YAMI (TAO – 達悟族) – 雅美族

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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THE YAMI (TAO – 達悟族) PEOPLE – 雅美族

  • The Tao People (達悟族) (Yami: Tao no pongso – 雅美族) are an Austronesian ethnic group native to Orchid Island (Lanyu – 蘭嶼 ), a small volcanic island located in the Western Pacific Ocean to the southeast of the Island of Taiwan. Orchid Island (Lanyu) is known in the Tao language as “Ponso no Tao” (“island of the people”). At the present time about 4,700 people identify as Tao.

  • The Yami have a maritime culture with great ritual & spiritual significance placed on boat-building & fishing. The Yami way of life has been threatened by the continued emigration of the population to the mainland of Taiwan in search of jobs & education. As a result, the continuation of past traditions has been hindered. Despite being linked to both other Taiwanese indigenous peoples & to populations in the Batanes Archipelago of the Philippines, the Tao people on Lanyu (Orchid Island) remain unique in their customs & cultural practices.

  • The Tao people have been more commonly referred to as the “Yami people” by official documents & academic literature, following Japanese anthropologist Torii Ryuzo’s coining of the name in 1897. However, the people of Orchid Island call themselves Tao (in their own language Tao no pongso, meaning “people of Tao” or “people of the island”). The Tao residents of Lanyu (Orchid Island) typically prefer “Tao People” (達悟族) as their group identifier. Recently, they have successfully petitioned the Council of Indigenous Peoples of the Taiwanese government to use the name “Tao” in place of “Yami”.

  • The Tao are Austronesian in origin and culturally and linguistically linked to other groups in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Their language, called Yami or Tao, belongs to the Batanic branch of the Philippine languages—distinct from the Formosan languages of other Taiwanese indigenous groups—reflecting historical contacts with the Batanes Islands of the Philippines.

  • Genetic and linguistic research suggests a long history of settlement and interaction in the region, though there are different theories about exact migration patterns.

  • Fishing and the sea are central to Tao life. Traditional fishing is practiced with intricately decorated boats such as tatala (small canoes) and larger vessels, which are crafted using time-honored techniques and hold spiritual significance.

  • The Flying Fish Festival is one of their most important cultural ceremonies, timed with the annual migration of flying fish. This multi-stage festival governs when and how fish may be caught and includes taboos, rituals, and celebrations that reflect deep respect for nature and sustainable harvesting.

  • In addition to fishing, Tao people cultivate crops like taro, millet, and sweet potatoes, and historically lived in semi-subterranean homes built to withstand typhoons.

  • Tao society has traditionally been egalitarian, without formal chiefs or priests, and centers around family and cooperative work such as boat building and seasonal labor.

  • Certain cultural rules historically guided social life, including taboos related to fishing, marriage, and daily conduct, many rooted in their spiritual worldview.

  • The Tao’s traditional spiritual beliefs involved reverence for nature and ancestral forces, though many community members today also practice Christianity alongside—or sometimes in place of—older traditions.

  • Cultural preservation is a major concern. Many younger Tao now live or work off-island in Taiwan’s cities for education and jobs, leading to diminished transmission of language and customs.

  • The island is home to a nuclear waste storage facility built in the 1980s, which has drawn long-standing protests from the Tao because of environmental and health concerns.

  • Tourism and development bring both economic opportunities and pressures on traditional ways of life.

  • Despite these challenges, the Tao people maintain a vibrant cultural heritage deeply connected to the sea, their island environment, and centuries-old rituals and knowledge. Their unique language, festivals, artisanship in boat building, and rich oral traditions make them an important part of Taiwan’s multicultural identity.

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

  • scholar.google.com – The Yami (Tao – 達悟族) People – 雅美族 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – The Yami (Tao – 達悟族) People – 魯凱族 @ You Tube . com
  • images.google.com – The Yami (Tao – 達悟族) People – 魯凱族 @ Google Images

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LATEST PAGE UPDATE: December 26 , 2025 .
最後一次更新時間為:  2025 / 12 / 25 .

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