Tao people

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Old photo of the Tao people on the shore of Orchid Island, circa 1931.
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Old photo of the Tao people on the shore of Orchid Island, circa 1931.

The Tao (Chinese: 達悟族), commonly known by the misnomer Yami (雅美), are a Taiwanese aboriginal people, native to tiny outlying Orchid Island. The Tao are an Austronesian people linguistically and culturally closer to the Ivatan peoples of the Batanes islands of the Northern Philippines than to other aboriginal peoples of mainland Taiwan. The word "Tao" (pronounced Ta-Oh) means "person" or "people" in the Tao language. The Tao people are traditionally good at making canoes, which is a symbol of their tribe.

In the year 2000 the Yami numbered 3,872. This was approximately 1% of Taiwan's total indigenous population. [1]

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (DGBAS). National Statistics, Republic of China (Taiwan). Preliminary statistical analysis report of 2000 Population and Housing Census. Excerpted from Table 28:Indigenous population distribution in Taiwan-Fukien Area. Accessed 8/30/06



Taiwanese aborigines

Recognized: Ami | Atayal | Bunun | Kavalan | Paiwan | Puyuma | Rukai | Saisiyat | Tao | Thao | Tsou | Truku

Unrecognized: Babuza | Basay | Hoanya | Ketagalan | Luilang | Pazeh/Kaxabu | Popora | Qauqaut | Siraya | Taokas | Trobiawan