The Atayal tribe is distributed in the northern part of Taiwan’s Central Mountain areas, including the area north from Puli to Hualien. At present, the population is approximately 81,000. Slash-and-burn rotating farming and hunting are their traditional way of life. They have developed intricate fabric weaving skills, featuring sophisticated patterns and designs. To Atayal people, red color symbolizes blood, which represents the vitality of life and can keep evil spirit away; therefore red clothes are favored by them. Facial tattoos are the long-standing custom of the Atayal. Ancestral spirit worship is an important organized social activity. The worship rituals constitute the major religious ceremony. Music playing and dancing with Gan mouth string are the distinctive features of Atayal entertainment activities.

Paiwan tribe is scattered on both sides of the southern Central Mountain Range – from north to Dawu Mountain, south to Hengchun, west to Fangliao, and east to Taimali of Taitung County.They are close to 86,000 in population. The chief of the noble class in each tribe is at the same time the leader in politics, military, and even in religion. Each clan is an independent and autonomous unit. As Paiwan tribe has a large population and the family-blood relationship is spread widely, the alliance between close relatives is common among the noble families. In some areas, a few noble chiefs rule over a big clan combined with the alliance of several communities. Colorful glazed beads, iron utensils, and silver jewelry are highly valued. The hundred-pace snake and the human-head designs on pottery urns, pots, and roof beams symbolize the superior status of the noble family.

The Bunun tribe are scattered widely around Namasia Township of Kaohsiung County, Haiduang Township of Taitung County as well as in Nantou County. The Bunun tribe can be found in the areas of the Central Mountains with average altitude of 1,000 to 2,000 meters. They have a total population of about 50,000. The society is maintained mainly by patriarchal social structure. Family members may include non-family blood relation individuals. This is also the reason why Bunun traditional family residence is pretty large in size. Ceremonies are scheduled according to millet planting, weeding, and harvest. “Pasibutbut ”, which means “Praying for a Millet Harvest” is the most famous song, the wonderful eight-part harmony sung by the Bunun people during the weeding time. “Malahtangia” is considered the most important of the life ceremonial rituals for Bunun male’s passage into manhood.

The Pinuyumayan Tribe inhabits the area in the south of Taitung Longitudinal Valley. At the peak of their military conquest, the Pinuyumayan tribe ruled over 72 aboriginal communities in the eastern part of Taiwan. At present, their population is about 11,000. The entire Pinuyumayan tribe may be divided into eight sub-tribes called “Pa-Sher-Fan”. These groups each have different mythology about their origins. The Beinan group said they were born from bamboo, and the Jiben group said they were born from stone. The traditional social organization is maintained by two systems: one is the family system with inheritance by the eldest daughter, and the other is organized by the different ages of males. Trakuban” is the political center and education place for the males. Before getting married, the men accept warrior training with the task of defending the community. The ranking is divided according to the age groups.

The Rukai tribe’s population is about 11,600. They live around Maulin Township of Kaohsiung County, Wutai Township of Pingtung County and Donghsing Township of Taitung County. The traditional social structure is divided into two hierarchy systems – the nobles and the commoners. The nobles have privileges conferred by the blood-line superiority as found in the Rukai mythology. They also have the ownership of lands, and other economic privileges. Common people can elevate their social status by the way of developing individual leadership, increasing harvest production, and also through marriage. Family property inheritance is by the eldest son.

The Tsou tribe mostly lives in Alishan Township of Chiayi County, Sinyi Township in Nantou County and Tauyuan and Namasia Townships of Kaohsiung County. They have a total population about 6,500. Strict patriarchal structure and the well-organized small and large clans are the Tsou tribe’s social and political organization. Tribal affairs are conducted by men in the “Kuba”, a house where young people must live in for their training before getting married. Women must keep away from the “Kuba”. “Mayasvi”, the War ritual and ancestor spirit worship are the major religious ceremonies. The processes of maintaining “Kuba”, trimming of holy tree, welcoming the ancestral spirits, entertaining and seeing off the spirits are elaborate with singing, rhythm music, and dancing.

Mostly live in WufongVillage, Hsinchu County, Nanjuang and Shrtan Villages of Miaoli County. The population is estimated at 5300. Their social organization is maintained predominately by patriarchal structure. Traditionally, each clan has its totems or symbols. In Chin Dynasty they changed their original totems into Chinese surnames, such as “Feng for Wind”, “Ri for Sun” and” Xia for Summer” etc. The most important traditional activity is “Pas-taai”. Neighboring closely with Atayal, Saisiyat is greatly influenced by it in culture.

The Yami tribe is located in the offshore Orchid Island of Taitung. It is the only tribe of oceanic culture in Taiwan. They have a population of about 3,500, spread over six villages on the island. Due to their isolated living environment, their culture is still kept relatively intact. Yami tribe has no leadership system. When disputes occur, the clan families and relatives are called upon to negotiate a settlement. The social affairs are administered by the male heads of the household, and by the community’s fishing groups. The creations of art and culture are abundant, such as the wood carving boats, silvery utensils, pottery, and mud dolls. Traditional houses are built underground to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Tribal ceremonies are held according to the activities relating to capturing the flying fish. The flying fish is regarded as sacred. Hair dancing by Yami women is a special tribal performance, unique among Taiwan’s indigenous peoples. Men’s warrior dance is used to display the strength and beauty of the body.

The Thao tribe lives in Yuchih Township and Shueili Township in Nantou County with a total of about 648 people. The tribe’s legend said that their ancestors found Sun Moon Lake while they were chasing a white deer. Therefore, they moved there and settled down. The Thao tribe has a patriarchal society. They were deeply influenced by the Han culture, yet they still kept their cultural elements alive. “Ulalaluan”, the basket containing the ancestor spirit is hung in the corner wall of each household. This is not seen in other indigenous tribes of Taiwan. The tribal chief is the main decision maker regarding ceremony rituals of the community and also presides over social affairs. The position is usually inherited by the eldest son. The most representative is the Thao wooden pestle rhythm music and singing.

In the past, the Kavalan tribe lived in Yilan. Nowadays they are in Hualien and Taitung with a total of over 1,100 people. Kavalan believe that each creature has its own spirit, therefore the tribe develops its own special ritual offering ceremony and the healing ceremony. During the healing ceremony, the female shaman presents wine to worship gods, and then she prays to the ancestors’ spirits to ask for healing the illness. During the ritual healing ceremony, the female shaman would sing special healing song.

The Truku tribe has about 24,000 people. Three to four hundred years ago, the Truku ancestors set off from Nantou County, conquered the natural obstacles and climbed over Mount Chilai in the Central Mountain Range to migrate along the Liwu River Valley to the east. For hundreds of years, Truku people have developed their own special culture. They fought against Japanese Army for a long time, and worked very hard to build up their communities for the future generation. Truku people are good at hunting, weaving, and knitting. They still keep their traditional techniques of knife-making and shaman sorcery up to now. Ceremony for worship of ancestor spirit is held every year.

The Sakizaya tribe live at Chilai plain of Hualien. The population of Sakizaya is about 335. Fishing and hunting are traditional way of life. The social organization is based mainly on the matrilineal system. When marrying into the wife’s family, the male must move into the wife’s household residence. “Miamaivaki” is a ritual that the elders give regards to the young people for becoming adults.

The population of Sediq is about 10,000. They share unique customs and traditional rituals. The viewpoint of adoring Utux has extended to conscientious living rules called gaya/waya and has developed different culture, for example: tattoo, hunting, weaving, music, language, songs and dance. Sisin is seen as a sacred bird. When Sediq people go hunting or making marriage proposal, they make decisions according to the sound that Sisin bird makes.

The Hla’alua People number approximately 400 and are mostly distributed in the villages of Gaojhong (高中里) and Taoyuan (桃源里) in Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung City, as well as the village of Maya in Namasia District, Kaohsiung City. There were four (4) main sub-tribal systems or “she” (社) in the Hla’alua Tribe, namely, paiciana she (排剪社), vilanganu she (美壠社), talicia she (塔蠟社), and hlihlara she (雁爾社). All these local community members self-identify themselves as the Hla’alua, whereas the origin of the name “Hla’alua” is still unknown.

According to one version of a Hla’alua legend, the original dwelling place of Hla’alua People used to be in the eastern “hlasunga” where they cohabited with people of small stature. Since time immemorial, these hobbits-like people has regarded “takiaru ” — (「聖貝」)“Sacred Shell” (referring to those holy spirits and sacred presence of the ancestors hiding themselves inside the shell) — as the abode of their “Taizu” (太祖) or “The Ultimate, Original Ancestor” (「貝神」) “Shell God; Shell Deity” — in a collective sense, referring to those holy souls and sacred presence of the ancestors hiding themselves inside the shell. For this reason, in olden time, the Hla’alua People religiously performed large-scale annual ceremonies in honor of the “Shell God” to ask for blessings upon their dwelling abodes, while praying for abundant harvests of field crops and fresh organic produce as well as accelerated multiplying of their tribal people.

Upon leaving their habitual ancestral dwelling and parting with those hobbits-like people, as a farewell gift, the “Hobbits” presented the Hla’alua with a “takiaru Urn” (「甕聖貝」) — referring to those holy souls and sacred presence of the ancestors hiding themselves inside the Urn — whence comes the“miatungusu” or “takiaru Ceremony” (「聖貝祭」). The highest point of such a “Sacred Shell” Rite is reached when the “takiaru ” (「聖貝」) is completely soaked in wine for all participants to carefully observe the tone and color of the “takiaru “: A “Sacred Shell” turning crimson red denotes a heavily and happily drunk “Taizu” (太祖), which signifies complete success of the “miatungusu” thus performed.

As of May 2014, the Kanakanavu People number approximately 520 and are mostly concentrated in Namasia District (那瑪夏區) of Kaohsiung City (高雄市) along both banks of Nanzixian River (楠梓仙溪). Today, most Kanakanavu People live in the two villages of Manga and Takanua in Namasia District (formerlySanmin Township), Kaohsiung City.

According to one version of a Kanakanavu legend, a few hundred years ago, a young man by the name of Namasia（「那瑪夏」）happened to see a giant swamp eel lock the flows of river and thus endanger his tribe and his people. He therefore hurried back to the tribe to inform his people. Due to this incident, Namasia suffered from panic attacks to such a degree that he died a few days after the incident; whereas, at the same time, the giant swamp eel was killed as a result of the joint effort of his people and boars. Soon afterwards, today’s Nanzixian River (楠梓仙溪) was then named in honor of the young man as “Namasia” （「那瑪夏」）.

The Kanakanavu society is patrilineal. During important festivals, the Kanakanavu People perform “Kanaira” or “Appreciation for Harvest Ceremony” (「米貢祭」) to express gratitude for having millet as their daily food. In the same vein, they also hold the “River Ceremony” (「河祭」) to express gratitude for having enjoyed the resources of the Nanzixian River (楠梓仙溪).