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Text | Movie café entertainment industry
Edit | Movie café entertainment industry
Have you ever thought that one day without shoes, walking barefoot on the earth, feeling the natural temperature and texture? Have you ever envied those who run freely on beaches, meadows, deserts, whether their feet are healthier, more flexible, and happier?
Have you ever wondered if wearing shoes is really a necessary, reasonable, beneficial habit, or a socially and culturally imposed constraint?
If you have such an idea, then you might be interested in the shoe concept and barefoot life of Tuvaluans. Tuvalu is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean consisting of nine atolls with a population of less than 12,000 people.
Tuvaluans spend most of their time without shoes, and whether at home, in villages, in fields, or by the sea, they are accustomed to touching the ground directly with their feet.
They think it will bring them closer to nature, more comfortable, healthier, less concerned about what others think of them, feel that it is their culture and traditions, their freedom and choice.
So, why don't Tuvaluans wear shoes? What kind of attitude do they have towards shoes? What are the benefits and challenges of living barefoot for them?
01
Tuvalu Geography and Climate
Tuvalu is located in the vast ocean of the South Pacific, located in the southern hemisphere of the tropics, the average annual temperature is about 29 °C, the highest temperature can reach 40 °C, the lowest temperature is also above 22 °C, and the climate is hot all year round.
The surrounding sea area is vast, abundant water vapor, controlled by the equatorial low pressure zone and the trade wind belt from the ocean, and the updraft prevails, with annual precipitation of about 3000 mm and abundant precipitation. The climate type is tropical oceanic, and the climate characteristics are similar to tropical rainforest climates.
In terms of longitude range, Tuvalu is roughly located between 176°E and 179.8°E, very close to the 180° meridian. Located on the west side of the International Date Line, Tuvalu is one of the first countries in the world to enter a new day.
Located in the vast tropical ocean, Tuvalu is an archipelago nation consisting of 9 atolls, 8 of which are inhabited. With a population of approximately 11,097 (2016 data), it is one of the least populous countries in the world.
The country is very small, with all the islands together about 26 square kilometers, making it the fourth smallest country in the world. The land area is only 2.02 square kilometers larger than Nauru, Monaco and 0.44 square kilometers of the Vatican.
02
Cultural identity
Tuvalu has two official languages: English and Tuvaluan, which belongs to the Polynesian language family and has some similarities to Samoan and Hawaiian.
Tuvaluan has different dialects, each island has its own characteristics, and Tuvaluan and English are usually used for communication, but in formal settings such as government, courts or churches it is used.
Its religion is predominantly Christianity, with most people professing the Christian Church, but some practicing Catholicism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism.
The Christian Church has a great influence in Tuvaluan society, it is not only a religious organization but also a social organization, providing education, medical care, welfare and recreation services, as well as a protector and disseminator of Tuvaluan culture, supporting and encouraging Tuvaluans to maintain and develop their traditional customs, arts and music.
The art of Tuvalu is mainly expressed in weaving, wood carving, embroidery and tattooing, of which weaving is an important traditional skill used to make clothes, hats, baskets, walls and carpets.
The woven materials are mainly coconut leaves, coconut shells, coconut fibers and coconut bark, etc., and the patterns and colors have different meanings and symbols, red represents courage, white represents purity, black represents death, etc.
Wood carving is another traditional art used mainly to make ships, weapons, tools, ornaments and sacrificial objects, and wood carving is mainly made of hardwoods such as ironwood and mistletoe.
The technique and style of wood carving varies from island to island, some islands have more elaborate wood carvings, others have simpler wood carvings with different patterns and symbols, sharks represent strength, turtles represent longevity, birds represent soul, etc.
Embroidery is a newer art form, mainly practiced by women, used to decorate clothes, pillows, quilts, tablecloths, etc. The embroidery materials are mainly cotton, thread and needles. The embroidery is diverse in patterns and colors, some are traditional flowers and plants, others are modern alphanumeric or abstract shapes. Embroidery is also a social activity, where women embroider together and exchange ideas or share experiences.
Tattooing there is an ancient and revival art form, practiced by men to express identity, status, beliefs and personality, etc., face tattoos represent bravery, chest tattoos represent loyalty, arm tattoos represent strength, etc., as well as a ritual activity in which men get tattoos together while enduring pain or showing courage.
03
Attitude towards shoes
Shoes are not an important or necessary item in Tuvaluan culture, Tuvaluans do not wear shoes most of the time, whether at home, in the village, in the field, or by the sea, they are accustomed to touching the ground directly with their feet.
Shoes do not have a particular symbolic or value significance in Tuvaluan culture, they are only a convenient or protective tool that is used on certain occasions or events.
Tuvaluans wear shoes on formal occasions, such as government, courts or churches, as a sign of respect and courtesy, and Tuvaluans wear shoes to prevent injury or infection in places that are dangerous or unsuitable for walking barefoot, such as rocks, sand spurs or garbage.
There is no fixed or uniform style or norm for footwear in Tuvalu, it is simply an individual or group preference or habit, and Tuvaluans of different ages, genders, occupations or islands may choose different types or colors of shoes.
Older people may choose shoes that are more comfortable or warmer, younger people may choose shoes that are more fashionable or personal, government officials may choose more formal or conservative shoes, fishermen or farmers may choose shoes that are more durable or practical, etc.
During the rainy season or cold times, they may wear more waterproof or warm shoes, and may wear more breathable or cool shoes when it is sunny or hot, etc.
Shoes do not have a particular etiquette or rule in Tuvalu culture, it is just a personal or social custom or habit, Tuvaluans do not perceive or treat others differently because they wear shoes or not, and they are not proud or ashamed of whether they wear shoes or not.
04
Living environment and suitability of shoes
From the natural environment, Tuvaluans do not have a strong demand for shoes because their geographical location and climatic conditions are more suitable for walking barefoot.
First of all, Tuvalu is located in the vast ocean of the South Pacific Ocean, belongs to the tropical maritime climate, the average annual temperature is about 29 °C, the highest temperature can reach 40 °C, the minimum temperature is also above 22 °C, the high temperature climate is hot all year round.
This climatic condition makes wearing shoes increase the breathlessness and discomfort of the feet, which can easily lead to problems such as sweating, odor or infection of the feet.
Tuvalu consists of nine atoll-shaped coral islands with a small land area of only 26 square kilometers and a maximum elevation of only 4.5 meters. This geography means that Tuvalu has almost no terrain such as hills or rocks, and most of the ground is flat or undulating sand, grass or mud.
This ground condition makes wearing shoes increase the inflexibility and instability of the feet, which can easily lead to problems such as foot injuries or sprains.
From the perspective of the human environment, Tuvaluans are also not highly suitable for shoes, because their social structure, cultural traditions and economic development are more suitable for walking barefoot.
Tuvalu is a country with a predominantly natural economy with few modern industries, the main industries are agriculture and fishing, and this economic structure allows Tuvaluans to spend most of their time engaged in land- or sea-related activities such as growing crops, raising animals, catching seafood, etc.
These activities require close contact with nature and flexible use of feet to complete various tasks, and wearing shoes can hinder these activities and increase the wear and tear and maintenance costs of shoes.
Secondly, Tuvalu is a country dominated by traditional culture, which has a long and rich cultural tradition, such as language, religion, art, music and dance.
This cultural tradition makes Tuvaluans less aesthetic or fashionable for shoes, and they pay more attention to the function or symbolism of shoes, such as protection, respect or faith.
They are also more accustomed to making shoes from natural materials such as coconut leaves, coconut shells, coconut fibers and coconut bark, which are renewable and biodegradable and do not pollute or damage the environment.
Wearing shoes will be inconsistent with their cultural traditions and will increase the supply and consumption of shoes.
Tuvalu is a country dominated by democracy and the rule of law, with a sound and just political system such as constitutional monarchy, parliamentary system and court system.
This political system allows Tuvaluans to have less power or status symbols for shoes, and they value shoes more personally or socially such as freedom, equality or respect.
It is also more respectful of others' different views or preferences for shoes, and will not discriminate against or exclude others because of wearing shoes or not wearing shoes, wearing shoes will be incompatible with their concepts, and will increase the conflict and disagreement of shoes.
05
Cultural identity and traditional values
Tuvaluans consider themselves part of Polynesians, a member of Oceania and a member of the South Pacific, and they pride themselves on their cultural identity and historical heritage, such as language, religion, art, music and dance.
They see walking barefoot as a manifestation of their cultural identity and traditional values, a way to connect with nature and gods, and a way to maintain and develop their own cultural identity and historical heritage.
They are reluctant to wear shoes because they feel that they hinder their communication and sensibility with nature and gods, weakening their cultural identity and traditional values.
They also don't like being forced to wear shoes, feeling that it is disrespectful and infringed on their culture and traditions and will damage their sense of cultural pride and dignity.
06
Author's testimonials
How natural and innocent this attitude and behavior towards shoes is, how persistent and confident, they are not confused or bound by modern civilization, they are not seduced or enslaved by material consumption, they are not tormented or suppressed by social pressures. They live their own way and are happy in their own way.
They made us understand that walking barefoot is not only a physical state, but also a psychological state, that walking barefoot is a way to connect with nature and the gods, a way to maintain and develop one's own cultural identity and historical heritage, and a way to promote physical and spiritual health.
Walking barefoot is a natural and innocent, persistent and confident, happy and free way of life.