鲁凯，是台湾少数民族中人口排名第六的族群。他们依聚居住地不同而分为三个社群，人数最多的是居住在屏东县雾台乡的西鲁凯群，其次是分布台东县卑南乡、金峰乡的东鲁凯群。居住在高雄县茂林乡的多纳、万山、茂林三社群，因在历史上基本上与东、西鲁凯族群互不来往，语言上各社自成一体，又称作鲁凯下三社群。
鲁凯，意指住在深山的人。鲁凯和排湾都属于贵族阶级的世袭社会，两个族群的文化习俗很相似，差别在于，排湾是长嗣（长男或长女）继承家业，鲁凯则为长男继承制。但头目都没有过问公共事务的权力，只担任最后的仲裁或调停者。部落公共事务，由各氏族的长者、受推崇的意见领袖、有战功的勇士来共同议决，也提供给平民阶级参与公众事务的权利，颇具有民主政治选贤与能的雏形。
鲁凯人天性温和，敬重头目的权威，强调社会阶级，贵族和平民彼此界限区分严谨。过去，贵族与头目的服饰图案和装饰都拥有专属权，平民不经过头目同意，是不能在服饰上使用人头纹、百步蛇、百合花、陶壶等图案的。除此之外，鲁凯和排湾一样，只有贵族才能戴着插有大冠鹫飞羽的帽子，在数量上，头目三支、核心贵族两支、边缘贵族一支。百合花则代表了社会秩序与伦理，只有纯洁的少女与高贵的勇士才有资格佩带。这些严密的礼仪和岁时祭仪，严格地制约着族人的生活与教育，使族人彼此间十分重视互助与团结。
每年8月的小米收获祭、丰年祭和11月茂林乡多纳部落的黑粟祭等，是部落族人们依随着季节与生命周期举行的盛大祭典。
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.
