By Loa Iok-sin
STAFF REPORTER
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2008, Page 4  

The names of Chinese historical figures Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇), Wu Zetian (武則天) and Confucius should not be used as names for giant trees in the traditional domain of the Atayals, Aborigines said.

Many of the near 100 giant trees, most of which are more than 400 years old, in Makau Ecological Park in Ilan County were named after the figures corresponding to the age of each tree.

The trees -- most of which are hinoki and Japanese cypress -- received their names in the 1980s so that people could more easily identify them, a Veterans Affairs Commission official surnamed Hu (胡) told the Taipei Times.

"We picked the names because most people have learned about these figures at school and are familiar with the names," he said.

The commission is in charge of the ecological park.

However some people have questioned the naming scheme.

"We should respect the naming rights of Aborigines, which include the rights to individual, tribal, or place names," said Shih Cheng-feng (施正鋒), dean of the College of Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University.

"Based on the same principle, we should ask them how they would like to name the trees, not just name the trees according to our own preference," Shih said.

Omi Wilang, an Aboriginal rights activist, called the names "nonsense."

"We Atayals have a very strict naming scheme -- and we simply don't give names to trees or stones," he said.

"It's nonsense that these trees have been named, especially after Chinese historical figures after standing here for thousands of years," Omi said.

He said the names disrespected the Atayals' views on nature.

Hu said the commission was considering changing the names of the giant trees, "but so far, we have made no decision."
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