List of Indigenous peoples of Taiwan

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Families of Formosan languages before Chinese colonization, per Blust. Malayo-Polynesian (red) may lie within Eastern Formosan (purple). Note that the white section in the northwest of the country does not indicate a complete absence of aboriginal people from that part of Taiwan. Formosan languages en.svg
Families of Formosan languages before Chinese colonization, per Blust. Malayo-Polynesian (red) may lie within Eastern Formosan (purple). Note that the white section in the northwest of the country does not indicate a complete absence of aboriginal people from that part of Taiwan.
Young residents in the Bunun village of Lona, Taiwan dress up for the traditional Christmas holiday (not an official holiday in Taiwan). Taiwan aborigine lona children.jpg
Young residents in the Bunun village of Lona, Taiwan dress up for the traditional Christmas holiday (not an official holiday in Taiwan).

Traditionally, the Taiwanese indigenous peoples are usually classified into two groups by their places of residence. Languages and cultures of aboriginal tribes were recorded by the government of Dutch Formosa, Spanish Formosa and the Qing Empire.

Contents

Name Chinese Taiwanese Hakka Japanese (1935–1945)
Mountains indigenous peoples高山族Ko-soaⁿ-cho̍kKô-sân-chhu̍k高砂族(たかさごぞく, Takasago-zoku)
Plains indigenous peoples 平埔族Pêⁿ-po͘-cho̍kPhìn-phû-chhu̍k平埔族(へいほぞく, Heiho-zoku)

Research on ethnic groups of Taiwanese indigenous peoples started in late 19th century, when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. The Government of Taiwan (臺灣總督府, Taiwan Sōtokufu) conducted large amount of research and further distinguished the ethnic groups of Taiwanese indigenous peoples by linguistics (see Formosan languages). After the research, the household registration records remarks of "mountains/plains indigenous peoples". The governmental statistics also listed 9 recognized subgroups under mountains indigenous peoples. However, after World War II, the government refused to recognize the plains indigenous peoples.

The following is a list of classifications through Japanese and post World War II. Note that the Japanese names in parentheses does not exist in pre-World War II Japanese demographic research.

Mountains indigenous peoples

The Taiwanese government officially recognises 16 ethnic groups of mountains indigenous peoples.

Name Formosan
native name
Chinese
(after 1945)
Japanese
(before 1945)
Notes
Amis Pangcah, 'Amis阿美族アミ族、阿眉族Recognized since Japanese era
Atayal Tayal, Tayan泰雅族タイヤル族、大么族Recognized since Japanese era
Bunun Bunun布農族ブヌン族、ヴォヌム族、武崙族Recognized since Japanese era
Kanakanavu Kanakanavu卡那卡那富族カナカナブ族Classified as Tsou, recognized since 2014
Kavalan Kebalan, Kbaran噶瑪蘭族、加禮宛族カバラン族Classified as Amis, recognized since 2002
Paiwan Payuan排灣族パイワン族Recognized since Japanese era
Puyuma Pinuyumayan卑南族、比努優瑪樣族プユマ族、彪馬族Recognized since Japanese era
Rukai Drekay魯凱族ルカイ族、ツァリセン族Recognized since Japanese era
Saaroa Hla'alua拉阿魯哇族サアロア族、四社生蕃Classified as Tsou, recognized since 2014
Saisiyat Say-Siyat賽夏族、獅設族サイシャット族Recognized since Japanese era
Sakizaya Sakizaya撒奇萊雅族、奇萊族(サキザヤ族)Classified as Amis, recognized since 2007
Seediq Seediq賽德克族セデック族、紗績族Classified as Atayal, recognized since 2008
Taroko Truku太魯閣族(タロコ族)Classified as Atayal, recognized since 2004
Thao Thao, Ngan邵族、水沙連族サオ族Classified as Tsou, recognized since 2001
Tsou Cou鄒族、曹族ツォウ族、新高族Recognized since Japanese era
Yami Tao達悟族、雅美族ヤミ族Recognized since Japanese era

Kavalan and Thao are disputed to be part of mountains or plains indigenous peoples.

Plains indigenous peoples

Cultures of the plains indigenous peoples have undergone heavy Sinicization. This increases the difficulty in identifying ethnic groups.

Name Formosan
native name
Chinese
(after 1945)
Japanese
(before 1945)
Notes
Arikun Arikun阿立昆族アリクン族Sometimes classified as Hoanya
Babuza Babuza, Poavasa貓霧拺族、巴布薩族バブザ族
Basay Basay, Basai巴賽族、馬塞族(バサイ族)Sometimes classified as Ketagalan
Hoanya Hoanya洪雅族、和安雅族、荷安耶族ホアニヤ族Sometimes split into Lloa and Arikun
Kaxabu Kaxabu, Kahapu噶哈巫族(カハブ族)Sometimes classified as Pazeh. In revitalization.
Ketagalan Ketagalan凱達格蘭族ケタガラン族
Kulon Kulon龜崙族(クーロン族)
Lloa Lloa羅亞族、魯羅阿族ロッア族Sometimes classified Hoanya
Luilang Luilang雷朗族ルイラン族Sometimes classified as Ketagalan
Makatao Makatao, Tao馬卡道族マカット族、タッオ族Sometimes classified as Siraya. Recognized in Pingtung. In revitalization.
Papora Papora, Vupuran拍瀑拉族、巴布拉族、巴波拉族パポラ族
Pazeh Pazéh, Pazih巴宰族、巴則海族、拍宰海族パゼッヘ族In revitalization.
Qauqaut Qauqaut猴猴族(カウカット族)
Siraya Siraya西拉雅族、希萊耶族シラヤ族Recognized in Tainan and Fuli. In revitalization.
Taivoan Taivoan, Taivuan大武壠族、大滿族(タイボアン族)Sometimes classified as Siraya. Recognized in Fuli. In revitalization.
Taokas Taokas道卡斯族、斗葛族、大甲族タオカス族In revitalization.
Favorlang Favorlang, Vavorolang虎尾壟族、費佛朗族、華武壟族、法波蘭族、法佛朗族ファボラン族
Trobiawan Trobiawan, TuRbuan哆囉美遠族、哆囉布安族(トルビアワン族)Sometimes classified as Ketagalan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siraya people</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taivoan language</span> Formosan language

Taivoan or Taivuan, is a Formosan language spoken until the end of the 19th century by the indigenous Taivoan people of Taiwan. Taivoan used to be regarded as a dialect of Siraya, but now more evidence has shown that they should be classified as separate languages. The corpora previously regarded as Siraya like the Gospel of St. Matthew and the Notes on Formulary of Christianity translated into "Siraya" by the Dutch people in the 17th century should be in Taivoan majorly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plains Indigenous peoples</span> Indigenous people of Taiwan

Plains indigenous peoples, previously called plain aborigines, are Taiwanese indigenous peoples originally residing in lowland regions, as opposed to Highland indigenous peoples. Plains indigenous peoples consist of anywhere from eight to twelve individual groups, or tribes, rather than being a single ethnic group. They are part of the Austronesian family. Beginning in the 17th century, plains indigenous peoples have been heavily influenced by external forces from Dutch, Spanish, and Han Chinese immigration to Taiwan. This ethnic group has since been extensively assimilated with Han Chinese language and culture; they have lost their cultural identity, and it is almost impossible without careful inspection to distinguish plains indigenous peoples from Taiwanese Han people.

References

  1. Blust, Robert (1999). "Subgrouping, Circularity and Extinction: Some Issues in Austronesian Comparative Linguistics". In Zeitoun, Elizabeth; Li, Jen-kuei (eds.). Selected Papers from the Eighth International Conference on Austronesian Linguistics. Taipei: Academia Sinica. ISBN   9789576716324.

See also