Handmade postcard of Wan-Long Tailor in Tainan West Market

This month I received this amazing handmade postcard via Postcrossing member Jyayu in Taiwan. It's an oversize card, measuring 5¼ inches by 7¼ inches, and was clearly drawn and painted with great care and love. It's one of my favorite cards I've received in more than 13 years of Postcrossing.

Her message on the back states:

Hello Chris!!

The Wan-Long Tailor store shown on this postcard has been in business for over 30 years. It's located in the Tainan West Market (opened in 1905). It was once the largest market in Southern Taiwan. In my hometown, Puli, there is a widely circulated story about a "Black Sorcerer - Maxa-daxedaxe."

Legend has it that the sorcerer feeds on the hearts of child to increase his magical power. Reportedly, He can fly as long as attaching banana leaves to his back. If he needs to go out at night to seek his targets, he will replace his own eyes with the cat's eyes, allowing him to see clearly in the dark. Because of this, in earlier times, parents would carry their children on their chest rather than on their back to prevent Maxa-daxedaxe from forcefully snatch the child.

This English-language website has a little more information about Maxa-daxedaxe as it relates to Indigenous storytelling. If anyone from Taiwan or with Taiwanese heritage knows any more about this legend, I'd love to read it in the comments section.