In the past years, Truku lives in mountain, they follow their ancestral wisdom─Gaya to balance the relationships between supernatural, nature and human beings in long tribal history. Nowadays, the traditional life almost collapses. The ancestral teachings─Gaya gradually weakens its power of restriction in the society, but still hides beneath the subconscious of the tribal people. Gaya presents to be implicit, conservative musical style and different song types which have different social functions.

Songs for cherishing for memories
Uyas smdamat (Songs for cherishing for memories) is a kind of songs for missing old friends in homeland. Before the Japanese-ruled period, Truku originally lived in the bosom of the high mountain and followed the ancestral teachings─Gaya to coexist with nature harmoniously. Afterwards, under the Japanese policy "the migrations of groups", Truku were forced to move to plains, then compromised with modern civilization and the culture of Han Chinese immigrants. This makes the traditional culture change completely. Henceforth, the memories and cherishing for past life in mountain only preserve in the vocal music of Truku.

Hero songs
Uyas kbhug (Hero song) is a kind of songs for males to flaunt their bravery, power and courage. Among these songs, there are hunting songs for displaying the power of hunters and songs for triumphant return of hunting heads. In the past, in the Taroko mountain, there were the temporary hunting houses everywhere. The material for covering the hunting houses are "giant elephant's ear" and "Bird-nest fern". These two elements are used in folksongs widely, but mainly in uyas kbhug. For example, "uyas biyi tmsamat" (The hunting hut) and "uyas gnsiyuk" (Song for protesting) in this album apply these two elements.

Unrequited love songs
There are many unrequited love songs (uyas smkuxul nanak) in Truku, but very few love songs (uyas mskuxul). According to the tradition of Gaya, the marriages are decided by parents. The youngsters can't intervene their own marriage. They may love someone, but are uncertain whether they will marry the person, so they pour out the affection through songs.

Love songs: Songs for loving one another
There are very few uyas smkuxul (Love songs) in Truku. This album collects two love songs which is an exception. One of them is a song for marrying. The love songs of Tuda group living in Shanli tribe, Juoshi township is different from the requited love songs of Truku which the lyrics describe the situation of expressing love and associations for youngsters. Its lyrics are very straightforward and ardent.

Happy songs
The word, uyas mqaras (Happy songs) is generally referred to songs accompanied with dances in ritual and happy assemblage. Among these songs, there is uyas smwayay (Goodbye song) sung after the celebration. The singing and dances of uyas mqaras is very important in the traditional celebration in Truku. Regardless of genders or ages, the joy and appreciation of the tribe within unceasing singing and dances merge with "utux" (Divinities, ancestral spirits).

Encourage songs
The main point of the cultural core─Gaya is "the words of elders" (kari rudan). Truku respect the elders very much. In the content of the traditional songs, the lyrics record the elder's words for encouraging the descendants. About the content, no matter the traditional Gaya─old adage or precepts influenced by Christian doctrine are classified to be "uyas kari rudan" (Encourage songs).

Songs for heartfelt wishes
Uyas ini pkla is a kind of songs for pouring out the various heartfelt wishes in one's mind. The word "ini" means "can't", but "pkla" means "to be known", so "uyas ini pkla" indicates "the songs can't be known by others" or "Songs for heartfelt wishes".

Exchanging labors songs: Songs of labors for betrothal gifts
The word "msbarux"(exchanging labors) means that the clans in one tribe exchange labors to help one another in the busy season for farming. Uyas smbarux (Exchanging labors songs) displays this situation. In Taroko region, there is another custom "smjiyax" (Labors for betrothal gifts). As mentioning the marriage, the relatives of groom work in the birde's family for expressing their sincerity. The songs sung in this situation is "uyas smjiyax uwa" (Songs of labors for betrothal gifts).

The traditional life songs
Uyas kndsan suuxal (The traditional life songs) is not a particular song type. It is the gathering of scattered songs. Each song describes the situation of the traditional life in Truku. There are "Lumbering song", "Lullaby", "Nursery rhythm"and newly compositional folksongs.

Assemblage songs
These two "uyas mstrung"(Assemblage songs) are sung by Tuda group living in Shanli tribe, Juoshi township. The content of lyrics expresses the merry mood as the tribal people of Tawsay tribe (Shanli tribe) gather together.


Reference sources:
Rung-shun, Wu
2007 The Report on Research Project of Cultural Heritage of Sediq, National Traditional Arts Research Center, pp. 36-38.

Listen to Truku's Music (mp3)

Title	Genre	Resource	Listen on line
uyas smdamat - uyas smdamat alang The Memorial Song --- Yearning for My Homeland	Truku	The legend at the foot of White Rock Mountain
uyas kbhug - uyas mqaras mangal tunux The Hero Song --- Celebrating the Triumphant Return after Head-hunting	Truku	The legend at the foot of White Rock Mountain
uyas smkuxul nanak - uyas smkuxul The Unrequited Love Song --- Song for Flirting	Truku	The legend at the foot of White Rock Mountain
uyas mskuxul•uyas mkriya - uyas smtrung lubung The Love Song•To be in love-Greeting my lover	Truku	The legend at the foot of White Rock Mountain
uyas mqaras - uyas mimah sinaw The Happy Song --- Let's us drinking	Truku	The legend at the foot of White Rock Mountain
uyas kari rudan - uyas tmgsa laqi Encourage Song-Song for encouraging the children	Truku	The legend at the foot of White Rock Mountain
uyas ini pkla - uyas hmtun mangal ka uwa Song For the Heartfelt Wishes•Snatching the bride	Truku	The legend at the foot of White Rock Mountain
uyas smbarux•uyas smjiyax uwa - uyas smjiyax uwa Exchange Labors Song•Employ Labors Song-Employ Labors Song	Truku	The legend at the foot of White Rock Mountain
uyas kndsan suuxal - uyas tmatak ni hnang The Traditional Life Song-The Sounds on the Mountain	Truku	The legend at the foot of White Rock Mountain
uyas mstrung - uyas mstrung The Reunion Song - The Reunion song	Truku	The legend at the foot of White Rock Mountain