Thus, in the Puyuma world view, music is equal to language as a form of literary learning. Traditional Puyuma songs are similar to history books, recording the historical events that happened among the Puyuma. The songs contain tales of heroic exploits or descriptions of plants, trees, birds and animals. Songs sung during the monkey festival teach of experiences during the days of headhunting.
卑南的傳統歌謠，更像史書一般，紀錄般的傳唱著卑南族發生過的史實，歌中有英雄事蹟、草木鳥獸的介紹、猴祭中教導獵首的經驗等，「這是所謂的『樂』教主義，較之中國所謂的『禮樂』，樂早散失，現在僅做到禮教而已」，孫大川補充。