The Feather-Wearing Tradition

The traditional rules on who can wear the Mountain Hawk-Eagle feathers and how the feathers should be worn are very strict. When a hunter captures a Mountain Hawk-Eagle, he must offer the longest primary flight feather (see also Appearance and Symbolical Meanings) or the longest tail feather to his chiefs as hunting tax. Some hunters will share the rest of the feathers with the medicine men and hunting companions, while others will keep the feathers for themselves.

The chiefs of Paiwanese tribes have the privilege to wear the feathers as a representation of their noble status, as well as their responsibility as the tribe’s leaders. Most chiefs would only wear the feathers in occasions of importance, such as tribal ceremonies, weddings and funerals. The feathers, along with clay pots, knives and jewels are also important wedding gifts between two bonded chief families.

Most Paiwanese tribes share similar ways of wearing the feathers: the feathers are attached to the headdress of the chiefs. The only slight difference lies in the gender of the chief. Male chiefs wear the primary feathers in an upright position, placed in front or in the back of his headdress. Female chiefs, on the other hand, use strings to tie the secondary flight feathers and other smaller feathers of Mountain Hawk-Eagles together to form several strands, and have the strands hanged down in the back of their headdress.

In ancient times, the alpha chief wears only one feather but now commonly two to three. The number of feathers worn by chiefs of lower rankings shall not be more than that worn by the alpha chief. Non-nobles are never allowed to wear the feathers of Mountain Hawk-Eagles. Those who violate the rule will be reprimanded and the feathers will be confiscated by the alpha chief family.

Warriors who are recognized for their contribution to the tribe will be granted the privilege to wear the feathers, either on the headdress or on the sheath. This privilege can be retained until the third generation.