Each tribe of the Taiwan aboriginal people has a unique culture and style that can be identified simply from its sculpture, textiles, weaving, leather craft, and pottery. A tribe can also be identified through the applied functions of its architecture, daily life objects, tools, ceremonial equipment, weapons, and decorations. Upon investigation of the equipment and tools of the 12 Taiwan aboriginal tribes, it was found that a type of cup called the Linnak, used by the Paiwan tribe, displays remarkable usefulness as a cultural resource. The unique shape of the Linnak, which could be described as a “twin cup,” expresses its cultural meaning, usability, and beauty. Therefore, the Linnak was used as an example to demonstrate the application of cultural features in product design.
The “twin-cup” Linnak is a very common object in Paiwan culture. Indeed, among the Paiwan people, it represents a connection with their traditional culture. The Linnak is carved from one piece of wood and usually consists of two cups, with one handle on each side, as shown in Figure 6. The Linnak represents the aboriginal wine-drinking culture and reflects the traditional meanings connected with wine-drinking among the Paiwan and other aboriginal peoples. Traditionally, Taiwan aboriginal people often drank rice wine as a kind of sacred ritual. In ancient times they developed a variety of drinking containers, each of which had a meaning that was associated with a special event. For example, a one-cup Linnak could be used only in special events by the chief of the Paiwan tribe; the two-cup or three-cup versions, shown in Figure 7, were normally used in wedding or festival ceremonies and were meant to enhance the relationship of those taking part in the ceremony and to increase the warm feelings of the event.
In addition, there are certain social meanings, ergonomic concerns and functional considerations associated with the Linnak. To provide an ideal drinking cup for a wedding, both the social and operational interfaces of the Linnak need to be well-designed. The design features of the Linnak have been identified according to the three levels of cultural features, as described below.
Design Features Derived from the Outer Level
of the Linnak
The design features derived from the outer level of the Linnak deal with material, color, form, texture, surface pattern, decoration, and detail. The outer level of the Linnak’s cultural features is illustrated by the embossed decorations, which are based on figures, heads, and snake and deer patterns, as shown at the top of Figure 8. The pattern of the snake, known as the long-hooded pit viper, is one that can be used only on objects belonging to a chief of the Paiwan tribe. These patterns and figures of the ancients, which displayed symbolic meaning, could be used as design elements and transferred to modern product design.
The physical dimensions of the Linnak include its total length, from 43cm to 91cm, and the pitch between the two cups, from 29cm to 42cm, as shown in Figure 8. The pitch and the distance between the centers of the two cups symbolize the ideal of close relationships and have particular standards and specifications for different situations (Cheng, 2005; Chen, 1961). These dimensions indicate the way in which this object was used and also denote the idea of an invisible space between two people. From a usability point of view, the diamond-shaped cup illustrates that the cup was designed with an angular mouth for greater ease in drinking. Furthermore, the drinking process implicit in the cup’s design emphasizes the meaning of “working together” and “sharing with each other” (Wu, Cheng, & Lin, 2005).