The Saisiat are concentrated in the mountainous areas of Miaoli and Hsinchu counties and have a population of less than 4,000. The name "Saisiat" means "true people" and is reflective of the ethnocentric outlook that is common to indigenous groups throughout the world. Saisiat society is organized along patriarchal lines, with each clan maintaining its own totems and symbols. The most important ritual activity of the Saisiat tribe, and the one that best represents the spirit and elegance of its songs and dances, is the Pastaai. There are many similarities between the material cultures of the Saisiat and the Atayal.

The Bunun tribe occupies an area of the Central Mountain Range and is a typical High Mountain tribe. The society is patriarchal, and large families constitute an important component. The annual ritual activities revolve around the process of planting, weeding and harvesting the millet crop. The "Prayer for a Bountiful Millet Harvest," which is sung after the weeding has been completed, is outstanding for its unique eight-bar chorus. The "Ear Hitting Ritual" that is performed when young Bunan males reach adulthood is the most well known of the tribal ceremonies among the outside world.

The Tsou tribe is located in the area around Mt. Ali in central Taiwan and has about 6,000 members. Due to differences in the translation of its name, this group is sometimes known as the Tsao. The social organization of the Tsou is rigidly patriarchal, and women are clearly subordinate to men within the society. The most important tribal ceremony is the "Victory Rite", which involves the renovation of the tribal meeting hall, as well as an elaborate process of inviting, entertaining and seeing off the holy spirits. Of particular note are the complex song and dance arrangements. The hunting and leather-tanning activities of the Tsou men are strongly reflected in the material culture of the tribe.

The Ami tribe is found along Taiwan's eastern coast. With a population of about 130,000, it is the largest of the island's aboriginal tribes. The traditional social organization of the Ami is based primarily on matrilineal clans. Upon marriage, a newlywed couple typically resides in the bride's home. The personal relation and financial matters of the family are managed by the matriarch, although public matters such as tribal administration, warfare or religious affairs are governed by an age-based group of male tribal members. The most important traditional tribal observance is the "Harvest Ritual", whose elaborate songs and dances are particularly interesting.

The Puyuma tribe is located on the Taitung Plain and has about 8,000 members. The society is structured on a system of female primogeniture and a tribal council of males organized on the basis of age. During the reign of the Kang-hsi Emperor in the Ching Dynasty, Puyuma tribesmen assisted the imperial army in quelling a rebellion and were rewarded for their efforts by being allowed to wear the official attire of the Ching court. As a result, the clothing of the Puyuma and the nearby Paiwan tribe underwent a rapid Hanization.

The Rukai tribe occupies a belt spanning Taitung, Pingtung and Kaohsiung counties. The social organization of its 8,000 members is based on a system of noble class heredity. Intricately beautiful woodcarvings and ornate pearl-studded clothing are ostensible signs of tribe members' social status. Tribal rituals are primarily held in accordance with the growing seasons of millet and other crops, as well as the important rites of passage for clan members, which is reflected in the songs and dances associated with these events.

The 60,000 members of the Paiwan tribe in Pingtung County are quite similar to the Rukai in terms of their hereditary class-based social organization, their legend of the hundred-stepper snake as the origin of the noble class, and their recognition of bronze knives, glazed balls and clay pots as symbols of the nobility. In the area of artistic ability, the Paiwan excel in woodcarving, embroidery and other crafts.

The Tao tribe on Orchid Island is Taiwan's only maritime aboriginal group. The society of it's 4,000 members is based on patrilineal clans and fishing groups. The Yami are noted for their special boats, woodcarvings and pottery figurines. The activities connected with the "Flying Fish Ritual" for ensuring a bountiful catch are an unparalleled expression of cultural uniqueness, with the male members of the Yami tribe singing while the women dance.

The Thao tribe was once considered part of the Bunun or Tsou tribes. With a population of about 300 people living beside Sun-Moon Lake, the Thao possess a unique language and cultural traits that earned them formal recognition in 1999 as an independent tribe, the smallest tribe among Taiwan's indigenous peoples. The tradition of keeping "gafai" (ancestral pouch) at each home and the worship of "gafai" at important rituals are among the unique cultural traits of the Thao tribe. The Thao are also renowned for the tradition of "pounding pestles," whereby women beat grain in a mortar one after another and create rhythmic sounds.

The name "Kavalan" means "people living on the plain." The Kavalan tribe originally lived on the Lanyang Plain in northeast Taiwan. Nowadays, the Kavalan people live mostly along Taiwan's east coast near Hualian and Taitung, with a population of more than 2,000. In 2002, the Kavalan became the 11th indigenous tribe to receive formal designation by the Executive Yuan. Kavalan society is primarily based on matrilineal clans. The chiefs are elected, and there are no distinctions among tribe members based on social class. Banana fibers are used to make material for clothing.

The Truku tribe, with a population of about 20,000, is located mostly in Hsiou-Lin and Wan-Rong villages of Hualian County, and Jen-I Village of Nantou County. Because the customs of the Truku are similar to those of the Atayal tribe, they were considered part of the Atayal in the past. In 2003, the Truku became the 12th officially designated indigenous tribe in Taiwan. They believe that the ancestral spirits are the guardians of the "gaya" (social systems and orders). In the past, young and unmarried people aged 14 and 15 received facial tattoos in a coming-of-age ritual.