Taiwan's Indigenous Roots
Taiwan is home to Austronesian-speaking peoples, ancestors to all Austronesian cultures, which include Polynesians, Filipinos, Indonesians, and Malaysians.
Diverse Ethnic Groups
There are 16 officially recognized indigenous groups in Taiwan, each with its own distinct language, culture, and social structure.
Preserving Atayal Weaving
The Atayal tribe is renowned for their intricate weaving techniques, which carry cultural significance and are passed down through generations.
Paiwan Aristocracy
Unique among Taiwanese tribes, the Paiwan have a class structure with a chief class and a commoner class, and they are skilled in stone sculpture.
Tattooing Traditions
Facial tattoos among the Atayal are a rite of passage and a mark of adulthood and accomplishment, historically practiced by both men and women.
Indigenous Rights Movement
Since the 1980s, there's been a growing movement for indigenous rights in Taiwan, leading to the landmark Indigenous Peoples Basic Law in 2005.
Sustainable Land Practices
Taiwan's indigenous peoples have long practiced sustainable land management, maintaining biodiversity and protecting watersheds through traditional knowledge.Unlikely Genetic Link
DNA studies show Taiwanese indigenous people share ancestry with Madagascar's inhabitants, despite the vast ocean between them.
Who are Taiwan's Austronesian ancestors to?
All Polynesians and Malaysians
Only indigenous Taiwanese groups
European Austronesian communities
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