The Bunun tribe is a society of patrilineal or agnatic succession
The Bunun tribe is a society of patrilineal or agnatic succession, and the identity of members in a kinship group is determined by the relationship between a person and the father. The power structure is determined according to the generation (seniority) and the age of a person within the kinship organization. Therefore, those who are closer to the ancestors tend to have higher positions and are more dominant in the power structure.
The inheritance of properties and titles within the kinship organization is determined by the patrilineal position. The naming of people in the Bunun tribe is derived based on the following description: If the newborn is a boy, the eldest son takes the name of the most senior person among ancestors (usually the name of the grandfather), and the second son takes the name of the next senior person in the male line, and so on. If the newborn is a girl, the firstborn girl takes the name of the most senior person in the maternal line (usually the name of grandmother), and the second daughter takes the name of the next senior person in the female line, and so on. Under the principles of patrilineality, the position of the head of the family is held by the most senior or oldest man. Starting from a family living together, followed by clans, sub-tribes, and joint tribes, the rigorous patrilineal clan organization is then formed.
