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About 4,000 Yami live on Lanyu Island, located 49 nautical miles off the coast of Taitung. Due to the natural barriers, the residents here were the last to come into contact with Chinese culture.
The majority of Lanyu Island, a volcanic island with an area of 45 square kilometers, is covered with mountains and tropical rainforest. As the Yami rely on fishing for sustenance, their society revolves around fishing. The men work together in fishing groups and share their catch, forming an interdependent tribal community.
The Yami Women
The Yami call themselves "Tawu", meaning people. The term Yami came from a Japanese by the name of Niaoju Lungtsang. In 1995, young Yami people established the "Tawu Association", intentionally changing the name "Yami " to "Tawu".
Yami live on Lanyu Island, which is very close to the Philippines' Badan Island. Consequently, the customs and languages of the two cultures are very similar. Several stories in ancient legends describe the excursions of the Yami to Badan Island.
During the Japanese occupation, Lanyu was named Hongtouyu, meaning "Red Head Island". After Taiwan Restoration, this unflattering name was changed to Lanyu or "Orchid Island" after the islands beautiful butterfly orchids.