AMIS – 阿美族

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THE AMIS PEOPLE – 阿美族

• The Amis (阿美族) are the largest Indigenous People Group in Taiwan. The Amis are known for their strong community life, rich ceremonial traditions & close relationship with the land & sea. They are one of Taiwan’s officially-recognized Indigenous People Groups.

• The population of the Amis People is about 210,000–220,000 persons. The group is distributed across four main regions: (i.) Eastern Taiwan, especially along the east coast plains; (ii.) Hualien County; (iiii.) Taitung County; and (iv.) Smaller communities in Pingtung, Kaohsiung & in urban areas, due to migration.

• The Amis People speak their own language – the Amis language – which belongs to the Austronesian language family. The Amis Language is closely related to languages spoken across the Pacific Region. There are several regional dialects. While many elders still speak Amis fluently, younger generations often speak Mandarin Chinese & efforts to revitalize the spoken Amis Language are ongoing.

• The social organization of the Amis People is as a Matrilineal Society. This is one of the most distinctive features of Amis culture. Family lineage is traced through the mother. Property & inheritance traditionally pass through women. After marriage, men often live in the wife’s household. Women play a central role in family continuity & decision-making. Yet, the Amis men traditionally hold public & ceremonial leadership roles, especially in “age-grade” organizations.

• The Amis People are known for their “age-grade” (age-set) system, particularly for men. Boys are grouped into age cohorts. Each cohort has specific responsibilities in the local Amis community. The “age-grade” system governs community protocols towards village defense, ceremonial duties & community labor. The “age-grade” system works to reinforces discipline, cooperation & social identity.

• Traditionally, the beliefs & spiritual life of the Amis People involve the practice of animism, which involves the belief that spirits inhabit nature, ancestors & natural forces. The Amis People practice traditional rituals which are intended to maintain harmony between humans & the spirit world. At the present time, many Amis also practice various forms of Christian faith (Presbyterian, Catholic, others). Thus, the traditional beliefs & rituals are often blended with Christian practices.

• The Ilisin Harvest Festival is the most important Amis cultural celebration. It is held annually, usually between July & September, and is a major event attracting visitors from across Taiwan. The festival celebrates the rice harvest & honors ancestral spirits. Elements of the Ilisin Harvest Festival include: (i.) Singing & dancing in large circles; (ii.) the wearing of traditional clothing & headdresses; (iii.) Community feasts; (iv) the practice of rituals tied to “age-grade” groups.

• The economy & traditional livelihood of the Amis People has historically relied on: (i.) Wet-rice agriculture; (ii.) Fishing, particularly in the coastal communities; and (iii.) Hunting & gathering. In the present day, many Amis work in: (i) Agriculture, fisheries, tourism & cultural industries. Many Amis also work as professionals in urban areas, while maintaining their social ties totheir home villages.

• Music & dance are central to the cultural identity of the Amis People. They are known for powerful choral singing. Traditional dress often includes Bright colors, Beadwork, and ornaments constructed of shells & feathers. Amis performers play a significant role in the current revival of indigenous culture on the Island of Taiwan.

• Like other Indigenous People Groups, the Amis face challenges such as: (i.) Language loss; (ii.) Land rights disputes; (iii.) Decline of population in the tribal areas due to urban migration; & (iv.) Cultural preservation. But there is strong activism, pride & interest among the Amis People in cultural revitalization, education & political participation on the Island of Taiwan.

• cip.gov.tw – The Amis People @ Council of Indigenous Peoples website
• travelintaiwan.net – Amis @ The Original Inhabitants of the Island @ Travel in Taiwan e-zine
• outpostmagazine.com – The Ancient Traditions of Taiwan’s Amis People @ Outpost Travel e-zine

• researchgate.net – “Sakizaya or Amis? ? a hidden ethnic group in Taiwan?” @ Journal of Asian Culture & History (Canadian Center of Science and Education)
• taiwaneverything.cc – The Original Inhabitants of the Island @ Taiwan Everything blog
• thetaiwanmuseum.com – The Amis @ Taiwan – The Virtual Museum website

• 3people.com.tw – Taiwan Indigenous Culture @ Sanming National Service Center website
• sinica.edu.tw – Transnational Pangcah from Taiwan to South Africa: Home, Church, Ethnic Identity, Adaptation, and Development @ Taiwan Journal of Anthropology
• eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw – “Sheltered Between the Mountains and the Sea, the East Coast Preserves Each Unique Culture” @ East Coast National Scenic Area website

• knowlegde.gov.taipei – The Amis People @ Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Knowledge Network
• tacp.gov.tw – The Amis People @ Indigenous Peoples Cultural Development Center website
• ji-an.gov.tw – Indigenous Peoples of Ji’an (Hualien County) @ Ji’an Township website (Hualien County)

• wikipedia.org – The Amis People ( Pangcah – Muqami – 阿美族) @ Wikipedia . org
• amis.org.tw – Amis ethnic distribution @ Amis . org . tw
• amis.org.tw – Amis .org . tw website

• abda,hl.gov.tw – Amis People @ Hualien County Collection of Traditional Culture @ Indigenous Peoples Department of Hualien County
• wikipedia.org – Amis Music Festival – 阿米斯音樂節 @ Wikipedia . org
• wikipedia.org – Amis Folk Center – 阿美民俗中心 @ Wikipedia . org

• taiwanobsessed.com – “Meaningful Ways to Experience Indigenous Culture in Taiwan” @ Nick Kembel’s “Taiwan Obsessed” website (Terrirfic site !!!)
• iwgia.org – The Indigenous World 2023: Taiwan @ IWGIA – International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (a global human rights organisation dedicated to promoting & defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights)
• nmp.gov.tw – The Amis People @ Taiwan National Museum of Prehistory website

• EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .

• scholar.google.com – The Amis People – 阿美族 @ Google Scholar
• youtube.com – The Amis People – 阿美族 @ You Tube . com
• images.google.com – The Amis People – 阿美族 @ Google Images

• The Language of the Amis People – 阿美族的語言

• wikipedia.org – The Languages of Taiwan @ Wikipedia . org
• wikipedia.org – The Language of the Amis Indigenous People (阿美語 – Amis or Pangcah) @ Wikipedia . org (spoken by estimated one-third of the indigenous population of the Island of Taiwan)
• amis.org.tw – Amis .org . tw website

• youtube.com – Lets talk about the Amis Language! @ Youtube . com
• joshuaproject.net – Amis Language @ The Joshua Project website
• ethnologue.com – The Amis Language @ Ethnologue . com

• omniglot.com – Amis Langage @ Online encyclopedia of writing systems & languages @ Omniglot . com
• ilrdf.org.tw – Online Dictionaries of Indigenous Languages @ Indigenous Peoples’ Languages ​​Research & Development Foundation website

• EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .

• scholar.google.com – The Language of the Amis People – 阿美族的語言 @ Google Scholar
• youtube.com – The Language of the Amis People – 阿美族的語言 @ You Tube . com
• images.google.com – The Language of the Amis People – 阿美族的語言 @ Google Images

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