Taiwan's People and Language

Home to 23 million people, Taiwan is one of the most densely (at least on the western plain, that is) populated countries in the world, with around 630 people per sq. km. Ethnically, the people of Taiwan consist largely of two groups: an indigenous minority of Austronesian origin, and a Han Chinese majority. In recent years, an increase in marriages between people of Taiwan and citizens from other nations has made Taiwan somewhat more pluralistic.

Archaeologists have found evidence of prehistoric human habitation in Taiwan, dating back 12,000 to 15,000 years. The evidence suggests that the earliest inhabitants came from southern China and Austronesia. Han people from China's coastal provinces of Fujian and Guangdong began emigrating to Taiwan in the 17th century. In 1949, the relocation of the Kuomintang (KMT) government from China to Taiwan brought a new influx of Han immigrants hailing from a variety of provinces in China. Today, people of predominantly Han extraction make up around 98 percent of the population, while those of Austronesian ancestry comprise roughly 2 percent.

For its size, Taiwan is an unusually multilingual country. Mandarin is the official language, yet Holo (also known as Taiwanese or Minnanese), traditionally spoken by people of Fujianese origin or descent, is very widespread. Hakka is spoken within Hakka communities, while each of Taiwan's officially recognized 13 indigenous groups has its own language.

The Indigenous (Aboriginal) People

Linguistic analysis has shown that the languages of Taiwan's indigenous peoples belong to the Austronesian language group, speakers of which inhabit an area extending from Easter Island in the east to Madagascar in the west, and from New Zealand in the south to Taiwan and Hawaii in the north. Anthropological research has shown that certain customs of Taiwan's indigenous groups, such as weaving with bamboo and rattan; making clothing out of animal hides; wearing tattoos; and participating in circle dances, are all characteristic of traditional Austronesian culture.

In 2007, the total indigenous population was nearly 500,000. Of this number, around 40,000 have not identified themselves as belonging to a particular group. Despite strong influences of Christianity and Han culture, many traditions of the various groups have been maintained.

Amis

Numbering 167,000 and residing mainly in eastern valleys and coastal areas, the Amis is Taiwan's largest indigenous ethnic group. The vibrant singing and dancing of the Ilisin harvest festival, held at a time between July and September, are well known. Geographically, the Amis are subdivided into the Nanshih, Siouguluan, Coastal, Pinuyumayan, and Hengchun groups, each of which has a different dialect, set of customs, and style of dress. The group has a matrilineal clan structure and system of inheritance.

Atayal

There are about 79,000 Atayal scattered throughout the northern part of central Taiwan's mountainous region. Atayal society centers around the gaga ancestral instruction system, a set of regulations and beliefs. Traditionally, facial tattooing was a key part of coming of age ceremonies. The Atayal are renowned for their weaving of colorful, intricately patterned fabrics, and in the past, a woman's skills in this area could determine her social status. Male members of the Atayal inherit their father's first name as their last name.

Bunun

Numbering around 47,600, the Bunun live in Taiwan's highest mountains, where they practice slash-and-burn farming and hunting. Major Bunun ceremonies include the "millet ceremony" and the "ear-shooting ceremony," a hunting ritual in which arrows are shot at animals' ears in the belief that this will bring a plentiful harvest. Many of the cultural attributes of the Bunun are similar to those of the Tsou (see below).

Kavalan

There are around 1,000 members of the Kavalan group, based in Taiwan's eastern counties. They have long been considered one of the pingpu (plains) groups, which were largely assimilated by the Han people as they settled on the plains. Geographical proximity to the Amis has also influenced many of the Kavalan's traditional customs. Nevertheless, traditional features are still evidenced in the group's language, myths, and shamanist practices. Clan chiefs are elected, and both men and women can be chiefs.

Paiwan

The Paiwan number around 82,000 and comprise two major subgroups: the Ravar and the Butsul.

In addition to following a bilineal (combination of matrilineal and patrilineal) system of inheritance, the Paiwan group has a strict social hierarchy, consisting of chief, nobility, warriors, and commoners. The chief owns land and hunting grounds, and his position is hereditary. The nobility wear colorful costumes and enjoy the right to pursue sculpting. Members of the warrior class are highly respected and honored for their achievements, and can include commoners who possess outstanding skills, for example, in hunting or carving. The most important ceremony is the Maleveq, which is held every five years and lasts for 15 days.

Pinuyumayan

The 10,500 Pinuyumayan based in Taitung County can be subdivided into the Jhihben and Nanwang groups on the basis of linguistic and cultural differences. Formerly, Pinuyumayan men acquired excellent combat abilities through a strict training program. Despite high exposure to Western and Han religions, traditional religious practices survive. The high priest or priestess is still responsible for identifying good or inauspicious omens, and is believed to draw on spiritual powers during ceremonies.

Rukai

There are about 11,000 members of the Rukai group, whose social hierarchy consists of nobles and commoners. The group has a patrilineal inheritance system.

The lily is a significant flower to the Rukai. Worn by women, it signifies purity. Adorning men, it denotes bravery.

Only men are permitted to participate in the Tsatsapipianu harvest festival held in August every year, in which a millet cake is fried on a stone plate. The final shape of the cake is believed to indicate the Rukai's harvest prospects in the coming year.

Saisiyat

The Saisiyat group has a population of about 5,400. It is claimed that short, dark-skinned people, who the Saisiyat believe were the original inhabitants of Taiwan, once shared their land and passed on many of their skills. Legend has it that these short people were overly flirtatious with Saisiyat women, so the Saisiyat killed virtually all of them. It is said that those that remained put a curse on the Saisiyat. The purpose of the Ceremony of the Dwarves, or Pastaai, is to appease the spirits of the short people.

Thao

The Thao have a population approaching 600. Originally inhabiting an island in the middle of Sun Moon Lake, they later moved to the lake's edge to practice "floating island" farming, whereby soil and grass are placed on bamboo rafts in the lake, upon which crops are planted and cultivated. Thao language and culture have been influenced by Atayal and Bunun neighbors.

Truku

The Truku have a population of over 22,000 and live on the eastern coast around Hualien (the famous Taroko Gorge takes its name from "Truku") and in the mountainous region of Nantou. Previously, they were considered a subgroup of the Atayal. As they have their own language, the Truku are now recognized as a group in their own right. The Truku costume is predominantly white, and traditionally, Truku women wore facial tattoos. The Macu ritual is performed by priests in private, before others join in the celebration.

Tsou

The Tsou, who number about 6,000 and originated in the Jade Mountain area, are divided into northern and southern subgroups according to language and customs. Courageous in battle, the Tsou celebrate the Mayasvi war ceremony after the defeat of an enemy. Other cultural features include the HomeyayaMiyatjgu shell ceremony is derived from the belief that ancestral spirits reside in sacred shell beads. The beads are stored by priests away from public, and taken out for the ceremony to be held in the hands of all those attending.
harvest ceremony, skill in preparing animal hides, and a taboo against hunting or eating bears.

Yami

The Yami, who refer to themselves as the Tao, live on Orchid Island off Taiwan's east coast, and number around 3,000. Unlike the tribes of Taiwan proper, they have an oceanic culture. The launch of a newly built boat is a major celebration, as is the Flying Fish Festival in the spring. The women's hair-swinging dance is unique to this tribe. The Yami live in unique houses of stone and wood built in depressions hewn out of stony hillsides, which help to maintain coolness in summer and retain heat in winter. This tribe is genetically and culturally related to peoples of the Batan Islands in the Philippines.

Sakizaya

During the Japanese colonization, the Sakizaya were categorized as a sub-group of the Amis and their language was regarded as an Amis dialect. On January 17, 2007, the Sakizaya were officially recognized as Taiwan's 13th indigenous tribe. Current estimates number the Sakizaya at between 5,000 and 10,000, and they are concentrated in Hualien County. Because they have been living close to and among the Amis, intermarriage between the two groups is common.

The (Majority) Han People
Desiring better lives, and seeking refuge from upheavals during the transition between the Ming and Ching dynasties, the ancestors of Taiwan's Han people began migrating from China's southeastern provinces to the island in the 17th century. The majority of these early immigrants were composed of Holo from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou in southern Fujian, and Hakka from Huizhou, Chaozhou, and Jiayingzhou in eastern Guangdong.

Regardless of whether they arrived in the north or south, these immigrants chose to settle in locations that bore resemblances to the areas they had left behind in China: At first, immigrant communities from Quanzhou were mostly found in coastal regions. Zhangzhou immigrants tended to gather on inland plains, while Hakka settled in hilly areas. Clashes between these groups over land, water, and cultural differences led to the relocation of some communities. As time passed, varying degrees of ethnic assimilation took place.

Holo

The Holo brought with them their distinctive architectural styles still visible in traditional temples and houses. A residence usually features red brick walls and a red tile roof. The most basic structure consists of a main livingroom sandwiched between two further rooms. Depending on the family's wealth and size, buildings were often extended, with wings added to the ends to create a "?" form. The courtyard provided space for drying crops. Some families added a fourth wing, creating a sealed compound. The best examples of the architectural styles of immigrants from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou can be seen at Chaotian Temple in Beigang, Yunlin County, and Longshan Temple in Taipei's Wanhua District.

Hakka

The Hakka's strong emphasis on community is visible in the large compounds called weilongwu, which are designed to accommodate entire extended families and enhance their self-defense capabilities. The weilongwu consists of a traditional Chinese four-section compound hugged by large U-shaped sections. Examples of the style can be seen in Dongshih Township in Taichung County and Neipu Township in Pingtung County.

Distinctive Hakka traditions include worship of the Three Mountain Kings and yimin (ancestors who sacrificed their lives to protect their hometowns), and "hill songs".

Today, large concentrations of Hakka can be found in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli counties in northern Taiwan, and Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties in southern Taiwan.
Immigrants Arriving from 1949

The KMT government's relocation to Taiwan in 1949 brought over one million people from China to the island, the majority of whom were in the military, civil service, and education. Unlike earlier immigrants, these people came from every province of China, and included not only Han Chinese but also minority peoples from Mongolia, Tibet, and southwestern China.

The cultural influence of this wave of immigrants can be seen, for example, in Beijing opera and the use of Mandarin. The immigrants also brought a diverse food culture, with the result that all major Chinese regional cuisines can be found in Taiwan.

Recent Immigrants

Starting in the late 1990s, a marked increase in marriages between Taiwanese and foreign nationals has brought further immigrants to Taiwan. The majority of immigrant spouses are from China and Southeast Asian countries.

Languages

The major Chinese languages spoken in Taiwan are Mandarin, Holo ('Taiwanese'), and Hakka, while Austronesian languages are spoken by indigenous peoples.
Mandarin

Mandarin has four tones and is called guoyu (national language) in Taiwan. The origin of guoyu can be traced back to the late Ching Dynasty, when the government decided to make the dialect spoken around Beijing the national language. Mandarin was then adopted as Taiwan's national language and is used or understood by the vast majority of the population.

Holo ('Taiwanese')

Holo is spoken by around 73 percent of the people in Taiwan. For many people, Mandarin is the lingua franca in the workplace, while Holo is used within the family and among close friends.

Using only Chinese characters to write Holo is problematic because some Holo words originated from non-Chinese languages, such as Austroasiatic and Austronesian languages and Japanese. Holo is closely related to the 'Hokkien' or 'Fujianese' spoken by many ethnic Chinese in South-East Asia and China

Hakka

The Hakka language in Taiwan has five variant dialects prevalent in Hakka communities in Hsinchu, Miaoli, Pingtung, and Kaohsiung counties. Although the language still survives in Hakka communities, proficiency in Hakka has been decreasing among young people.
Indigenous Languages

Taiwan's indigenous languages, classified as Formosan languages, belong to the same Proto-Austronesian language family as Malay and Hawaiian. Overall, native speakers of indigenous languages are dwindling in number, as new generations growing up in cities are usually not as fluent in their ancestral languages as they are in Mandarin or Holo. To help preserve indigenous culture, the government has included the study of indigenous languages in Taiwan's education system. Indigenous languages were romanized by Christian missionaries in the Dutch colonial period.

Written Chinese
Taiwan (as with Hong Kong) continues to use traditional Chinese characters for written script. Most road signs (and hiking trail markers) will have accompanying English. Something to be aware of is Taiwan's lamentable situation when it comes to romanization (the use of 'English' letters to represent Chinese sounds), the same place may have multiple spellings. For example: the second highest mountain here is variously written as Syue-, Shei-, Hsueh-, Shuei-, Xue-, Shue-, Shwei-, Shan.

English

All Taiwanese study English in school but with mixed results, the further from Taipei you go the worse it gets. Try to speak clearly and if stuck try writing things down. Many people also speak some Japanese. Note the comment on romanization in the paragraph above.