Atayal Women

Three Atayal women with bamboo baskets on their backs are walking along mountain paths. Due to Japanese colonial influence, their traditional aboriginal attire was changed to Japanese kimonos.
The Atayal tribe is located on both sides of the central mountain range in northern Taiwan, as well as in the mountains areas of Hualian and Yilan. They are most concentrated in Wunong. The hard-working Atayal women tended to household chores and wove clothing and decorative items. They also had to engage in agricultural production. When going up into the mountains to work, almost everyone carryied a bamboo basket or rack on their back with which to put their farming tools or to bring such crops as yams and taro back home. Sometimes these baskets were also used to carry their babies. The strap of the basket was placed on their forehead. If the basket was too heavy, they would grab the strap with both hands to lessen the pressure on their head and neck, as well as to prevent the strap from slipping off.