魯凱，是臺灣少數民族中人口排名第六的族群。他們依聚居住地不同而分為三個社群，人數最多的是居住在屏東縣霧臺鄉的西魯凱群，其次是分佈臺東縣卑南鄉、金峰鄉的東魯凱群。居住在高雄縣茂林鄉的多納、萬山、茂林三社群，因在歷史上基本上與東、西魯凱族群互不來往，語言上各社自成一體，又稱作魯凱下三社群。
魯凱，意指住在深山的人。魯凱和排灣都屬於貴族階級的世襲社會，兩個族群的文化習俗很相似，差別在於，排灣是長嗣（長男或長女）繼承家業，魯凱則為長男繼承制。但頭目都沒有過問公共事務的權力，只擔任最後的仲裁或調停者。部落公共事務，由各氏族的長者、受推崇的意見領袖、有戰功的勇士來共同議決，也提供給平民階級參與公眾事務的權利，頗具有民主政治選賢與能的雛形。
魯凱人天性溫和，敬重頭目的權威，強調社會階級，貴族和平民彼此界限區分嚴謹。過去，貴族與頭目的服飾圖案和裝飾都擁有專屬權，平民不經過頭目同意，是不能在服飾上使用人頭紋、百步蛇、百合花、陶壺等圖案的。除此之外，魯凱和排灣一樣，只有貴族才能戴著插有大冠鷲飛羽的帽子，在數量上，頭目三支、核心貴族兩支、邊緣貴族一支。百合花則代表了社會秩序與倫理，只有純潔的少女與高貴的勇士才有資格佩帶。這些嚴密的禮儀和歲時祭儀，嚴格地制約著族人的生活與教育，使族人彼此間十分重視互助與團結。
每年8月的小米收穫祭、豐年祭和11月茂林鄉多納部落的黑粟祭等，是部落族人們依隨著季節與生命週期舉行的盛大祭典。
Rukai The Rukai tribe is the sixth largest of Taiwan’s indigenous tribes. It can be divided into three groups based on distribution. Most Rukai live in Wutai Township of Pingtung County and are referred to as the western Rukai. Those living in Beinan and Jinfeng townships of Taitung County are called the eastern Rukai. There are also Rukai communities in Maolin Township of Kaohsiung County. Historically, the Rukai of Maolin Township did not have contact with the western Rukai and over time there emerged differences in language.
Rukai refers to “the people living deep in the mountains”. The Rukai have a strict social hierarchy, and only the oldest son can inherit the family property. The chieftain could not inquire about the public affairs of the village, but served as the last line of mediation and intervention. The village was governed by clan elders and military strategy was decided by consensus among the warriors.
The Rukai respect the authority of the chieftain. In addition, they place great importance on a social hierarchy with a nobility and common class and clear distinctions between them. For example, certain patterns on clothing and accessories could only be used by the nobility and chieftain, and worn by persons of the common class with the permission of the chieftain. These included human head, hundred-pace pit viper, lily blossom and earthenware vessel patterns. The lily denotes social order and moral behavior. The right to wear this flower in the headdress was only granted to warriors who exhibited outstanding character and to young women of virtue and chastity.
Many of the Rukai ceremonies and festivals mark the changing of the seasons or different stages of life. The major ceremonies are the Millet Harvest Festival and Harvest Festival, which take place each year in August. In November, Duona Village in Maolin Township holds the Dark Grain Festival.
