Puyuma Woodcarving Master Haku Honored as Taiwan's Living National Treasure

The Ministry of Culture held a historically significant event at the Kasavakan Tribal Classroom in Taitung County, titled the 2026 "Arts at Their Peak" Important Traditional Craft Preserver Certification Ceremony. Amidst the witness of numerous community members and distinguished guests from various sectors, Minister of Culture Li Yuan personally presented the national-level Important Traditional Craft Preserver certificate to Haku (also known as Chen Wen-sheng), a master of Puyuma traditional tu'tu' wood carving. This certification is not only the highest recognition of Haku's decades of dedicated cultivation in the field of indigenous traditional wood carving, but also symbolizes the transmission of Taiwan's indigenous cultural assets and the state's firm commitment to the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

Revered as a living national treasure, Haku has long been dedicated to the revitalization and innovation of Puyuma traditional wood carving crafts. In the Puyuma language, tu'tu' refers to a carving technique and wooden artifacts that embody profound ethnic historical memories and life philosophies. In the past, this craft was mostly applied to traditional tribal architecture, ritual utensils, and daily living implements. It not only possessed practical functions but also carried the symbolic meanings of myths, legends, and social strata. However, with the changes of the times and the impact of modernization, traditional wood carving crafts have faced a severe crisis of generational discontinuity. Driven by a sense of mission toward his ethnic culture, Haku has devoted himself to wood carving creation and the teaching of techniques day in and day out for decades, bringing the nearly lost tu'tu' wood carving technique back into the public eye.

In recent years, the Ministry of Culture has actively promoted the recognition and cultivation of important traditional performing arts and traditional craft preservers, with the aim of preserving precious foundations for Taiwan's diverse cultural landscape. This certification ceremony was specially held at the Jianhe Tribal Classroom in Taitung County, carrying deep local connections and symbolizing cultural dignity. Moving the national-level certification ceremony to the artisan's hometown and tribe not only allows community members to share in this supreme glory together, but also fosters the tribe's sense of identity with its own culture. During the certificate presentation, Minister Li Yuan expressed his deep respect for Haku, thanking him for the tremendous effort and unyielding perseverance he has poured into safeguarding the traditional Puyuma craft over his long artistic journey.

For the Puyuma people, tu'tu' wood carving is not merely carved lines on wood; it is a medium for communication between the people and their ancestral spirits, as well as an important bond that unites community emotions. Haku's works often integrate traditional vocabulary with contemporary aesthetics, preserving the totemic imagery of Puyuma myths and legends while displaying his unique personal artistic style and life experiences. Through his hands, hard wood is endowed with soul and life, narrating the historical trajectory and changes of the tribe. His creative journey serves as an important microcosm of the contemporary development of Taiwan's indigenous art, witnessing how traditional culture finds survival space and radiates brilliance in modern society.

As Haku is officially designated by the state as an Important Traditional Craft Preserver, future cultural transmission work will also enter a brand-new stage. The Ministry of Culture and local governments will assist the preserver in launching systematic apprenticeship plans to pass down this precious tu'tu' wood carving technique to more younger generations aspiring to learn it, ensuring that the craft will not vanish with the wind. Amidst the current tide of globalization and rapid change, safeguarding such localized and unique intangible cultural assets holds irreplaceable and critical value for maintaining the richness and diversity of Taiwanese culture.