TRANSMISSION AND LOSS OF RUKAI ETHNOBOTANY KNOWLEDGE: A CASE STUDY

• Main Authors: Lin, Kuan-Yueh, 林冠岳
• Other Authors: Liu, Shiang-Yao
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/swe3gb

碩士 === 國立高雄師範大學 === 環境教育研究所 === 97 === The UN 1992 Conference on Environment and Development had announced that traditional indigenous knowledge and conventions would be very important to environmental management and development. Therefore, more and more countries value traditional indigenous ecology knowledge. Traditional botanical knowledge is one type of traditional ecological knowledge. Study of culture adaption and transmission is the agenda of anthropology. This study focused on exploring the transmission and loss on traditional botanical knowledge in different locations, gender and generations of western Rukai at Ziuci village and Kochapogan village in Pingtung County. Survey research methods,including questionnaire, face-to-face interview, and participation observation were employed. One hundred seven individuals covering 10% of total villagers in the studied areas completed the questionnaire and 230 copies of filed notes were recorded. In-depth interviews were conducted with five people in Kochapogan village and three people in Ziuci village to find out the real conditions of the transmission and loss on traditional botanical knowledge. Results indicated that levels of traditional botanical knowledge were significantly different between genders and generations, but not differed in locations. People learned traditional botanical knowledge mainly from their families. The collapse of knowing traditional plants' names was much more serious than knowing the traditional usage, which was also related to the using frequency. Reasons that influence the transmission of traditional botanical knowledge include impressive life experiences, practical consideration and education. Causes of losing traditional botanical knowledge are changes of lifestyle and environment, generation gap, gender differences. The collapse of traditional botanical knowledge is apparent. Finally, this study proposed suggestions that traditional knowledge should be involved in the mother tongue curriculum in school, as well as be blended with the community activity and eco-tourism interpretations.