Llyong Topa

There is a little known history behind Wanshan temple, a ghost shrine located at the Dabao river basin in Sanxia District. Hundreds of skeletons that belonged to the Atayal tribe of Dabao rest beneath the temple. According to historical records, the tribe was “annihilated” by an operation known as “the advancement of defense frontier” carried by the Japanese colonial government throughout forests in Northern Taiwan. Director Kao Jun-Honn uncovered this segment of history by chance and was led on a puzzle-solving course spanning 3 to 4 years. The first massacre carried by the Japanese army against aboriginal people– far prior to the Seediq Incident– was surprisingly little known to the public. By tracing with his own two feet, Kao decided to uncover the remains of the “defense frontier” set by the Japanese to gain woodland territory and resources. He would locate the remnants via GPS to trace capitalization of land properties, and along the way, unexpectedly meet descents of the “wiped out” Atayal tribe. Aside from turning over to an essentially blank page in Taiwanese history, he would find himself almost become half an Atayal himself.