aeeble

Lalu Island, said to be the dwelling place of the highest ancestral spirits of the Thao people and one of their early settlements, was designated by the Nantou County Government as the ancestral sacred site of the Thao people, a gesture of respect toward the Thao. In 2000, the Thao planted a Canarium album tree on the island to symbolize the perpetual continuation of their cultural heritage. To this day, Lalu Island retains its spiritual and symbolic significance. The Thao people believe their highest ancestral spirits reside there. Traditionally, any woman wishing to study and become a "priestess" (the Thao term for a shamanic ritual specialist) must be escorted by an experienced priestess to Lalu Island by boat to receive inspiration from the highest ancestral spirits. Only after receiving approval can the aspirant be considered qualified to begin formal training. This underscores Lalu Island's sacred status in the hearts of the Thao people. However, Lalu Island has also borne several other names throughout different historical contexts: Qing-era documents referred to it as "Zhuyu," "Zhushan," and "Zhuai Shan"; the Japanese called it "Tamashima"; after WWII, the Nationalist government renamed it "Guanghua Island," meaning "Radiant China." It was subsequently officially renamed Lalu Island (Lalu).