The aboriginal tribes of Taiwan are believed to have migrated to the island as far back as 10,000 years ago. Nineteen tribes thrived in the plains and mountain ranges of central and eastern Taiwan. While anthropologists disagree on the exact origins of the northern tribes, possibilities of which include Mongolian, Vietnamese, and Japanese origins, most scholars agree that the southern tribes are Malayo-Polynesian descendents.

During the 1600s, the Han Chinese began to mass migrate to Taiwan, overtaking the aboriginal civilizations by their large numbers and by intermarriage. Today, nine aboriginal tribes remain relatively well preserved in remote areas of the island and on neighboring islands, comprising a 2% minority population.

For more information about the aboriginal tribes, visit: Tribes of Taiwan.