Aboriginal culture

50,000 years of human history – The aboriginal cultures of Taiwan represent 2% of the population of the island. Having arrived on the island almost 50, 000 years ago, they have since divided into 14 separate tribes, each with their own individual customs and culture.

With waves of immigration from the Chinese Mainland taking place throughout Taiwan’s history, it was inevitable that the aboriginal people would come into contact with the Han Chinese, their daily lives becoming more and more integrated, and by now most have assimilated with the Chinese. However, due to a relatively small number of intermarriages with the Han Chinese, the different tribes have also managed to preserve some of their traditional customs, tribal structure and architecture, and continue to keep the tribal spirit alive through the engagement in traditional worship.

Of the current population of Taiwanese Aborigines, roughly 70% identify themselves as Christian. Before contact with Christian missionaries during both the Dutch and Qing periods, Taiwanese Aborigines held a variety of beliefs in spirits, gods, sacred symbols and myths that helped their societies find meaning and order. Although there is no evidence of a unified belief system shared among the various indigenous groups, there is evidence that several groups held supernatural beliefs in certain birds and bird behavior. The Siraya were reported by Dutch sources, to incorporate bird imagery into their material culure. Other reports describe animal skulls and the use of human heads in societal beliefs.

The best places to encounter aboriginal culture are Wulai, Orchid Island, the areas surrounding Taroko Gorge, Wutai and at the Shunyi Aboriginal Museum in Taipei.

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