PUYUMA – 卑南族

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THE PUYUMA PEOPLE – 卑南族

• The Puyuma Indigenous People (卑南族, Pinuyumayan) are one of Taiwan’s officially recognized Indigenous peoples, known especially for their distinctive social organization, warrior traditions, and rich ceremonial life.
  
  Overview
  Population: ~15,000–16,000 people
  Primary location: Southeastern Taiwan, mainly Taitung County (around the Beinan Plain)
  Language: Puyuma language (Austronesian family), now endangered; Mandarin is widely spoken
  Official recognition: Recognized by the Taiwanese government
  
  Traditional Territory
  The Puyuma traditionally inhabited the Beinan (Peinan) Plain and nearby foothills. This fertile area supported agriculture and made the Puyuma an influential group in eastern Taiwan prior to large-scale Han settlement.
  
  Social Organization
  One of the most distinctive features of Puyuma culture is their male age-grade system, centered on a communal men’s house:
  Palakuwan (Men’s House)
  A traditional training and governing institution for males
  Boys entered at a young age and progressed through age ranks
  Emphasized discipline, cooperation, physical training, leadership, and moral conduct
  Played a key role in village defense and decision-making
  This system is unique among Taiwan Indigenous peoples and historically gave the Puyuma a reputation as skilled warriors.
  
  Economy and Livelihood
  Traditionally, the Puyuma practiced:
  Wet-rice agriculture
  Millet and taro cultivation
  Hunting and fishing
  Weaving and woodcraft
  Today, many Puyuma people work in agriculture, education, tourism, public service, and urban professions while maintaining cultural traditions.
  
  Beliefs and Rituals
  Traditional Puyuma spirituality emphasized:
  Ancestor veneration
  Nature spirits
  Ritual specialists who mediated between the human and spiritual worlds
  Important Ceremonies
  Annual Harvest Festival
  Rites of passage connected to age grades
  Ceremonies related to hunting, agriculture, and community protection
  Christianity (especially Presbyterian and Catholic churches) is now widely practiced, often alongside traditional customs.
  
  Cultural Characteristics
  Distinctive clothing, especially embroidered garments
  Oral traditions including myths, chants, and historical narratives
  Music and dance closely tied to ritual life
  Strong emphasis on community discipline and responsibility
  
  Contemporary Life
  Modern Puyuma communities are actively engaged in:
  Language revitalization programs
  Cultural education
  Festival preservation
  Advocacy for Indigenous rights and land recognition
  The Puyuma Cultural Center in Taitung plays an important role in cultural transmission and public education.
  
  Significance
  The Puyuma are especially important in Taiwan Indigenous studies because of:
  Their unique age-grade system
  Early archaeological significance of the Beinan Site, one of Taiwan’s most important prehistoric sites
  Their continuing efforts to balance tradition and modern life
• https://2025witg.com/pinuyumayan-en/
• https://ocacnews.net/article/368178?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://iwgia.org/en/taiwan?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://cultures-of-indigenous-peoples-in-taiwan.webnode.tw/l/%E5%8D%91%E5%8D%97%E6%97%8F-puyuma/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://taiwantoday.tw/AMP/society/taiwan-review/22577/an-urban-dream?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://www.nmns.edu.tw/en/our-research/featured/Collection-E00123/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://www.sinica.edu.tw/calendar_content/57/3302?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://www.sinica.edu.tw/en/calendar_content/57/3302?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://aat.teldap.tw/AATFullDisplay/300438776?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://in.pinterest.com/taiwanlibertycityculturalcente/taiwan-people-puyuma/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://ab.hl.gov.tw/en-us/Explore/Ethnic_GroupIntro?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://puyumaproject.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://taiwaneverything.cc/2020/10/12/indigenous-tribes/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://discover.taitung.gov.tw/cultural-experience/tribal-experience/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://thetaiwanmuseum.com/puyuma/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• https://www.routledge.com/Aborigines-of-Taiwan-The-Puyuma-From-Headhunting-to-the-Modern-World/Cauquelin/p/book/9780415314138?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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