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The 28 provinces of China - Ningxia

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-13-05 20:17

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The province of Ningxia (擩壞徣)

http://chungyn.webhop.net/NingXia.jpg

(擩) Ning means tranquil; peaceful.
(壞) Xia means summer.
This province is situated in the northwest of China and the gate to the
Gobi Desert. It is called Ningxia because there was an ancient non-Han State
called Xia (壞) in that region, and it was a belligerent State. The ancient
Chinese dynasties had a hard time in controlling this State from invading
the Central Plains or Zhongyuan (拞尨). Finally, when the State of Xia
was exterminated, the Chinese named this territory Ningxia which means to
bring tranquility to the State of Xia. The single word single of this province
is Ning (擩).

(恖岥) The population is 5.9 million.
(徣橉) The provincial capital is Yinchuan (嬧愳) with a population of 928,300.
(柺愊) The area of the province is 66,400 square kilometres

About two thirds of the population are ethnic Han (娍懓), who first settled
in this territory during the Han Dynasty (娍挬 202BC to 220AD). The other
one third of the population is the ethnic Hui (夞懓) who are the offspring
of the Arab and Iranian traders who traveled and settled in this territory
during the Tang Dynasty (搨挬 618AD to 907AD). The Hui have been Sinicized
apart from their adherence to Islam. The Yellow River is the lifeline of
this province otherwise it would be uninhabitable as the territory is too
dry for cultivation. Most of the population live near the Yellow River from
which they channel the water through irrigation for their cultivation.

Yinchuan, the capital, is sheltered by the high ranges of the Helanshan
(夑棖嶳) or Mount Helan in the west from the Gobi Desert. It is surrounded
by water channels drained from the Yellow River nearby in the east. The
Great Wall winds its way through Yinchuan to the west to Yumenguan (嬍栧
钀) in the north of Gansu province (娒沌徣). Yinchuan was once the capital
of the Kingdom of Xixia (惣壞 1032AD to 1227AD) which was subjugated by
the Mongolian who founded the Yuan Dynasty (尦挬 1206AD to 1368AD).

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (揂塱尦)
All rights reserved 14012005

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The 28 provinces of China - QingHai

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-14-05 19:01

The 28 provinces of China

The province of Qinghai (青海省)

http://chungyn.webhop.net/QingHai.jpg

(青) Qing means green.
(海) Hai means sea.
(青海) means green sea.

There is a big salt lake called Qinhai (青海) or Green Sea in the province.
This lake is the largest lake in China. There are abundance of fish in the
lake which is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and abundant of bird
life. This province was named after this lake. The single word of the province
is Qing (青).

(人口) The population is 5.3 million.
(省會) The provincial capital is Xining (西寧) with a population of 1.1
million.
(面積) The area of the province is 720,000 square kilometres.
The province of Qinghai is the home of the ethnic groups of Han (漢族),
Hui (回族), Meng (蒙族), Zang (藏族), Salar (撤拉族), Kazakh (哈薩克族),
Tu (土族) and a few other groups.

Kunlun Shan (崑崙山) or Mount Kunlun Range in Qinghai province is the sources
of the two large rivers, Huanghe or the Yellow River and Changjiang or Yangtze
River. Most of the agricultural regions are near the capital of Xining.
There are good pasturelands in the west of the lake of Qinghai. There are
very few rivers in the province due to lack of water and the land is too
arid.

A brief historical account of Qinghai province

During the Han Dynasty (漢朝 202BC to 220AD) this territory was known as
Xiqiang (西羌). It was called Longyoudao (攏右道) in the Tang Dynasty (唐
朝 618AD to 907AD). The territory became part of Tufan (吐番 the present
day provinces of Xizang 西藏and Qinghai) during the Song Dynasty (宋朝 960AD
to 1279AD). In December 1721AD, in the first year reign of Emperor Yong
Zheng (雍正皇帝 1721AD to 1735AD) of the Qing Dynasty (清朝 1644AD to 1911AD)
there was a rebellion in Amdo (present day Xining). The leader was Luobu
Zangdanjin (羅卜藏丹津). In February the following year Emperor Yong Zheng
sent an expeditionary force under the command of generals Nian Gengyao (年
羹堯) and Yue Zhongqi (岳鐘琪) to pacify Amdo. The rebellion was easily
crushed. The Qing Government then stationed a garrison in Amdo and renamed
the city Xining (西寧 meaning the west had been pacified).

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The 28 provinces of China - Shaanxi

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-16-05 19:31

Please click on Chinese Simplified to read Chinese.

The province of Shaanxi (陜西省)

http://chungyn.webhop.net/ShaanXi.jpg

(陜) Shan means narrow.
(西) Xi means west
(NOTE: an extra A is added to shan, ultimately it becomes Shaan, in order
to differentiate from the province of Shanxi (山西省).
This province was called Shaanxi Road (陜西路) during the Song Dynasty
(宋朝 960AD to 1279AD). It had been called Shaanxi without the word Road
ever since. The territory of this province was the land of the State of
Qin (秦)
during the Zhou Dynasty ( 周朝1134BC to 256BC). The ancient single name

of this province was Qin (秦) named after the State of Qin, but nowadays
it is called Shan (陜). Shan Xi means narrow strip of land in the west.

(人口) The population is 38.3 million.
(省會) the provincial capital of Shaanxi provincial is Xian (西安) with
a population of 6.6 million.
(面積) The area of the province is 205,000 square kilometres.
The population is predominately ethnic Han (漢族) with a tiny minority groups
of Hui (回族) and Meng (蒙族).

The northern part of this province is one of the oldest regions in China
that had been inhabited with people during the prehistoric times, This was
the home of the Zhou People (周族) who destroyed the Shang Dynasty (商朝
1783BC to 1122BC) and established the Zhou Dynasty (周朝 1134BC to 256BC)
with his capital at Hao (鎬 the present day city Xian 西安). In 770BC the
Rong (戎), a nomadic tribe from the northwest destroyed Hao making it uninhabitable.
The newly crowned Zhou King Ping (周平王), the 13th King of the Zhou Dynasty,
moved his capital to Chengzhou (成周 the present day city of Luoyang 洛
陽市 in Henan province 河南省).

In 221BC, Ying Zheng (嬴政) ended the Zhou Dynasty and founded the Qin Dynasty
(秦朝 221BC to 207BC). Ying Zheng established his capital at Xianyang ( 咸
陽 the present day city of Xiangyang near Xian city). In 206BC, after the
destruction of the Qin Dynasty Liu Bang (劉邦), a common peasant, established
the Han Dynasty (漢朝 202BC to 220AD) with his capital in Changan (長安
the present day city of Xian). Liu Xiu (劉秀), the First Emperor of the
Eastern Han (東漢朝 25AD to 219AD) moved his capital to Luoyang in Henan
province.

The Dynasties of Western Wei (西魏朝 535AD to 556AD), Northern Zhou (北周
朝 557AD to 581AD), Sui (隋朝 589AD to 617AD), Tang (唐朝 618AD to 906AD),
all established their capitals in Xian. After Tang Dynasty the fortunes
of Shaanxi province declined and became less important politically.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 17012005

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The 28 provinces of China - Shandong

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-21-05 21:48

The 28 provinces of China.

Please click on Chinese Simplified to read Chinese.

The province of Shangdong (山東省)

http://chungyn.webhop.net/ShanDong.jpg
(山) Shan means mountain. In this case it refers to Mount Taihang (太行山
)
(東) Dong means east.
(山東) As this province is situated in the east of Mount Taihang it is called
Shandong or the east of Mount Taihang. During the Zhou Dynasty (周朝1134BC
to 256BC) this was the territory of the State of Lu (魯國) where Confucius
(孔子) was born in 551BC. The single word name of this province is called
Lu (魯) named after the State of Lu.

(人口) The population is 90.8 million
(省會) The provincial capital is capital is Jinan (濟南) with a population
of 5.9 million.
(面積) The area of the province is 153,000 square kilometres.
The population of Shandong province is predominately ethnic Han with the
exception of a small number of ethnic Hui (回族).

During the Zhou Dynasty (周朝 1134BC to 256BC) the present day Shandong
province was the territory for the States of Lu (魯國), with its capital
in the present day county of Qufu (曲阜) and Qi (齊國), with its capital
in the present day Linzi county 臨淄縣).

In 771BC the Northern tribe of Rong (戎) attacked and occupied the Zhou
capital of Hao (鎬 present day Xian city 西安市 in Shaanxi province 陜西
省). The Rongs razed the capital to the ground. Every thing in the capital
was ransacked and destroyed, including the historical records of the Zhou
and other preceding Dynasties. Since the capital was uninhabitable, the
newly crowned Zhou King Ping (周平王) moved his capital to Cheng Zhou (成
周 present day Luo Yang 洛陽 city in Henan province 河南省). It was the
beginning of the era of the Easter Zhou Dynasty (東周朝).

For four to five hundred years there were no wars in the State of Lu. All
the historical records and many other works about the Zhou Dynasty were
kept in tact in Lu. Thus Lu became the cultural heartland during the Zhou
Dynasty since 772BC which was recorded as the beginning of the Spring and
Autumn period (春秋時代 722BC to 481BC). It also had developed the custom
of proprieties which meant the established customs of civilized life. Many
Chinese classical and philosophical works were written by the scholars from
Lu.

Confucius was born in this province in the town of Qufu (曲阜) in 551BC.
The Confucius temple, a large size is also in Qufu town. For more than 2,000
years the tradition of celebrating his birthday never ceased on 28th September
every year.

In 1897, two German priests were killed in Shandong province [山東省], Two
weeks later the German Government served demands on China:
(1) a ninety-nine years lease of Qingdao [青島] and the bay of Jiaozhou
[膠州灣];
(2) the sole right of railway construction and the exploitation of the coal
mines of Shandong province.
(3) the payment of an indemnity and the expenses of the naval expedition
which had occupied Qingdao prior to the serving of the demands.
All the demands were accepted by the Chinese Government and the agreement
was signed on March 6, 1898.

During the period of Cutting the Chinese Watermelon (瓜分時代 1895 to 1922)
the province of Shandong was under the German Sphere of interest.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 22012005

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The 28 provinces of China - Shanxi

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-23-05 01:32

The 28 provinces of China

Please click on Chinese Simplified to read Chinese

The province of Shanxi (山西省)

http://chungyn.webhop.net/ShanXi.jpg
(山) Shan means mountain. In this case it is the Mount Taihang (太行山)
(西) Xi means west.
As this province is situated in the west of Taihangshan (Mount Taihang)
it is called Shanxi (山西) or west of Mount Taihang. This territory was
called the State of Jin (晉國) during the Zhou Dynasty (周朝1134BC to 256BC).
The single word name of Shanxi is Jin (晉) named after the State of Jin.

(人口) The population is 33.8 million
(省會) The provincial capital is Taiyuan (太原) with a population of 2.9
million.
(面積) The area of the province is 156,000 square kilometres and almost
70% of the province is mountainous. The west of the province is bordered
by Huanghe (黃河) or the Yellow River and the north by the Great Wall. Please
refer to the map.

Taiyuan has a history of about 3,000 years, as far back as during the reign
of Zhou King Xuan (周宣王 827BC to 782BC). At that time the villages in
the north of the land were constantly subjected to raids from Jiang (姜)
and Rong (戎) tribes from the north. In 789BC Zhou King Xuan personally
led an expeditionary force trying to crush the aggressive northern neighbours,
but he was defeated at the battle of Qian Mu (千畝) in the present day
of Shanxi province (山西省) and lost a large part of territory to the tribes
of Jiang and Rong.

The following year in 788BC, Zhou King Xuan was planning revenge on the
northerners and went to Taiyuan (太原) to conduct a censor of the population
there. He wanted to find out the amount of resources in Tai Yuan that would
be available to mount another campaign against the Jiang and Rong tribes.
The campaign did not materialize.

The predominately ethnic group in Shanxi province is Han (漢族). However,
there are other ethnic groups of Hui (回族), Meng (蒙族), Zang (藏族) and
a few small population of other groups.

The northern part of Shanxi province was the key defensive bulwark against
the northern nomadic tribes. To secure the northern frontiers, in 214BC,
Ying Zheng (嬴政) the First Emperor of China, ordered his greatest general,
Meng Tian (蒙恬) to mobilize all the able-bodied subjects in the country
to link up all the walls already erected by his ancestors, the rulers of
Qin (秦國 in present day Fengxiang county 鳳翔縣 of Shaanxi province 陜西
省) and by the States of Yan (燕國 1112BC to 222BC, in present day Beijing
city 北京市 in Hebei province 河北省), Zhao (趙國 457BC to 222BC in present
day Han Dan city 邯鄲市 in Hebei province)

When all the walls were eventually connected they formed an incredibly long
wall from Shanhaiguan (山海關) in Liaoning province ( 遼寧省) to the plateau
of Long Xi (隴西) in Gansu province (甘肅省). It measured more than 4800
li and came to be called "Wan Li Chang Cheng 萬里長城 " (Ten Thousand Li
Long Wall), becoming a permanent barrier separating the agricultural Han
Chinese to the south and the the nomadic horse-mounted herdsmen to the north.
Wan Li Li Chang Chen passes through the north of Shanxi province.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 23012005

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The 28 provinces of China - Sichuan

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-27-05 07:35

The 28 provinces of China

Please click on Chinese Simplified to read Chinese.

The province of Sichuan (四川省)

http://chungyn.webhop.net/SiChuan.jpg

(四) Si means four.
(川) Chuan means river.

(四川) Sichuan is sometimes referred to as the region of Four Rivers. The
four rivers that form the headwaters of Chang Jiang (長江) or the Yangtze
River give Sichuan Province its name. The four rivers are: the Min Jiang
(岷江), the Jialing Jiang (嘉陵江), the Tuo Jiang (沱江) and the Wu Jiang
(烏江). The single word of thie province is Chuan (川) means river.

(人口) The population is 109 million
(省會) The provincial capital is Chengdu (成都) with a population of 11.3
million.
(面積) The area of this province is 488.000 square kilometres.
The population is mainly of the ethnic groups of Han (漢族), Zang (藏族),
Yi (彝族),
Miao (苗族), Qiang (羌族), Lisu (栗僳族) and a few others.

The province of Sichuan is the home of the giant pandas. About 12 kilometres
north of the provincial capital is the research station and breeding ground
of the giant pandas, the China's "animal ambassadors". It is estimated
there are slightly more than a thousand giant pandas living in the wide
solely in the north and north-west of Sichuan province.

The famous Tang poet Li Bai (李白), the late former paramount leader of
China, Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平) and Zhu De (朱德), the commander-in-chief
of the Red Army were born in Sichuan province.

During the Warring States Period (戰國時代 BC 453 to 221), I quote from
the book titled "The Crippled Tree" written by Dr. Han Suyin (韓素音), whose
father was born in Sichuan province:

"In 250BC, Li Ping [李冰], governor of the region, but also an engineer,
carried out a complex operation on Mien River [岷江] as it descended steeply
from the Tibetan ranges to hurtle at vast speed across the plain, dragging
frightful boulders, and flooding the shallow basin every three years. At
Kuanhsien [灌縣], where the Mien River left the foothills, Li Ping redirected
its water by cutting a gorge forty meters deep through the solid rock of
the cliffs, thus dividing the river into two forks, and by means of dams
and barriers, still kept up today, controlling the water flow. The strong
current out of this artificial gorge was then divided and subdivided, twisted
and curbed by stone revetments, the water grooved into innumerable canals
and streams which latticed the plain and transformed it into a garden fair
and beautiful in all its corners."

During the Three Kingdoms Period (三國時代 AD 220 to 265), the present day
Sichuan province was the territory of the Kingdom of Han Shu (漢蜀 AD 221
to 263) and its ruler was Liu Bei (劉備) with his capital in Chengdu (成
都). In September 1940, Chiang Kaishek (蔣介石) made Chongqing (重慶), the
biggest city in Sichuan, the capital of the country during the War of Resistance
against Japan in World War Two.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 27012005

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The 28 provinces of China - Taiwan

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-27-05 18:35

The 28 provinces of China

Please click on Chinese Simplified to read Chinese.

The province of Taiwan (台灣省)

http://chungyn.webhop.net/TaiWan.jpg

(台) Tai means = platform; a flat raised surface.
(灣) Wan means = gulf ; a bend in a stream.

(台灣) means a big flat raised land bounded by a gulf bay
(人口) The estimated population is about 22.3 million.
(省會) The provincial capital is Taipei (台北) with a population of 2.596
million.
(面積) The area of the province is about 36,000 square kilometres.

The province of Taiwan is an island in the China Sea and south-east of the
China coast. The single word name of Taiwan province is Tai (台). More than
84% of the population in Taiwan are ethnic Han (漢族). The rest of them
are the brothers of the nine tribes. They are the Ami (亞美族), Atayal (泰
雅族), Bunun (布農族), Dao (達悟族), Palwan (排灣族), Puyuma (卑南族), Rukai
(魯凱族), Saislyat (賽亞族) and Tso (鄒族)

The name of the province was derived from the huge gulf bay stretching 60
nautical miles from Gaoxiong (高雄) to Maobitou (貓鼻頭) or Cat Nose Head
where there existed a large aboriginal settlement before the arrival of
the Portuguese. After the arrival of the westerners, it was known by the
romantic name of Formosa, the beautiful island.

A taiwan folk song called:
"阿里山的姑娘 The girls in Ali Mountain"

高...山...青--Green and high mountain
澗...水...藍--Blue water in the ravine
阿里山的姑娘美如水--Girls in Ali Mountain are as beautiful as the water
阿里山的少年壯如山--Youths in Ali Mountain are as strong as the mountain
阿...........阿..........--------A...........A.....
阿里山的姑娘美如水,
阿里山的少年壯如山.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 28012005

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The 28 provinces of China - A brief history of the province of Taiwan

Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-28-05 15:19

The 28 provinces of China

A brief history of the province of Taiwan

Please click on Chinese Simplified to read Chinese.

During the Dynasties of Qin (秦朝 221BC to 207BC) and Han (漢朝 206BC to
220AD) the present day Taiwan Island was called Daiyu (岱與) or Da Yuan
(大冤). It was called Yizhou (夷州) during the Three Kingdoms Period (三
國時代 220AD to 265AD). A few hundred years later it was recorded as Liuqiu
(流球) in the history of the Sui (隋朝 581AD to 618AD) and Tang (唐朝 618AD
to 907AD) Dynasties.. During the Five Dynasties (五代 907AD to 960AD) it
was called Beigang (北港). However in the history of Song Dynasty (宋朝
960AD to 1279AD) it was recorded as Beishena (北舍那) and the Yuan Dynasty
(元朝 1206AD to 1368AD) continued to call that name. The Ming Dynasty (明
朝 1368AD to 1644AD) renamed it to Jilong (雞籠) and then Dongfan (東番)
and again changed to Taiyuan (台員). Finally in 1599AD, in the 27th year
reign of Emperor Shen Zong (神宗皇帝), the year of Ji Hai (己亥年) it was
settled with the present name of Taiwan (台灣).

During the Southern Song Dynasty (南宋朝 1127AD to 1279AD) the present day
island of Taiwan was under the jurisdiction of Jinjiang county of Quanzhoufu
(泉州府晉江縣) of Fujian province (福建省). During the Yuan Dynasty it was
under the control of Tongan county (同安縣 present day Shamen 廈門). It
remained under the jurisdiction of Shamen during the Ming Dynasty. In 1627AD
during the reign of Emperor Xi Zong Zhu Youxiao (熹宗皇帝朱由校 1621AD to
1627AD) there was a natural disaster in the present day province of Fujian,
Zheng Zhilong (鄭芝龍 will talk about him later) suggested to the Governor
of Fujian, Xiong Wencan (熊文燦), to sent several ten thousand famine victims
to the island of Taiwan. It was not materialized.

The distance of the Island of Taiwan is about 150 kilometers southeast from
the province of Fujian (福建省 please refer to the map). Due to the unfavourable
sea currents of South China Sea blowing from the south to the north throughout
the year the island of Taiwan had been isolated from Mainland China for
a long time. Not until the 13th century that there were Chinese and Japanese
pirates known as Wokou (倭寇) who were operating in China coastal waters,
dared to land on Taiwan Island to establish their hideouts.

The Wokou encountered the aboriginal tribe of Malayo-Polynesian who arrived
in Taiwan around 6,000 years ago. These aborigines were the forefathers
of the present day nine tribes of indigenous who have managed to preserve
their distinct customs and languages. They now live in the Central Mountain
Range and along the eastern coastal areas of the island.

These nine tribes are the Ami (亞美族), Atayal (泰雅族), Bunun (布農族),
Dao (達悟族), Palwan (排灣族), Puyuma (卑南族), Rukai (魯凱族), Saislyat
(賽亞族) and Tso (鄒族)

During the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongolian Government had a garrison stationed
at Penghu Islands (澎湖列島), a group of 64 islands, situated about half
way between Taiwan and Mainland China. The Yuan Dynasty collapsed and Zhu
Yuanzhang (朱元璋) established the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang was crowned
Emperor Tai Xu (太祖皇帝 1368AD to 1398AD). During his 21st year reign (1388AD)
Emperor Tai Zu abolished the garrison station and abandoned Penghu Islands.

The Dutch were insatiable empire-builders. Having subjugated the East Indies
(present day Indonesia), they landed in Penghu Islands, during the reigned
of Emperor Shen Zong Zhu Xiang Jun (神宗皇帝朱翔鈞 1573AD to 1620AD). Having
heard that the Dutch were in Penghu in 1603AD the Ming Government sent troops
to Penghu Islands and had the Dutch expelled. After they failed to establish
a base in Penghu Islands the Dutch tried to wrest Macau (澳門) from the
Portuguese. Their invasion of Macau was repulsed by the Portuguese with
the help of the imperial troops of the Ming Dynasty.

The Dutch began trading in Jayakarta (present day Jarkata) in the East Indies
(present day Indonesia) in the 16th century. In 1595AD a Dutch merchant
by the name of Cornelius Houtman established a company in Jayakarta. The
company was called the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische
Compagnte or VOC in Dutch meaning "United East Indies Company"). In 1602AD,
the Dutch Government granted the company a monopoly to trade with Asia.
In 1619AD the Dutch attacked and destroyed Jayakarta. On the site of Jayakarta
they built a new trading base called Batavia named after an ancient Germanic
tribe. Batavia was built like a Dutch coastal town. Eventually Batavia became
the centre of Dutch Colonial power for almost 350 years until the Japanese
expelled the Dutch out of the East Indies in 1942AD.

Even though the Dutch had been defeated by the Portuguese in 1603AD in trying
to wrest Macau from the Portuguese, the Dutch determined to establish a
trading post near the coast of China. In July 1622AD, the Dutch sent an
armada of seventeen vessels making another attempt to capture Penghu Islands.
This time they succeeded in occupying the islands. By using the Chinese
prisoners-of-war as forced labourers the Dutch constructed a fortress in
Makung on the largest island. The Dutch also laid claim to the island of
Taiwan and they established a settlement on the island of Tayouan (present
day Anping 安平 near Tainan 台南 ).

From Penghu Islands the Dutch had a good strategic position and they were
able to control the sea route sailing through the Taiwan Strait and harass
the Portuguese vessels traveling to and from Japan. In September 1623AD
the Ming Government issued decree banning all ships sailing southeast coast
of China, particularly in the region near Penghu Islands. The Ming Government
told the Dutch that Penghu Islands belonged to the Ming Empire and they
should leave. The Dutch promised to evacuate from Penghu Islands.

Seeing the Dutch were not going to keep their promise and evacuate from
Penghu Islands, in January 1624AD the Ming troops attacked the Dutch on
Penghu Islands trying to take back their territory by force. The fighting
waged on for eight months.The Dutch were exhausted and eventually succumbed
to the Ming's demands. On 25 August 1624AD the Ming and the Dutch began
to negotiate. The end result of the negotiation was the signing of a treaty
in which the Ming gave the Dutch the rights to establish posts on Taiwan
island in exchange for the withdrawing from Penghu Islands. The Dutch were
very happy with the treaty because Taiwan was much bigger than the Penghu
Islands. The location of Taiwan was in a strategic point of the trade route
to and from China and Japan.

After destroying the fortress and military facilities, in November 1625AD
the Dutch evacuated from Penghu Islands and moved to island Tayouan (鹿耳
門 Luermen present day Tainan city 台南市) in the southwestern part of Taiwan
where they had built a settlement. They built the fortress called Zeelandia
(安平城), after the province of Zeeland. The Dutch began to colonize the
southwestern part of Taiwan.

In September 1626AD the Spanish attacked the city of Jilong (雞籠 present
day Keelung 基隆) and landed on Santiago (三貂角) in northern Taiwan. After
building a settlement there they advanced through the north Taiwan to Danshui
(淡水) on the northwest coast. Two years later, they built the Fort Santo
Domingo (淡水紅毛城) in Danshui. The Dutch could not tolerate another country
threatening their monopoly in Taiwan. In November 1642AD the Dutch expelled
the Spanish from northern Taiwan. Thus the Dutch almost controlled the whole
of Taiwan which they were trying to make it a part of the East Indies.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 29012005

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