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Syaman Rapongan is a chronicler of his people, the Tao, an Indigenous community who live on Orchid Island near the island of Taiwan. In Eyes of the Sky, he invites readers to learn the ways of this oceanic world—and to learn to see their own worlds anew through a Tao lens.
Employing oral storytelling conventions, Eyes of the Sky opens by recounting the history of the Tao, from their mythic origins to the present day. Its first chapter is narrated by a giant trevally, a fish common to the waters around Orchid Island. It then tells the stories of three generations of a single family—father, son, and grandson—exploring the transformation of Tao society through their encounters with Han-Taiwanese modernity.
Syaman Rapongan paints a vivid picture of his homeland—its mountains and seas, flora and fauna, climate and ecology—as well as local culture and customs. In describing fishing practices, canoe building, and conversations with friends from his village, he illustrates the Tao’s ecological worldview, lived experience, and struggle to preserve their culture. Written in conversational prose with evocative detail, this book is a powerful testament to how Indigenous people and stories persevere.
Syaman Rapongan is an acclaimed Tao writer who lives on Pongso no Tao or Orchid Island. He is the author of many books, including Eyes of the Ocean, published in English translation by Columbia University Press. Syaman Rapongan is a tireless advocate for Tao culture, an expert diver, and a master canoe carver.
Kyle Shernuk is assistant professor of modern Chinese literature and culture at Georgetown University.
On Translation
Translator’s Introduction
In Lieu of a Preface: Traveling Alone on the Winter Sea
Eyes of the Sky
Postscript