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Mountain dancers of Taiwan
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THE Gaoshan ethnic group, with the majority living in Taiwan, remained isolated over the centuries due to their location. This enabled them to develop a strong identity and culture of their own.
With a population of 494,107, Gaoshan people mainly live in the central mountainous area, the eastern and western plains and Lanyu Island in Taiwan. However, there are also pockets of Gaoshan people in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces on the Chinese mainland.
It is generally believed the Gaoshan ethnic group is genetically related with the Guyue people of southeastern China.
Since the Neolithic age, Guyue and Han people intermixed, leading to the Gaoshan people. They have been known as the Yizhou, Liuqiu, Daoyi or Tumin since the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-280). In the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the name was unified as “Dongfanyiren” or “Fanzu,” marking the formation of Gaoshan people as an ethnic group.
There are different branches within Gaoshan people, such as Taiya, Saixia, Bunong, Zou, Paiwan, Beinan, Lukai, Amei, Yamei, Gamalan and Daokasi, each with dialects of their own. There are estimated to be at least 15 different dialects, but no written system. The Gaoshan people have strong oral literature traditions including myths, legends and folk songs.
The different branches of the Gaoshan people also have their own style of clothing.
For example, the traditional clothing of Taiya and Saixia people are usually made of linen and cotton. Both men and women wear capes, waistcoats and trousers, and a puttee while working.
The Bunong and Cao people wear leather sleeveless jackets, vests and belly cover and a puttee. They wrap their heads with cloth.
The Paiwan men used to wear mandarian-like jackets, a cape and apron, while the women wear longer skirts. The Yamei men generally wrap their heads with cloth and wear a small jacket and trousers, and women also have a sleeveless jacket and apron.
The Gaoshan people also had traditions like getting tattoos, dying their teeth black, removing armpit hair and piercing their ears. But many of these traditions started disappearing in the 1940s.
Most Gaoshan live near mountains and rivers with houses made of wood, bamboo, grass or stone. Most houses are rectangular with a door, but no windows.
The Gaoshan people who live on a plain eat rice as a staple food, supplemented by fish, shrimp and shellfish. Those living in mountainous areas eat millet, taro and sweet potato together with hunted animals, pumpkin and bamboo shoots. Those in seaside regions simply eat seafood as the staple.
Aside from the Yamei branch, Gaoshan people are known as big drinkers and smokers. Adult Amei and Paiwan people like chewing areca nuts as snacks.
The Gaoshan people are considered great singers and dancers, especially their group dances.
The Swing Hair Dance, Chu Dance, Sun Moon Pond, and Damao Dance are all popular.
Major musical instruments include mouth organ, bamboo flute, nose flute, Chu, bamboo drum, along with leg and waist bells. They also use Han instruments like drums and bronze gongs during festivals.
The Paiwan people like to engrave human figures, animals and flowers on earrings, pipes, scabbards, knife handles, musical instruments, thresholds, door posts and lintels. The Yamei people usually carve human figures and geometrical patterns on both sides of their boats.
Gaoshan embroidery often features triangles, quadrangles, as well as horizontal and diagonal lines.
The Gaoshans believe in worshiping immortality and ancestors.
They believe in the existence of the soul even after death and that their ancestors’ souls will protect them. They also believe there are both evil and kind spirits. If they make sacrifices to good spirits, they believe they will be blessed.
Their beliefs also contribute to a number of festivals. Many are closely related with the sacrifice tradition including the Seeding and Harvest festivals. There are also festivals for the Moon Sacrifice, New Year Sacrifice, and Short Spirit Sacrifice.
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