Tribal art of Taiwan

 

 

 

 

 

Officially, 16 indigenous peoples are recognized: Amis, Atayal, Paiwan, Bunun, Puyuma, Rukai, Tsou, Saisiyat, Yami, Thao, Kavalan, Truku, Sakizaya, Sediq, Hla’alua, and Kanakanavu, each having its own distinct culture, language, customs, and social structure. Three of the largest minorities are described below.

The Amis, also called Pangcah, are the most populous of these tribes, numbering about 180,000. They mainly live in the lowlands along the east coast, from Hualien southwards to Taitung. The Amis have a matrilineal society, where the husband moves in with the wife after marriage, and the children take the mother’s surname.

The Bunun, numbering about 50,000 people, mainly live in the mountains in the central part of the island. They grow crops like millet, fruits, and vegetables, and supplement their diet with livestock and fishing.

The Atayal, or, as they call themselves, Tayal, number about 86,000 individuals, making them the third-largest indigenous group. The word tayal means ‘man’. This tribe mainly lives in the northern mountains.

Pictures, depicting Taiwanese indigenous peoples may be studied in the gallery at People: Tribals of Taiwan.

Many areas, especially in central Taiwan, are adorned with wonderful art, created by indigenous peoples. Formerly, the wild boar (Sus scrofa) was of huge importance to these tribal peoples as a food source, which is evident from their artwork. The Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) also played an important role as a totem animal. This animal is described on the page Traditional medicine.