Majia Township

Drawing：Fang-Hsu Chen

Historical background
　　“Makazayazaya”, which means something “round and high,” is the name of Majia Township in the native language.
　　According the local tales, Dadayin, the sacred place of Paiwan, was located in Majia Township. The old tribe Fawan Village was called Paiwan Village in Taiwanese dialect after relocation. Furthermore, Majia Township is at the very heart of Paiwan. Therefore it is high possible that Majia Township was the cradle of Paiwan.

Population distribution
　　Majia Township neighbors Yiliao River, Sandimen Township, Wutai Township to the north; Mt. Dawu and Taitung Jinfeng Township to the east; Neipu Township to the west; and separates from Taiwu Township by Yamawan River to the south. There are six villages and 62 neighborhoods, total population reaching 6339, among which the aboriginals account for 92.58% (3391 males and 2948 females). Majia Township is a traditional aboriginal society without sophistication.

Migration history
　　During the Japanese occupation, Majia Township was under the jurisdiction of Kaohsiung County Chaozhou Prefecture. In the administrative restructure of 1950, it was under the jurisdiction of Pingtung County and divided into Majia Village, Beiyeh Village, Liangshan Village, Jiayi Village, and Fawan Village. After Sanhe Village was established in March 1967 by taking over the land of Aboriginal Yi-liao Reclamation Area, (whose land belonged to Neipu Township, Yanpu Township, Changchi Township), now it has six villages, namely, Majia Village, Beiyeh Village, Liangshan Village, Jiayi Village, Paiwan Village (formerly Fawan Village), and Sanhe Village.