Tao people

Yami

Tao
Ships of Tao people at Orchid Island
Total population
Approx. 3,000
Regions with significant populations
Orchid Island, Taiwan
Languages
Yami (Tao), Mandarin
Religion
Christianity & Spiritual Beliefs
Related ethnic groups
Ivatan people, Taiwanese Aborigines

The Yami people, also known as the Tao people, are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the tiny outlying Orchid Island of Taiwan. These indigenous peoples have been more commonly recognized as the Yami people, following a Japanese anthropologist's coining of the name. However, as a collective, these Orchid Island inhabitants typically prefer "Tao people" as their group identifier. They are part of the Austronesian family, and designated members of the Taiwanese aborigines. Despite being linked to both indigenous Taiwanese and Filipino populations, the Tao people remain unique in their customs and cultural practices.

Composed of approximately 3,100 individuals, the island populace relies heavily on fishing for survival. The Tao people's emphasis on fishing and ocean culture reflects their intense connection to the sea as being about much more than survival; they use fishing and the building of boats as an extension of themselves, and as a way to honor their spiritual beliefs. Their ways of life have been threatened by the continued emigration to the mainland of Taiwan in search of jobs and education. As a result, the continuation of past traditions has been hindered.

In addition to threatened cultural practices, the Tao people have been advocating for the removal of the nuclear waste plant imposed on their land by the Taiwanese government in 1982. Due to growing health concerns and the mutation of their fish, the Tao people have worked to establish a clear governmental division between themselves and the Taiwanese government.

The origin of the Tao people is largely unknown. However they are presumed more closely related to individuals of the Philippines than those of Taiwan. A common theory tracing their ancestry posits that their ancestors left the Batan Archipelago in the Philippines, and made home of Orchid Island approximately 800 years ago. This reasoning is based primarily on the language similarities of the Batanese and the Tao people. Also, it appears that these two groups traded goats, pigs, weapons, and gold until about 300 years ago due to continuous warfare. However, there is still no certainty as to how the Tao people began their lives on Orchid Island.

In addition to the Tao people of Orchid Island, there is a growing population of Taiwanese and Chinese individuals. These populations add approximately 1,000 people to the number of inhabitants on the island.

The word "Tao" simply means "people" in the language of the Tao people. The word Yami originated from Japanese ethnologist Torii Ryūzō. He used the term to refer to the culture and language of the Tao People. It was retained during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan through to today. In recent years some Tao people have rejected the name however opinion remains divided.While this indigenous group identifies collectively by the name Tao or Yami, individual communities on the island affiliate with unique names tied to their locality.