Taiwanese indigenous peoples

The indigenous peoples of Taiwan are the original inhabitants of the island.

Academic research suggests their ancestors have lived on Taiwan for approximately 15,000 years. Today, the nationally recognized subgroups number about 600,303 people. This represents roughly 3% of the total population of Taiwan. If you include the indigenous peoples of the plains, the total rises above 800,000. When including people of mixed ancestry, the number may exceed one million. These groups are Austronesians, meaning they share genetic and cultural ties with many other groups.

Taiwan is considered the linguistic homeland of the Austronesian expansion. This means the island is the origin point for many Austronesian languages. Most primary branches of these languages exist only on Taiwan. From this starting point, descendant groups spread across East and Southeast Asia. They also reached Oceania and even parts of Africa, such as Madagascar. These descendants live in places like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. They are also found in Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia.

Before the 17th century, indigenous groups maintained regular trade networks. They traded with various regional cultures throughout Southeast Asia. This changed when Han Chinese settlers began arriving on the island. The Dutch colonial administration encouraged this settlement in the 1600s. Later, successive governments continued these movements toward the 20th century. For centuries, the indigenous inhabitants experienced economic competition and military conflict. These newcomers were part of a series of colonizing groups.

Centralized government policies caused significant cultural shifts. These policies were designed to foster language shift and cultural assimilation. Contact with colonizers through trade and inter-marriage also played a role. These processes resulted in varying degrees of language loss and identity loss. There are approximately 26 known Formosan languages in total. At least ten of these languages are now extinct. Five are considered moribund, which means they are dying out. Several others remain endangered today.

Different rulers used different labels to describe these people. The Ming Dynasty sailor Chen Di called them "Eastern Savages" in 1603. The Dutch used the terms "Indians" or "blacks." Later, the Qing Empire used a system of "cooked" and "raw" people. "Cooked" referred to those who had submitted to Qing rule. These people had assimilated to Han cultural norms and paid a head tax. "Raw" or "wild" referred to those who had not submitted. These labels were often used in a pejorative or insulting way.

During Japanese rule from 1895 to 1945, anthropologists used binary classifications. They categorized people into "civilized" and "recognized" tribes. The Musha Incident of 1930 led to changes in Japanese policy. Later, the Kuomintang government used terms like "mountain compatriots." They wanted to remove Japanese influence from their terminology. Today, the distinction between Pingpu (plains) and Gaoshan (mountain) peoples still affects policy. Some local governments have begun to recognize the Plains Indigenous peoples since 2005.

Many indigenous groups are currently seeking political self-determination. Since the early 1980s, they have worked for economic development. Some groups still struggle with economic and social inequality. They may face high unemployment rates or substandard education. To gain official recognition, groups must petition the Council of Indigenous Peoples. They must provide member genealogies and evidence of cultural identity. This process helps them recover their separate ethnic identities.

There is a strong revival of ethnic pride among these communities. People express this through cultural tourism and pop music. Sports and other cultural commodities also help share their traditions. Many people live in traditional mountain villages. However, an increasing number of indigenous people live in urban areas. Efforts are underway to revive traditional practices and languages. This helps both the indigenous communities and the Han Chinese majority understand their history.