Taiwan History

Author: Lian Heng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-09-01
Features: A thousand two hundred and ninety years of history, crisscrossing time and space, encompassed in eighty-eight chapters of the Records of the Grand Historian. Lian Heng’s Taiwan History, modeled after Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian, spans 1,290 years of history from the first year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty to the 21st year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty (1895), integrating all-encompassing content into eighty-eight chapters. Its outstanding features are:
First, profound historical evidence and detailed records, as it is based on the foundation of Taiwanese history, so the compilation of historical materials is thorough and unabbreviated. Whether it is the sparse records of the island’s colonization and development, the diplomatic conflicts and wars that were not documented in old books, or the types and distribution of domestic flora, fauna, and mineral resources, as well as the cultivation and consumption methods of crops like rice, sugar, and tea, they are all meticulously recorded based on available data or described truthfully based on personal observations, making the Taiwan History a vast collection of documents.
Second, compared to previous historical works that emphasized military, criminal law, rituals, and music, it highlights the "people-centered" historical perspective, detailing the prosperity or decline of local livelihoods and moral standards, especially official memorials related to the national livelihoods, for the reference of future generations.
Third, it reevaluates and repositions the deeds of Zheng Chenggong, who drove out the Dutch colonizers and led mainland compatriots to settle and develop Taiwan, which were previously dismissed as "island barbarians" in earlier histories. It also pays special attention to the historical details of the Taiwanese people’s courageous resistance against Japanese oppression, using vivid language to express deep respect.
Fourth, the book reflects the historical ties between Taiwan and the mainland in politics, economy, law, rituals, culture, and religion, while also highlighting Taiwan’s local characteristics in an orderly and complementary manner.
Lian Heng completed the Taiwan History after ten years of effort in 1918, recording the 1,290-year history of Taiwan from the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty to the 21st year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty. Lian Heng was from Tainan, Taiwan. The Taiwan History is divided into three volumes, with the first volume published in 1920, and the second and third volumes published in 1921. It is an important work documenting the historical development of Taiwan.
The Taiwan History is imbued with Lian Heng’s deep affection for his homeland, Taiwan, and embodies his simple yet profound belief in upholding the spirit of the Chinese nation. It also carries the strong sense of mission of a historian. Reflecting on Lian Heng’s life dedicated to preserving the national spirit, admiring the sacrifices of people on both sides of the strait for the unification of the motherland, and comparing the current reality of numerous barriers between the two sides, rereading this book evokes even deeper emotions.
This historical work has the following characteristics:
First, Lian Heng particularly praises the national hero Zheng Chenggong, believing that Taiwan’s foundation and development began in his era. The first volume of the Taiwan History is titled "Chronicles of Opening," primarily documenting the connection between Taiwan and the mainland, especially after the first year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (605 AD). However, the book considers Taiwan’s "foundation" to begin with Zheng Chenggong’s expulsion of the Dutch colonizers and establishment of a regime in Taiwan, reflecting Lian Heng’s admiration and praise for the national hero and his cause.
Second, the Taiwan History elaborates on the unity between Taiwanese and mainland cultures. Lian Heng describes the cultural similarities between Taiwan and the mainland in various aspects, such as the civil service system, rituals, education, criminal law, and literature. He believed that Taiwan was originally a "barbarian land," but after Zheng Chenggong (Yanping) arrived, he implemented systems modeled after the Ming Dynasty in civil service, rituals, and criminal law. Regarding education, Lian Heng said, "Taiwan is a remote island at sea, lacking the institutions of former kings. After Zheng Chenggong (Yanping) conquered Taiwan, the system was initially established, and the people were allowed to rest and recuperate. Schools were not yet established; in the eighth month of the 19th year of the Yongli era, the successor king Jing ordered Chen Yonghua to lead the Bold Guards. After Yonghua governed the country, the crops were abundant, and he requested the construction of a Confucian temple and schools. After the Qing people took over Taiwan, in the 22nd year of the Kangxi era, the prefect Jiang Yuying established two primary schools in Dong’an District to educate children, also known as charity schools. Subsequently, schools were added in various counties. In the 25th year of the Kangxi era, the Fujian Governor Wang Xinming and the provincial governor Zhang Zhongjiu submitted a proposal, which was approved, allowing Taiwan to send twenty military and civilian children each year, twenty literary children, and twenty scholarship students, with the same provisions for expanded students."