relish.
Now, you are one step away from the path of her adventure. Come from the outside world to the land of Taiwan, and let the butterfly open her land to the world.
