Taiwan: The ‘God Flower’ vanishing because of climate change

A plant that is said to be a doorway to the angels can be found in the mist mountains of Alishan in northern Taiwan.

Golden foliage orchid, also known as a flowering, grows in groups of 10 to 20 on bright green canes. It is a lovely but odorless yellow rose with an orange-fringed center that is glossy. It is simply referred to by the aboriginal Tsou people as the God Flower.

” The God Flower must be used by my community for our rituals. Gao Desheng, a tribal elder, says that if not, God wo n’t be able to find us.

It used to be abundant and bloomed outside Tsou residences. But then, in search of it, the Tsou travel higher and higher into the surrounding rocky trees. To find the God Flower, they occasionally also climb plants.

The community is certain that this is due to climate change. For the buds to form and foliage in the spring, the winter must be warm enough—below12C. The majority of the plants are found growing at levels between 800 and 1, 800m (5, 900ft ) in warm, humid climates.

Greenpeace, an environmental organization, claims that over the past ten years, the maximum temperatures in autumn and winter have steadily increased based on local temperature data from the Alishan Weather Station.

It predicts that by 2050, the ordinary November heat at the Alishan stop will increase from the present 12 to 14C as a result of global climate.

Taiwan has also been experiencing cooler weather and more numerous floods overall.

Typhoons are a crucial source of water for the beach, despite their dangerous nature. Crops can therefore fail when they fail to make ashore, as has just happened. This has had an impact on the Tsou’s lives as well as their rituals.

According to Jui-Chiao Chung, her home has been planting bamboo for decades, but due to ongoing droughts, she has had to modify the crops she raises. The wood grain supply has decreased by more than quarter in recent years without rain.

Beyond the lush green coffee flowers at her land, yellowing stalks could be seen in the distance. They are also owned by Ms. Chung, who chose to grow coffee rather than wood to cope with the meager precipitation. She appears to be falling behind no matter what steps she takes.

The heavier coffee bean, according to Ms. Chung, are a portent of higher temperature. One poor harvest soon lowers her income. To lessen the effects of the changing environment, she is now considering growing a distinct produce.

However, the Tsou individuals lack for a remedy for the vanished God Flower.

Elder Gao claims that there is no replacement for the plant in their rites if it cannot be located or vanishes. For a situation is incomprehensible to him. But he undoubtedly worries about the prospect. He gestures to a sizable pot that is filled with the dried remains of what once stood as the God Flower.

The battle heaven Lafafeoi, a keeper thought to ensure the safe transfer of young people from the field, is one of the Tsou’s some deities.

An Xiao- Ming, who is in his 40s, said,” It is said that the God Flower surrounds the wildlife of this deity.” The presence of the holy is symbolized by the placement of these flowers on the roof of Kuba.

The Kuba, a thatched-roofed hall that serves as the royal and moral hub of their community, is central to the three-day Mayasvi festival, which draws hundreds of people.

The Tsou men may pray to the god of war for protection from misfortune and to thank their soldiers. In order for the gods to recognize them as Tsou citizens, they must pin the foliage of the golden flower to their set hats.

The God Flower may be deliberately grown, according to ancient tradition; it must be discovered and harvested in the wild before dawn, before significant rituals you start.

One of Taiwan’s 16 officially recognized aboriginal tribes is the Tsou community. Before the majority of Han Chinese arrived, they had been residing on the island for thousands of years.

Out of a population of 23 million, they currently quantity around 6, 000. They primarily reside in the Alishan Mountains, close to the flowers of wild beautiful lawn.

Gao Desheng worries about his tribe’s potential, but he claims it will depend on the assistance they receive from the government. Elder Gao stated that officials visit but do not handle the severe effects of climate change on the Tsou people’s way of life. A political battle is already underway.

Greenpeace concurs, referring to the candidates as” weather snails” as a jab at their slowness when it comes to creating long-lasting economic policies. Despite the fact that voters are very concerned about climate change, the green energy goals put forth by the three major presidential candidates are insufficient to achieve net-zero emissions goals.

However, time is running out for the Tsou persons.