A Kong-kài (Taiwanese: "kong-kài"; Siraya: "Kuwa"; Taivoan: "Kuba", "Kuva"), literally "the Public Hall" in Taiwanese Hokkien, is a temple or shrine where indigenous peoples like the Siraya, Taivoan or Makatao hold rituals for their ancestral spirits. Historical records indicate that in the past, the Kong-kài served other functions, including a men's gathering place or a public meeting place for discussions and decision-making.
Types.
Taivoan.
In the Taivoan language, the Kong-kài is generally called "Kuba" or any similar spelling among different communities. For example, in Siaolin, the older generation still refers to the highest ancestral spirits in the Kong-kài as "Kuba-tsóo", literally "the ancestors of the "Kuba"". Some spellings from different Taivoan communities include:
The Kong-kài of the Taivoan people generally faces west and east. The pre-Kuomintang government Kong-kài in Siaolin came with different parts and materials such as:
The Taivoan Kong-kài may differ in the architectural layout by different communities. For example, in Laonong and Lakku, there is no central pillar in the shrine, and the Sacred bamboo basket is placed in the corner as in Laonong or under the offering table as in Lakku.
Makatao.
The Makatao Kong-kàis are currently mainly distributed along the mountainous areas of Pingtung. There have been activities to revitalize the traditional culture in recent years. The main Makatao Kong-kàis are as follows: