The total population of the ten tribes is estimated at less than 250,000. Since Taiwan was returned to the Republic of China by the Japanese in 1945, the government has made many moves to protect these people and improve their lives.
排灣人的雕刻技巧是所有台灣山地部落中最高的，他們的雕刻師在族中也擁有相當的地位，但這些雕飾精巧的傢具或器皿，並非所有人都可使用，只有族中酋長或有特殊英勇行為的勇士之家才得享有，且往往地位愈高，所用的木器材料愈好，雕刻也愈講究。