Siraya people

The Siraya people (Chinese: 西拉雅族; pinyin: Xīlāyǎ Zú) are a Taiwanese indigenous ethnic group. The Siraya settled flat coastal plains in the southwest part of the island of Taiwan and corresponding sections of the east coast; the area is identified today with Tainan and Taitung County. At least four communities comprise the group: Mattauw, Soelangh, Baccloangh, and Sinckan. The first four communities correspond to the modern-day districts of Madou, Jiali, Shanhua, and Sinshih, respectively.

The Siraya are Plains Indigenous peoples, meaning occupants of flat coastal regions rather than mountain areas. Like other indigenous peoples of Taiwan, they are Austronesian peoples. The name "Taiwan" (historically spelt Tayoan, Tayouan or Tayowan, Chinese: 臺員) originated from the Siraya language. The Austronesian languages to which Sirayan belongs includes some of the most widely-spoken languages in Southeast Asia, including Indonesian, Javanese, Tagalog (or standardized as Filipino), and Malay.

Taivoan and Makatao used to be considered Sirayan communities but are now classified as independent peoples based on the latest linguistic discoveries, cultural features, and self-identification.