Padrarulj (ancestor figure)

This large figure was once attached to an architectural support inside a Paiwan noble’s house. Ancestor carvings represent the sacred umbilical cords that connect the upper skies to earth and bind past generations to the present. That role is emphasized by the placement of a piece of porcelain, a prized trade material, in the padrarulj’s navel. The carving is androgynous, featuring breasts as well as the patterned trousers and adornments worn only by men. The combination of female and male elements is common in Paiwan sculptures and represents a family’s combined wisdom and strength. The diamond shape of the ancestor’s eyes and mouth mark the four cardinal points, indicating that the figure can see and speak in all directions.