銀盔 Silver Helmet

銀盔為雅美（達悟）族男子於重要祭典儀式時配戴的禮帽。如飛魚季開始前，男子會拿著銀盔在海邊上向海招揮，有邀請魚群祈求豐收之意。同時，族人會懸掛銀盔於乾魚架上的魚乾中間，有尊敬魚類和誘集魚類的巫術宗教意義。其銀盔為雅美（達悟）族男子於重要祭典儀式時配戴的禮帽。如飛魚季開始前，男子會拿著銀盔在海邊上向海招揮，有邀請魚群祈求豐收之意。同時，族人會懸掛銀盔於乾魚架上的魚乾中間，有尊敬魚類和誘集魚類的巫術宗教意義。其它如大船下水或新屋落成時皆需配戴。銀盔完成時，需舉行儀式和慶宴，殺豬滴血在銀盔上，使其具有靈氣。

The silver helmet is worn by Yami (Tao) men during important ceremonies, such as the boat launching ceremony, the completion of a new house ceremony, and the start of the flying fish season. Before the flying fish season begins, men will pray for a good harvest by waving their silver helmets to the sea like calling out to the fish. When they catch the fish, they will hang a silver helmet on the fish rack amongst the hanging dried fish, which has the religious significance of paying respect to the fish and praying for more fish to come.

Yami (Tao) is the only indigenous tribe in Taiwan that possesses the technique of making such silver helmet. As the island does not produce iron, gold nor silver, it was told that silver came from silver coins that were traded with outsiders. Coins are melted and pounded into thin sheets, which are then placed on a wooden mold to form a cone shape. When a helmet is completed, blood of a slaughtered pig is dripped on the helmet, and prayers made to give the helmet spiritual power. The helmet covers almost the entire head of the wearer, so that it protects the wearer’s identity from evil spirits.