Tracing the History of the Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Ethnic Origin and Historical Formation of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

The Gaoshan ethnic group (高山族) is the oldest indigenous ethnic group in Taiwan, recognized as the original aborigines of the region. According to research findings from archaeologists, anthropologists and ethnologists, the ethnic origin of the Gaoshan people can be traced back to the ancient mainland Chinese populations who migrated to Taiwan from South China during the Old Stone Age.
During the subsequent Neolithic Age, more immigrant groups from the Chinese mainland moved to Taiwan and gradually integrated into the local population, becoming an important part of Gaoshan ancestors. Through long-term integration of immigrants from the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia, these ancient populations gradually evolved into the modern Gaoshan ethnic community with distinctive pluralistic cultural characteristics.

Historical Records and Appellation Changes in Ancient Dynasties

Records in the Three Kingdoms Period

During the Three Kingdoms period, Sun Quan, Emperor of the Wu Kingdom (东吴孙权), dispatched troops to Taiwan. The relevant historical events were documented inA Survey of Water and Soil by the Coast, which contains the earliest written record of the Gaoshan people. In this ancient book, Taiwan was named “Yizhou” (夷洲), and the ancestors of the Gaoshan people were referred to as “Shanyi” (山夷).

Appellation in the Sui Dynasty

Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty (隋炀帝) sent troops to Taiwan twice. During the Sui Dynasty, the Gaoshan people were officially recorded as “Liuqiu people” (流求人).

Cultural Development and Ethnic Naming from Tang to Ming Dynasties

From the Tang, Song to Yuan dynasties, cross-strait exchanges and mutual understanding between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland grew increasingly frequent. While the indigenous culture of local tribes continued to develop steadily, continuous immigration from the mainland and Southeast Asia promoted cultural integration in Taiwan region.
By the Ming Dynasty, the basic cultural features of the Gaoshan ethnic group had taken initial shape. During this period, the Gaoshan people were known by various titles, including “Dongfan” (东番), “Fanyi” (番夷), “Tufan” (土番) and “Tumin” (土民). Nevertheless, their social form remained in the primitive society stage, retaining strong and intact primitive cultural characteristics.

Modern Appellation Changes of Gaoshan Ethnic Group

Ethnic Classification in the Qing Dynasty

After the Qing Dynasty unified Taiwan, the Gaoshan people were collectively called “Fan nationality” (番族). For refined classification, they were divided into multiple subgroups according to different criteria. By residential regions, they were categorized into “Eastern Fan”, “Western Fan”, “Southern Fan” and “Northern Fan”. By residential terrain, they were classified into “High Mountain Fan” (高山番) and “Pingpu Fan” (平埔番). By social development level and interactive relations with the Han people, they were further divided into “Ye Fan” (野番), “Sheng Fan” (生番) and “Shu Fan” (熟番).

Appellation During Japanese Occupation and Post-war Period

During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, the Gaoshan people were renamed “Gaoli Nationality” (高砂族) or “Fan Nationality” by Japanese imperialists. After the recovery of Taiwan, local Taiwan authorities once adopted the title “Gaoshan”, which was later replaced by multiple names such as “Mountain Region Compatriot”, “Mountain Compatriot” and “Aboriginal People”.
Up to now, Taiwan’s academic circle has not reached a unified conclusion on the official ethnic title. Multiple appellations including “Aboriginal People”, “Nine Nationality”, “Gaoshan Nationality” and “Clans of South Island Linguistic Family” are still in use and academic discussion