Description: Gaoshan nationality (高山族) mainly settles down in the mountain area in the middle of Taiwan, the valley plain in the east and Lanyu Island. According to the census in 2008, they have a population of 494,107.
Language: Gaoshan language belongs to Indonesian branch under the South Island family. Those who scattered around Chinese mainland speak Han language.
Religion: They still reserve the original religious belief.
Clothing Character: The traditional clothing of Gaoli nationality are different from group to group. In the north, their sleeveless shirt is spliced by two pieces of linen. In the middle, the clothes are made from deer skin. In the south, they wear coat with long sleeve and tie a half-waist skirt. Pople living on the Lanyu Island just shield the private part with a t-bandage.
Both men and women pay more attention to adornments that are usually made from shell, bead, colored glaze bead, teeth of animals, fur, animal skin, flower, coin, button, bamboo pole, etc.. Especially men, when they are dressed up, they wear adornments from head to feet.
Food Culture: Gaoshan nationality lives on grain and rhizomes, such as millet, rice, potato and taro. The ten ethnic groups of Gaoshan nationality have its own unique food.
Customs: All of the traditional festivals are relative with religion, appearing in the form of sacrifice. They like to hold banquet, music and dances on festivals. The most representative food are cake and pap made of sticky rice.
living customs---Since the geography of nestling under a mountain and near a river, Gaoshan nationality build up house with wood, bamboo and stone. It forms a hollow square with door, but without window.
Funeral customs---A portion of ethnic group bury the dead inside the house, for example Taiya and Bunong people bury under the dead’s bed, Amei bury the dead around the house. Paiwan and Dawu bury the dead in the wild.
Art: Architecture---The folk architectures of Gaoshan nationality include song, myth, legend and story, colorful and vivid.
Wood Carving---Wood carving of Gaoshan is outstanding, featuring with rugged way of cutting and simple sculpture. It is themed with squatting or crouching figures and totem of animals.
Add On:Zhuang Nationality
Tujia Nationality
Yao Nationality
Li Nationality
She Nationality
Sophie

