Taiwan’s Orchid Island: Ponso no Tao

Dear Reader,

With 20 national languages and dialects as well as nearly the same number of ethnic groups, Taiwan is a wildly diverse place. One testament to that diversity is the indigenous community native to the small Orchid Island off Taiwan's southeastern coast in the Pacific.

Our new story this month takes a closer look at the unique Tao (or Yami) people—an Austronesian-speaking culture who, surprisingly, are more closely related to the people of the northern Philippines than other Austronesian First Nations of Taiwan.

Enjoy!

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When we think of Taiwan, we often think only of its main island. But the island called Taiwan has got many a company! Nearly 200 islands make up the country, including, in the Taiwan Strait, the Pescadores, Kinman and Matsu. On the Pacific side, it also encompasses Green Island and Orchid Island, among others, in the Philippine Sea.

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Island Folklore: Taiwanese Tales & Traditions, an online repository of Taiwan's folktales, history, legends, myths and traditions, is published and managed by the Island Folklore Club.

Our mission:

• To collect and preserve Taiwanese folk traditions for future generations.
• To explore and showcase Taiwan's diverse and unique blend of cultures.
• To educate and enable Taiwanese communities worldwide to take pride in the shared Taiwanese heritage.