TSOU (COU) – 鄒族

Location of the Island of Taiwan in East Asia
( ontheworldmap.com )

Island of Taiwan & Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu Islands.
Also shown are:
Green Island (Lu Dao) & Orchid Island (Lan Yu).
( cia.gov )

Administrative Divisions of Taiwan
( nouahsark.com )

Traditional geographical distribution of Highland Peoples.
Alternate spellings or names:
Taroko (Truku, Seediq); Yami (Tao)
( wikipedia . org )

Satellite image of Taiwan showing the central mountains. Compare this image with the map (above) to appreciate the geographic distribution of the Highland Peoples.
( geology . com )

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for Taiwanese Indigenous Peoples

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THE TSOU (COU) PEOPLE – 鄒族

  • The Tsou (also spelled Cou) are an Indigenous Austronesian people of Taiwan. They have been recognized by the government of the Repubic of China on Taiwan as one of the sixteen official Indigenous Groups on the Island of Taiwan.

  • The Tsou have a long history, rich cultural traditions & a strong connection to the central‑southern mountainous regions of the Island of Taiwan. The Tsou traditionally inhabit the Alishan Mountains area of Chiayi County in central‑southern Taiwan, with some communities also in Xinyi Township of Nantou County & historically in parts of Kaohsiung.

  • The population of Tsou people is approximately 6,000–7,000 people, making the Tsou one of the smaller indigenous groups in Taiwan.

  • The Tsou (Cou) language is part of the Formosan branch of the Austronesian language family. This is a group of languages native to Taiwan & ancestral to many Pacific & Southeast Asian languages. There were about 4,000 native speakersof the Tsou Language as of the early 2000’s, but the language is considered threatened, with younger generations increasingly using Mandarin.

  • The oral histories of the Tsou demonstrate that the People Group is indigenous to Taiwan, with oral histories describing clan migrations & settlement formation in the Alishan highlands centuries ago. The first multi‑clan settlement, Tfuya, likely formed around 1600 CE in what is now central Taiwan. Written records from Dutch colonial times in the 17th century mention the Tsou & provide early documentation of their social structure.

  • Tsou society traditionally follows a patrilineal clan system, where descent & leadership pass through male lines. The “Kuba” (men’s house) plays a central role as a communal hall for political decisions, rituals & gatherings. Women have traditionally been excluded from entering the Kuba.

  • “Mayasvi” (sometimes associated with warrior rites) and agricultural festivals like millet seeding & harvest rituals are key communal ceremonies highlighting gratitude, spiritual belief & community unity among the Tsou. These events involve singing, dancing, music & offerings, and serve both social & spiritual functions.

  • Traditionally, the Tsou practiced horticulture and cultivated millet, taro & other crops, along with hunting & foraging for food. Today many Tsou also participate in modern agriculture, tourism & cultural preservation activities.

  • Textiles, weaving & ornamentation are important cultural expressions among the Tsou People. Traditional attire among the Tsou includes leather garments for men & cotton, silk, or brocade clothing for women, which is frequently decorated with symbolic motifs representing status & identity.

  • Historically, the Tsou practiced animism — the worshipping of nature spirits & ancestors. In recent times, Christianity (especially Protestantism) has also become significant due to missionary influence in past centuries.

  • There are efforts within Taiwan to preserve & revitalize Tsou language and culture. These efforts include education initiatives & establishment of local cultural centers such as the Tsou Nature & Culture Center in Alishan Township, which displays artifacts & presents exhibits on cultural traditions of the Tsou People.

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

  • scholar.google.com – The Tsou (Cou) People – 鄒族 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – The Tsou (Cou) People – 鄒族 @ You Tube . com
  • images.google.com – The Tsou (Cou) People – 鄒族 @ Google Images

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LATEST PAGE UPDATE: Decembet 26 , 2025 .
最後一次更新時間為:  2025 / 12 / 26 .

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