List of Indigenous peoples of Taiwan

File: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.

File: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.

Name	Chinese	Hokkien	Hakka	Japanese (1935–1945)
Mountains indigenous peoples		Ko-soaⁿ-cho̍k	Kô-sân-chhu̍k
Plains indigenous peoples		Pêⁿ-po͘-cho̍k	Phìn-phû-chhu̍k

Research on ethnic groups of Taiwanese indigenous peoples started in late 19th century, when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. The 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			Recognized since Japanese era
Atayal	Tayal, Tayan			Recognized since Japanese era
Bunun	Bunun			Recognized since Japanese era
Kanakanavu	Kanakanavu			Classified as Tsou, recognized since 2014
Kavalan	Kebalan, Kbaran			Classified as Amis, recognized since 2002
Paiwan	Kacalisian			Recognized since Japanese era
Puyuma	Pinuyumayan			Recognized since Japanese era
Rukai	Drekay			Recognized since Japanese era
Saaroa	Hla'alua			Classified as Tsou, recognized since 2014
Saisiyat	Say-Siyat			Recognized since Japanese era
Sakizaya	Sakizaya			Classified as Amis, recognized since 2007
Seediq	Seediq			Classified as Atayal, recognized since 2008
Taroko	Truku			Classified as Atayal, recognized since 2004
Thao	Thao, Ngan			Classified as Tsou, recognized since 2001
Tsou	Cou			Recognized since Japanese era
Yami	Tao			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			Sometimes classified as Hoanya
Babuza	Babuza, Poavasa
Basay	Basay, Basai			Sometimes classified as Ketagalan
Hoanya	Hoanya			Sometimes split into Lloa and Arikun
Kaxabu	Kaxabu, Kahapu			Sometimes classified as Pazeh. In revitalization.
Ketagalan	Ketagalan
Kulon	Kulon
Lloa	Lloa			Sometimes classified Hoanya
Luilang	Luilang			Sometimes classified as Ketagalan
Makatao	Makatao, Tao			Sometimes classified as Siraya. Recognized in Pingtung. In revitalization.
Papora	Papora, Vupuran
Pazeh	Pazéh, Pazih			In revitalization.
Qauqaut	Qauqaut
Siraya	Siraya			Recognized in Tainan and Fuli. In revitalization.
Taivoan	Taivoan, Taivuan			Sometimes classified as Siraya. Recognized in Fuli. In revitalization.
Taokas	Taokas			In revitalization.
Favorlang	Favorlang, Vavorolang
Trobiawan	Trobiawan, TuRbuan			Sometimes classified as Ketagalan

See also

• Taiwanese people
• Taiwanese indigenous peoples
• Demographics of Taiwan
• Culture of Taiwan
• Languages of Taiwan
• Formosan languages