According to tribal elders, the Smangus was originally from the Atayal tribe of Mstbon in Ren-ai Township, Nantou County.
About 1000 years ago, originally the Atayal tribe lived in the central mountain areas. As population grew, in order to find larger hunting areas and farmlands, the tribe started to move forward to northward area. Finally they arrived Smangus around 400 years ago.
Since the climate was mild and the landscape was covered by forests, Smangus was an ideal place for the Atayal tribe who hunt and farm for living. Hence, the tribe decided to settle down in Smangus.
During Japanese colonial era, the Smangus tribe had a tragic war with Knazi because of the misunderstanding. In order to enhance the controlling power over minorities, the colonial government forced the Smangus to move collectively to the front mountains of Hsinchu, living with the Rahaw tribe and the Slaq tribe.
After the Japanese colonial government left Taiwan, the Smangus moved back to Smangus, the place where they used to live. Although the traffic was inconvenient and the life was more difficult, it was important and meaningful for the Smangus tribe to come back the place where ancestors lived.
One route of migration (from Nantou to Smangus)
Another one route of migration (Japanese colonial era)
One route of migration (from Nantou to Smangus)