List of Indigenous peoples of Taiwan explained

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	Japanese: 高砂族（たかさごぞく, Takasago-zoku）
Plains indigenous peoples		Pêⁿ-po͘-cho̍k	Phìn-phû-chhu̍k	Japanese: 平埔族（へいほぞく, Heiho-zoku）

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	Chinese: 阿美族	Japanese: アミ族、阿眉族	Recognized since Japanese era
Atayal	Tayal, Tayan	Chinese: 泰雅族	Japanese: タイヤル族、大么族	Recognized since Japanese era
Bunun	Bunun	Chinese: 布農族	Japanese: ブヌン族、ヴォヌム族、武崙族	Recognized since Japanese era
Kanakanavu	Kanakanavu	Chinese: 卡那卡那富族	Japanese: カナカナブ族	Classified as Tsou, recognized since 2014
Kavalan	Kebalan, Kbaran	Chinese: 噶瑪蘭族、加禮宛族	Japanese: カバラン族	Classified as Amis, recognized since 2002
Paiwan	Kacalisian	Chinese: 排灣族	Japanese: パイワン族	Recognized since Japanese era
Puyuma	Pinuyumayan	Chinese: 卑南族、比努優瑪樣族	Japanese: プユマ族、彪馬族	Recognized since Japanese era
Rukai	Drekay	Chinese: 魯凱族	Japanese: ルカイ族、ツァリセン族	Recognized since Japanese era
Saaroa	Hla'alua	Chinese: 拉阿魯哇族	Japanese: サアロア族、四社生蕃	Classified as Tsou, recognized since 2014
Saisiyat	Say-Siyat	Chinese: 賽夏族、獅設族	Japanese: サイシャット族	Recognized since Japanese era
Sakizaya	Sakizaya	Chinese: 撒奇萊雅族、奇萊族	Japanese: （サキザヤ族）	Classified as Amis, recognized since 2007
Seediq	Seediq	Chinese: 賽德克族	Japanese: セデック族、紗績族	Classified as Atayal, recognized since 2008
Taroko	Truku	Chinese: 太魯閣族	Japanese: （タロコ族）	Classified as Atayal, recognized since 2004
Thao	Thao, Ngan	Chinese: 邵族、水沙連族	Japanese: サオ族	Classified as Tsou, recognized since 2001
Tsou	Cou	Chinese: 鄒族、曹族	Japanese: ツォウ族、新高族	Recognized since Japanese era
Yami	Tao	Chinese: 達悟族、雅美族	Japanese: ヤミ族	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	Chinese: 阿立昆族	Japanese: アリクン族	Sometimes classified as Hoanya
Babuza	Babuza, Poavasa	Chinese: 貓霧拺族、巴布薩族	Japanese: バブザ族
Basay	Basay, Basai	Chinese: 巴賽族、馬塞族	Japanese: （バサイ族）	Sometimes classified as Ketagalan
Hoanya	Hoanya	Chinese: 洪雅族、和安雅族、荷安耶族	Japanese: ホアニヤ族	Sometimes split into Lloa and Arikun
Kaxabu	Kaxabu, Kahapu	Chinese: 噶哈巫族	Japanese: （カハブ族）	Sometimes classified as Pazeh. In revitalization.
Ketagalan	Ketagalan	Chinese: 凱達格蘭族	Japanese: ケタガラン族
Kulon	Kulon	Chinese: 龜崙族	Japanese: （クーロン族）
Lloa	Lloa	Chinese: 羅亞族、魯羅阿族	Japanese: ロッア族	Sometimes classified Hoanya
Luilang	Luilang	Chinese: 雷朗族	Japanese: ルイラン族	Sometimes classified as Ketagalan
Makatao	Makatao, Tao	Chinese: 馬卡道族	Japanese: マカット族、タッオ族	Sometimes classified as Siraya. Recognized in Pingtung. In revitalization.
Papora	Papora, Vupuran	Chinese: 拍瀑拉族、巴布拉族、巴波拉族	Japanese: パポラ族
Pazeh	Pazéh, Pazih	Chinese: 巴宰族、巴則海族、拍宰海族	Japanese: パゼッヘ族	In revitalization.
Qauqaut	Qauqaut	Chinese: 猴猴族	Japanese: (カウカット族)
Siraya	Siraya	Chinese: 西拉雅族、希萊耶族	Japanese: シラヤ族	Recognized in Tainan and Fuli. In revitalization.
Taivoan	Taivoan, Taivuan	Chinese: 大武壠族、大滿族	Japanese: （タイボアン族）	Sometimes classified as Siraya. Recognized in Fuli. In revitalization.
Taokas	Taokas	Chinese: 道卡斯族、斗葛族、大甲族	Japanese: タオカス族	In revitalization.
Favorlang	Favorlang, Vavorolang	Chinese: 虎尾壟族、費佛朗族、華武壟族、法波蘭族、法佛朗族	Japanese: ファボラン族
Trobiawan	Trobiawan, TuRbuan		Chinese: 哆囉美遠族、哆囉布安族	Japanese: (トルビアワン族)	Sometimes classified as Ketagalan

See also

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