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202407/19
The Chiayi Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) held a book launch for the Animal Book of Cou at the Creative Space of the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. Following the Plant Book of Cou, this marks the release of another book in a book series that is passing down the Cou people’s legacy of traditional ecological wisdom. In addition to fascinating and vibrant animal myths and stories, the book’s exquisite illustrations and beautiful editorial design take readers deeper into the world of Cou ethnozoology to experience the Cou’s ecological wisdom of coexisting with animals in a sustainable manner.
At the launch, Cou elder Avayi‧Yatauyagana shared his experience of data collection and conducting interviews, and described the animal stories through the detailed observation of the Cou. For example, the Cou know that the pangolin will curl up when frightened and should never be worn around the neck. The Chiayi Branch used this as a selling point to design a pangolin-patterned sports towel to symbolize the potential danger of not understanding animal behavior. To echo the wisdom of the Cou people who use the grey-cheeked fulvetta for bird divination, a bookmark with the Chinese character for “Fortune” centered around the grey-cheeked fulvetta was specially designed for the book launch ceremony to symbolize that reading the book will bring good fortune.
The Chiayi Branch has continued to promote co-management collaboration with the Cou people. The Chiayi County Cou Hunter Association, established in 2018, regulates hunters through traditional hunting rituals and taboos. They also implement a hunting self-management program to imbue Cou hunters with the willingness to manage the hunting grounds and use animals without outside supervision. All of these are reflected in the Animal Book of Cou.
At the launch, Cou singer Yinguyu Yatauyungana was invited to perform two songs, “The Hunting Ground” and “Encounters with a Boar”. The event catering was also inspired by the animals in the book, including creative dishes such as bird-feather shaped biscuits representing the hunter’s medals and savory cakes with boar, which linked the “animals of the Cou” to the dining experience.
The Animal Book of Cou is the essence of Cou ethnozoology, reflecting the perceptions, understanding, and traditional wisdom of the Cou people in their interactions with animals. These include the sharing the culture of the iconic boar, the black-necklaced scimitar babbler that chimes the time, the hide-tanning legend related to the Formosan sambar deer and the nsoana fountain, and many other exciting Cou animal tales waiting to be discovered by the readers.