China's Minority Peoples - The Gaoshans

The Gaoshan population is 400.000. Most of them live in Taiwan Province. about 3,000 are scattered in the coastal area of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

There are nine branches among the Gaoshans including the Amei, Taiya, Paiwan, Bunong, Lukai, Beinan, Cao, Yamei and Saixia. Because the Pingpu people live scattered in Taiwan, they were assimilated with the Hans after the 20th century.

The Gaoshan people are distributed in Taiwan Province over the hills, the eastern fiat land and the Lanyu Island ranging from 500 to 2,000 meters above sea level. These tropical and subtropical areas are mostly covered with thick forests.

Sharing a bowl of wine side by side is a Gaoshan Tradition. The double-bowl in one piece of wood is unique.

The Gaoshans mainly grow rice with hunting and fishing as supplement.

Yamei Gaoshans are noted for their exciting Hair Swing Dance, in which dancers are all energetic young women. The dance begins with slow and low songs. As the sound turns louder and the rtiythm grows faster, dancers swing their beautiful long hair forward and backward more and more dramatically.

The Gaoshan language belongs to the Indonesia group of the Austronesian family. Varying from place to place, the Gaoshan language has 15 branches, which can be classified into 3 groups — the Taiya, Cao and Paiwan. Among them there is no common written form. The Gaoshans on the mainland use Chinese.