The Ten Tribes of Taiwan

AMIS - The area of distribution for the Amis people includes the plain around Mt. Chi-lai in North Hua-lian, the long and narrow seacoast plains and the hills in Taidon, Pindon and Heng-tsuen Peninsula. Currently, the population is about one hundred and thirty thousand (130,000). The traditional social organization is based mainly on the matrilineal clans. After a woman marries her husband, they live together in her residence. The family affairs and finance of the family are all decided by the female head of the household. Exceptions to the rule include some important affairs such as marriage or the allocation of wealth, the public affairs as the tribal politics, the law, the wars, and the religions. These issues are dealt with by an institution consisting of elder males. The most important traditional ritual for the Amis is the Harvest Ritual. This ritual is mainly to celebrate the transcendence of a male entering adulthood.

ATAYAL - The traditional range of Atayal covers on the mid-northern mountain areas of Taiwan, includes the northern part of Pu-li-Hua-lien. The population at present is approximately ninety thousand (90,000) or so, which is the largest Taiwanese aboriginal population, apart from Amis. Their traditional lifestyle includes hunting and farming. Their material culture is distinguished for their complicated weaving techniques. The colors of the cloth are vibrant. Red color symbolizes blood, which is vital and can keep away the evil. One of the unique Atayal customs is the application of facial tattoos. The Atayal are also well-known for their abilities in singing and dancing.

BUNUN - This tribe is distributed throughout the areas of Central Mountain Chain in Taiwan, mostly at the altitude of 1,000 to 2,000 meters. They have a wide range of distribution. The Bunun tribe can be divided into the following six groups: the Chuo (in the Jade Mountain area of Nantou County), the Ka (in the eastern mountains of Nantou County), the Dan (around the boundary of Nantou and Hualien counties), the Luan (around Jade Mountain and the boundary between Nantou and Chiayi counties), the Yu, and the Dakebulanyu (simply referred to as the Lan group; this group's few members live in the Central Mountains of Nantou County). The total Bunun population numbers approximately thirty-seven thousand (37,000). The social organization is maintained mainly by the grand patrilineage, which even includes the coexhibitants without consanguinity. The traditional residence of a family is pretty huge. The scheme of the rituals is made according to the growing process of the rice millet, the weeding, and the reaping. Among these, the song sung in the ritual held after the weeding, "Praying for a Millet Harvest", is the most outstanding for its chorus of eight parts. Another well-known ceremony is the "Ear-hunting Ritual", which is a ritual celebrating a boy's passage into manhood.

PAIWAN - Their distribution runs along the Jungyang Mountains, from the area from north Dawn Shan mountain to Hengchuen, west to Fangliau, east to Ta Ma Li, across the ridge of the Jungyang Mountains. The population is about seventy thousand (70,000). The residence of the noble chief in every tribe is the center of the tribal politics, the military, and even the religion; thus it becomes an independent and autonomous unit. This ethnic group has a large population and their blood kinship is widespread. The alliance between close relatives is prevailing among the nobles. As a result, in some areas, only a few nobles lead many tribes and there is trans-tribal allegiance among them. As for the material culture, there are colored glazed balls, the iron utensils, and silversmithy. The spirit of this tribe is shown by the hundred pace snake and human-headed designs, which symbolizes the transcendent status of the nobles, carved on the roof beams and the pots.

PUYUMA - They live in the south valley of Tai Dong. When it was prosperous, it dominated 72 groups. At present, the population is about ten thousand (10,000). The whole ethnic group can be divided into eight sub-tribes. Thus it is also called Pa-Sher-Fan ("Fan" is a discriminating term). These groups have different origins. Some are called "born from bamboo". These belong to the Beinan group. The others are called "born from stone" and they belong to the Jrben group. The main traditional social organization is maintained by two systems: one is the family system charged and inherited by the eldest daughter, and the other is the institutions for males of age sets and stay in a hall, so as to build them strong bodies to protect their tribe. Before men get married they will stay in their assembly hall and be part of a military group. These groups will be divided according to their ages and they are trained to defend their tribe.

RUKAI - They distributed in Mau-lin Shiang in Kaohsiung County, Pin-don Shiang in Wu-tai Country, and Don-hsing Shiang in Tai-don County. The population is about twelve thousand (12,000). The social organization is primarily maintained by a noble/common people hierarchy. The nobles enjoy the privileges of superiority by blood and the ownership of lands. As for the common people, they promote their social status by developing their leading ability, by efforts in agriculture, and by marriage. The eldest son inherits the Rukai family.

SAISIYAT - Their main distribution of population is in Wufong-Hsinchu county, Nanjuang-Miaoli county and Shrtan-Miaoli county. The population is approximately four thousand (4,000). The social organization is maintained mainly by the grand patrilineage. Every clan traditionally has their own totems or symbols. When they changed their clan names into Chinese ones in the early Ch'in Dynasty, the totems thus became their family names, such as the family names of "Wind","Sun","Summer", and so on. The most important ritual activity is Ai-Ling ceremony. It is also the essential part of this tribe's songs and dances. The songs are quite delicately and complicatedly composed, like ancient and elegant poems. The Atayal ethnic group influences the material culture of the Saisiyat and there are other similarities as well.

THAO - The Thao is the most recently recognized and classified ethnic tribe of Taiwan. Thao is distributed from Yuchr Shang to Shuelli Shang in Nantou County. The population is about three thousand (3,000). This makes the Thao group the smallest aborigine ethnic group in Taiwan. Before the formal recognition of this group, they had been classified as part of Tsou ethnic group. Recently, because of increased ethnic awareness and support, they were formally named as the tenth ethic group of the Taiwan's aboriginal heritage. There is a legend that the Thao found Sun Moon Lake while they were hunting a white deer. Therefore, they settled there. The specialty of their culture is the social organization in their village is by the patrilateral clan. They were deeply influenced by Han's culture, but they still retained much of their own heritage. Unique to this group, in each house they hang in the left corner, their ancestors' bag. Thao's chief is the judge and decision-maker of the social affairs. The position is usually inherited passed down to the eldest son.

TSOU - They are distributed mainly in the Alishan Country of Chia-yi County, as well as parts of Sin-yi country in Nan-to County, Tau-yuan and San-min Country in Kaohsiung County. They have a population of about seven thousand five-hundred (7,500). The social organization is restricted to the patrilineal clans and the political institutions of major and minor tribes. There are traditional taboos prohibiting the women from setting foot into the "Kuba" (the assembly halls). Among the tribal rituals, the Victory Ritual that is generally called "Mayasvi" is the most important one, the renovation of "Kuba". Teenagers must stay and live in this hall and are trained before they are married. The cutting of the holy tree, or for inviting, entertaining, and sending off the holy spirits, is famous for the complicated process. The staged and chemical collaboration of songs and dances are especially worthy of further study.

YAMI - They located in the Lan-yu island of Tai-don. It is the only oceanic ethnic group in Taiwan. They have a population of about four thousand (4,000). Their traditional costume is the simplest among the aboriginals, so they have retained the most traditional culture as well. In the Yami culture, there is no leadership system. If there is a dispute between people, the relatives are called on to solve it. The fathers or men's groups as well as the fishing community organize the community affairs. The material in the culture is abundant. The techniques of building and carving the boats, the making of silver utensils, the pottery, and the muddolls are the most characteristic. They have basements in their houses, which are warm in the winter and cool in the summer, even when there is strong wind. The rituals are held depicting the activities of capturing the flying fish. They are also characterized for their belief of regarding the flying fish as their sacred symbol. The dance of the Yami women is very attractive and charming and they use their hair a great deal during their ritual. The dancing of the men is also very impressive and presents both power and strength.