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Austronesian peoples

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Austronesian people

Modern distribution of Austronesian languages

Total population

400,000,000+

Regions with significant populations

Indonesia: 237,424,363 (2011)

Philippines: 92,226,600 [1] 

Madagascar: over 20,000,000 (2011) [2] 

Malaysia: 12,290,000 (2006) [3] 

Papua New Guinea: 6,300,000

East Timor: 947,000 (2004)

New Zealand: 855,000 (2006) [4] [5] 

Brunei: 724,000? (2006)

Singapore: over 600,000[1]

 Solomon Islands: 478,000 (2005)

Taiwan: 480,000 (2006)

Fiji: 456,000 (2005) [6] 

Hawaii: 140,652 or 401,162 (depending on definition) [2]

 

Suriname: 71,000 (2009)[3]

 

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Languages

Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian

languagesor Formosan languages) 

Religion

Islam, Christianity, Animism, and Hinduism. 

The Austronesian-speaking peoples[4]

 are various populations in Southeast Asia and Oceania that speak

languages of the Austronesian family. They include Taiwanese aborigines; the majority ethnic groups

of  East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Madagascar, Micronesia, and Polynesia, as

well as the Polynesian peoples of  New Zealand and Hawaii, and the non-Papuan people of  Melanesia. 

They are also found in Singapore, the Pattani region of  Thailand, and the Cham areas

of  Vietnam (remnants of theChampa kingdom which covered central and southern Vietnam), Cambodia, and Hainan, China. The territories populated by Austronesian-speaking peoples are known collectively

as Austronesia. 

Contents

[hide] 

  1 Prehistory and history 

o  1.1 Migration and dispersion 

  1.1.1 Out of Taiwan model 

  1.1.2 Out of Sundaland model 

o  1.2 Formation of tribes and kingdoms 

  2 Genetic studies 

  3 Geographic distribution 

  4 Culture 

o  4.1 Language 

o  4.2 Religion 

o  4.3 Arts 

o  4.4 Music 

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A Rukai village chief visiting the Department of Anthropology in the Tokyo Imperial Universityduring

the Japanese rule. 

Migration and dispersion[edit] 

Further information:  Austronesian languages#Homeland  

Out of Taiwan model[edit] 

An element in the ancestry of Austronesian-speaking peoples, the one which carried their ancestral

language, originated on the island of  Taiwan following the migration of pre-Austronesian-speaking

peoples from continental Asiabetween approximately 10,000 –6,000 BC.[5][13]

 Other research has

suggested that, according to radiocarbon dates, Austronesians may have migrated from mainland China

to Taiwan as late as 4000 BC.[14] 

According to the mainstream "out-of-Taiwan model", a large-scale Austronesian expansion began

around 5000 –2500 BC. Population growth primarily fuelled this migration. These first settlers may have

landed in northern Luzon in the archipelago of the Philippines, intermingling with the earlier Australo-

Melanesian population who had inhabited the islands since about 23,000 years earlier. Over the next

thousand years, Austronesian peoples migrated southeast to the rest of the Philippines, and into the

islands of the Celebes Sea, Borneo, and Indonesia. The Austronesian peoples of Maritime Southeast Asia

sailed eastward, and spread to the islands of Melanesia and Micronesia between 1200 BC and 500 AD

respectively. The Austronesian inhabitants that spread westward through Maritime Southeast Asia had

reached some parts of mainland Southeast Asia, and later on Madagascar.[13][15] 

Sailing from Melanesia, and Micronesia, the Austronesian peoples discovered Polynesia by 1000 BC.

These people settled most of the Pacific Islands. They had settled Easter Island by 300 AD, Hawaii by 400

AD, and into New Zealand by about 1280 AD. There is evidence, based in the spreading of the sweet

potato, that they reached South America where they traded with the american natives[16][17]

 

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In the Indian Ocean they sailed west from Maritime Southeast Asia; the Austronesian peoples reached

Madagascar by 0 –500 AD.[18][19]

 

The Taiwan hypothesis is mainly based on linguistic and partly archaeological evidence, and says nothing

about genes or the oldest migrations to East Asia and the initial colonizing of the area, only about the

migration that led to the spread of the Austronesian languages. 

Out of Sundaland model[edit] 

This "out of Taiwan model" has been recently challenged by a study from Leeds University and published

in Molecular Biology and Evolution. Examination of  mitochondrial DNA lineages shows that they have

been evolving within Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) for a longer period than previously believed.

Population dispersals occurred at the same time as sea levels rose, which may have resulted in

migrations from the Philippine Islands to as far north as Taiwan within the last 10,000 years.[20] The

population migrations were most likely to have been driven by climate change — the effects of the

drowning of a huge ancient peninsula called ‘Sundaland’ (that extended the Asian landmass as far as

Borneo and Java). This happened during the period 15,000 to 7,000 years ago following the last Ice Age.

Oppenheimer outlines how rising sea levels in three massive pulses caused flooding and the

submergence of the Sunda Peninsula, creating the Java and South China Seas and the thousands of

islands that make up Indonesia and the Philippines today.[11]

 

The new findings from HUGO (Human Genome Organization) also shows that Asia was populated

primarily through a single migration event from the south.[21]

 They found genetic similarities between

populations throughout Asia and an increase in genetic diversity from northern to southern latitudes.

Although the Chinese population is very large, it has less variation than the smaller number of

individuals living in South East Asia, because the Chinese expansion occurred very recently, following the

development of rice agriculture — within only the last 10,000 years.

See also: Genomics of domestication 

Genomic analysis of cultivated coconut (Cocos nucifera) has shed light on the movements of

Austronesian peoples. By examining 10 microsatelite loci, researchers found that there are 2 genetically

distinct subpopulations of coconut – one originating in the Indian Ocean, the other in the Pacific Ocean.

However, there is evidence of  admixture, the transfer of genetic material, between the two populations.

Given that coconuts are ideally suited for ocean dispersal, it seems possible that individuals from one

population could have floated to the other. However, the locations of the admixture events are limited

to Madagascar and coastal east Africa and exclude the Seychelles. This pattern coincides with the known

trade routes of Austronesian sailors. Additionally, there is a genetically distinct subpopulation of

coconut on the eastern coast of South America which has undergone a genetic bottleneck resulting from

a founder effect; however, its ancestral population is the pacific coconut, which suggests that

Austronesian peoples may have sailed as far east as the Americas [22] 

Formation of tribes and kingdoms[edit] 

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By the beginning of the first millennium AD, most of the Austronesian inhabitants in Maritime Southeast

Asia began trading with India and China which allowed the creation of  Indianized kingdoms such

as Srivijaya, Melayu, Majapahit, and the establishment of  Hinduism and Buddhism. Muslim traders from

the Arabian peninsula were thought to have brought Islam by the 10th century. Islam was established as

the dominant religion in the Indonesian archipelagoby the 16th century. The Austronesian inhabitants of

Polynesia were unaffected by this cultural trade, and retained their indigenous culture in the Pacific

region.[citation needed ] 

Europeans in search of spices and gold later colonized most of the Austronesian speaking countries of

the Asia-Pacific region, beginning from the 16th century with the Portuguese and Spanish colonization of

some parts of Indonesia (present day East Timor), the Philippines, Palau, Guam, and the Mariana Islands; 

the Dutch colonization of the Indonesian archipelago; the British colonization of Malaysia and Oceania; 

the French colonization of  French Polynesia; and later, the American governance of the Pacific.[citation

needed ] 

Meanwhile, the British, Germans, French, Americans, and Japanese began establishing spheres of

influence within the Pacific Islands during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Japanese later invaded

most of Southeast Asia and some parts of the Pacific during World War II. The latter half of the 20th

century initiated independence of modern-day Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and many of the

Pacific Island nations.[citation needed ]

 

Genetic studies[edit] 

Genetic studies have been done on the people and related groups.[23]

 The Haplogroup O1 (Y-DNA)a-

M119 genetic marker is frequently detected in Austronesians, as well as some non-Austronesian

populations in southern China.[24]

 Other genetic markers found in native Austronesian populations

areHaplogroup C (Y-DNA), Haplogroup O2a (Y-DNA), and Haplogroup O3 (Y-DNA).[citation needed ]

 

A 2008 genetic study showed no evidence of a large-scale Taiwanese migration into the Philippine

Islands. A study by Leeds University and published inMolecular Biology and Evolution, showed that

mitochondrial DNA lineages have been evolving within Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) since modern

humans arrived approximately 50,000 years ago.[20]

 There is no genetic evidence for large-scale

population replacement, displacement, or absorption to suggest replacement of preexisting hunting and

gathering populations by farming-voyaging immigrants from Taiwan.[25] Examination of mitochondrial

DNA lineages showed that the neolithic culture (Austronesian) had been evolving within Island

Southeast Asia (ISEA) for a longer period than previously believed.[20]

 Per co-author Dr Oppenheimer,

from the Oxford University School of Anthropology, population migrations were most likely to havebeen driven by climate change — the effects of the drowning of a huge ancient peninsula called

‘Sundaland’ (that extended the Asian landmass as far as Borneo and Java).[20]

This happened during the

period 15,000 to 7,000 years ago following the last Ice Age. Rising sea levels in three massive pulses

caused flooding and the submergence of the Sunda Peninsula, creating the Java and South China Seas

and the thousands of islands that make up Indonesia and the Philippines today. Population dispersals

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occurred at the same time as sea levels rose, which may have resulted in migrations from the Philippine

Islands to as far north as Taiwan within the last 10,000 years.[20]

 

Geographic distribution[edit] 

Map showing the distribution of the Austronesian language family (light pink). It roughly corresponds to

the distribution of the Austronesian people.

Austronesian peoples consist of the following groupings by name and geographic location.

  Formosan: Taiwan. e.g. Amis, Atayal, Bunun, Paiwan. 

  Malayo-Polynesian: 

  Borneo groups: e.g. Kadazan-Dusun, Murut, Iban, Bidayuh, Dayak 

  Central and Southern Luzon lowlanders: e.g. Tagalog, Bicolano 

  Chamic group: Cambodia, Hainan, Cham areas of Vietnam (remnants of the Champa

kingdom which covered central and southern Vietnam). e.g. Chams,Jarai, Utsuls. 

  Igorot: Cordilleras. e.g. Balangao, Ibaloi, Isneg, Kankanaey. 

  Lumad: Mindanao. e.g. Kamayo, Manobo, Tasaday, T'boli. 

  Malagasy: Madagascar. e.g. Betsileo, Merina, Sakalava, Tsimihety. 

  Melanesians: Melanesia. Fijians, e.g. Kanak, Ni-Vanuatu, Solomon Islands 

  Micronesians: Micronesia. e.g. Carolinian, Chamorros, Palauan. 

  Moken: Burma, Thailand. 

  Moro: Bangsamoro (Mindanao, Sulu archipelago).

e.g. Maguindanao, Maranao, Tausug, Bajau. 

  Northern Luzon lowlanders: e.g. Ilocano, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Ibanag 

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  Polynesians: Polynesia. Māori, Native Hawaiians, Samoans. 

  Sunda –Sulawesi language and ethnic groups

including Malay, Sundanese, Javanese, Balinese, Bataknese (geographically

Includes Malaysia,Brunei, Pattani, Singapore, and much of western and

central Indonesia).

  Visayans: Visayas. e.g. Aklanon, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray. 

According to a recent studies by Stanford University in the United States, there is wide variety of

paternal ancestry among the Austronesian people. Aside from European introgression found in

Maritime Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Madagascar. They constitute the dominant ethnic group in

Maritime Southeast Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and Madagascar. An estimated figure of

around 380,000,000 people living in these regions are of Austronesian descent.

They constitute the dominant ethnic groups in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, the

southernmost part of  Thailand and East Timor, which together with Singapore make up what is calledthe Malay archipelago. Outside this area, they inhabit Palau, Guam and the Northern Marianas, most of

Madagascar, the Cham areas of Vietnam and Cambodia (the remnants of the Champa kingdom which

covered central and southern Vietnam), and all countries in the Micronesian and Polynesian sphere of

influence.

Culture[edit] 

A Tagalog couple of theMaginoo caste depicted in the 16th century Boxer Codex

The native culture of Austronesia is diverse, varying from region to region.

The early Austronesian peoples considered the sea as the basic tenet of their life. Following their

diaspora to Southeast Asia and Oceania, they used boats to migrate to other islands. Boats of different

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Southeast Asian contact with India and China allowed the introduction of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Later, Muslim traders introduced the Islamic faith between the periods of the 10th, and 13th century.

The European Age of Discovery, brought Christianity to various parts of the region, including both

Aotearoa (the native name for New Zealand before it was named later by the Dutch) and Australia.

Currently, the dominant religions are Islam found in Indonesia, Malaysia, southern Thailand, the

southern Philippines, and Brunei; Hinduism in Bali; and Christianity in the Philippines, much of eastern

Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, most of the Pacific Islands, and Madagascar.

Arts[edit] 

A young Bontok man from the Philippines with tattoos on chest, and arms (circa 1908).

Body art among Austronesian peoples is common, especially tattooing. It is particularly prominent in

Polynesian cultures, from where the word "tattoo" derives. One such example is the Ta Moko of New

Zealand Māori, but tattooing is also prominent among Austronesian groups in the Philippines, Indonesia,

and Borneo. Decorated jars and other forms of pottery are also common.

Austronesian peoples living close to mainland Asia, are influenced by the native, Chinese, Indian, 

and Islamic art forms.

Music[edit] 

Further information: Indonesian music , Melanesian music , Polynesian music , and  Malagasy music 

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Gamelan's traditional instruments – Indonesian Embassy in Canberra.

The Austronesian music in Maritime Southeast Asia had a mixture of Chinese, Indian, and Islamic

musical styles and sounds that had fused together with the indigenous Austronesian culture and music.

In Indonesia,Gamelan, a type of orchestra that incorporates Xylophone and Metallophone elements, is

widely used in its Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic cultural tradition. In some parts of the southern, and

northern Philippines, an Islamic gong-drum known as Kulintang, and a gong-chime known asGangsa, is

also used. The Austronesian music of Oceania have retained their indigenous Austronesian sounds.

The Slit drums is an indigenous Austronesian musical instrument that were invented and used by the

Southeast Asian-Austronesian, and Oceanic-Austronesian ethnic groups.

See also[edit] 

  Malayan race 

  Models of migration to the Philippines 

  Native Indonesians 

Notes[edit] 

This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it

has insufficientinline citations. Please help to improve this article

by introducing more precise citations. (November 2008) 

1.  Jump up^ About 13.6% of the Singaporeans are of Malay descent. In addition to these,

many Chinese Singaporeans are also of mixed Austronesian descent. Seealsohttp://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/c2000/indicators.pdf  

2.  Jump up^ U.S. 2000 Census 

3.  Jump up^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-

factbook/geos/ns.html#People 

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16. Jump up^ Van Tilburg, Jo Anne. 1994. Easter Island: Archaeology, Ecology and

Culture. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press

17. Jump up^ Langdon, Robert. The Bamboo Raft as a Key to the Introduction of the Sweet

Potato in Prehistoric Polynesia, The Journal of Pacific History', Vol. 36, No. 1, 2001 

18. Jump up^ Dewar, RE; Wright, HT (1993). "The culture history of Madagascar". Journal of

World Prehistory  7 (4): 417 –466. doi:10.1007/BF00997802. 

19. Jump up^ Burney, DA, Burney, LP, Godfrey, LR, Jungers, WL, Goodman, SM, Wright, HT,

Jull, AJ (2004). "A chronology for late prehistoric Madagascar". Journal of Human

Evolution 47 (1 –2): 25 –63. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2004.05.005. PMID 15288523. 

20. ^ Jump up to:a b c  d  e Soares P, Trejaut JA, Loo JH, et al. (June 2008). "Climate change and

postglacial human dispersals in southeast Asia". Mol. Biol. Evol. 25 (6): 1209 –

18. doi:10.1093/molbev/msn068. PMID 18359946. [New DNA evidence overturns

population migration theory in Island Southeast Asia Lay summary] (23 May 2008).

21. Jump up^ "Genetic 'map' of Asia's diversity". BBC News. 11 December 2009.

Kumar, Vikrant (11 December 2009). "Scientific consortium maps the range of genetic

diversity in Asia, and traces the genetic origins of Asian populations".HUGO Matters.

Human Genome Organisation.

HUGO Pan-Asian SNP Consortium, Abdulla MA, Ahmed I, Assawamakin A, et

al. (December 2009). "Mapping human genetic diversity in Asia". Science 326(5959):

1541 –5. doi:10.1126/science.1177074. PMID 20007900. 

22. Jump up^ Gunn, Bee; Luc Baudouin, Kenneth M. Olsen (2011). "Independent Origins of

Cultivated Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) in the Old World Tropics". PLoS

ONE  6(6). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021143. 

23. Jump up^ The Austronesian Moment 

24. Jump up^ 臺灣原住民族的Y染色體多樣性與華南史前文化的關連性 

25. Jump up^ Donohue, Mark; Denham, Tim (April 2010). "Farming and Language in Island

Southeast Asia: Reframing Austronesian History". Current Anthropology  51 (2): 223 –

256. JSTOR 650991. 

Books[edit] 

  Bellwood, Peter S. (1979). Man's conquest of the Pacific: The prehistory of Southeast Asia and

Oceania. Oxford University Press.ISBN 9780195201031. 

  Bellwood, Peter (2007). Prehistory of the Indo-Malaysian Archipelago (3rd, revised ed.). ANU E

Press. ISBN 978-1-921313-12-7. 

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