Tjavualji was established 1,000 years ago by the Qian YaoKao, also called the Da Ma, who were ancestors of the Paiwan people.

Qing era records show the placename written variously (Chinese: 兆貓裡/朝貓籬/大貓狸/大麻里), etc.

During the 1940s (also under Japanese rule), some residents from Miaoli, Nantou, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung also settled in the area.

After Taiwan was handed over from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945, its name was modified to Taimali Village (太麻里村).

The township comprises nine villages: Beili, Dawang, Duoliang, Huayuan, Jinlun, Meihe, Sanhe, Taihe and Xianglan.