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 The province of Taiwan (01)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-18-04 01:21

The province of Taiwan (01)

There will be a presidential election in Taiwan in 3 days' time.
Let us talk about Taiwan.

[Map of Taiwan http://chungyn.webhop.net/taiwanProvince.jpg]

The province of Taiwan (台灣省) is the second smallest province in China and the smallest province is the province of Hainan (海南省).

(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 is about 36,000 square kilometers.
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). There are also nine ethnic groups living in Taiwan. 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) [see map http://chungyn.webhop.net/taiwanAb.jpg].

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 poem on Taiwan

在東南海有個孤島,---Zai dong nan hai you ge gu dao,
美麗肥沃天則資源;---Mei li fei wo tian ze zi yuan;

五月三百四十年前,---Wu yue san bai si shi nian qian,
鄭成功手開墾厥島,---Zheng Chenggong shou kai pi jue dao;

矮寇占領期間五代,---Ai kou zhan ling qi jian wu dai;
五代五年前復祖國;---Wu dai wu nian qian fu zu guo;

浪子不回頭同聲喊,---Lang zi bu hui tou tong sheng han,
咱們龍子不歸祖國;---Zan men long zi bu gui zu guo;

歸來吧龍母在呼喊,---Gui lai ba long mu zai hu han,
益無忌憚回覆不歸,---Yi wu ji dan hui fu bu gui.

There is a lonely island in the Southeast Sea,
It is beautiful, fertile and full of natural resources;

More than fourteen scores years ago,
Zheng Chenggong brought it under cultivation;

For five decades it was forcefully occupied by the Shorties;
Thankfully it was restored to the motherland five decades ago,

Proudly the prodigal sons shouted,
"We, the Dragon Seeds, would not return to the motherland"

Defiantly and stubbornly they embrace the motherland not
"Come home" the Dragon Mother calls her prodigal sons
Without fear they responded "Never" to the mother's call.

Written in 1996

台灣小調 (A Taiwan folk song)
I love Taiwan

我愛台灣好地方﹐唱個台灣調﹐海岸線長山又高﹐山上叢林是瑰寶。
四通八達有公路﹐南北有鐵道﹐太平洋上風光好﹐台灣稱寶島。

四季豐收蓬萊稻﹐農村多歡笑。白糖茶葉買賣好﹐家家戶戶吃得飽。
鳳梨西瓜和香蕉﹐出產真不少﹐不管長住和初到﹐同聲齊誇耀。

阿里山峰入雲霄﹐西螺建大橋﹐烏來瀑布十丈高﹐碧潭水上有情調。
西門町口最熱鬧﹐台大最崇高﹐這堣H情濃如較﹐大家都相好。

I love Taiwan, a good place,
Let us sing a song of Taiwan,
The seacoast is straight,
The mountains are high covered with forest like treasure.
The highways radiate in all directions,
The railway links from north to south,
It is a wonderful sight in the Pacific Ocean,
Taiwan is called the Treasure Island.

There are bumper harvests of rice in all seasons,
And the farmers are laughing,
Business in sugar and tea is roaring
and no family is starving.
Pineapples, watermelons and bananas
Are in mass production,
It does not matter whether you are a newcomer or an old resident,
Everyone is bragging in unison

The peak of Mount Alishan reaches the skies
And the big bridge in Xiluo.
The waterfall in Wulai is 33 meters high,
And the sentimental sight in the water of lake Bitan.
The bustling with noise and excitemen in Ximen Tingkou,
And the high prestige of the University of Taiwan.
In here, the people are warmth and affection.
The relationship of the people is good and on intimate terms.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 18032004
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 The province of Taiwan (02)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-18-04 09:55

The province of Taiwan (02)
=====================================

朱家麵, 李家磨,----Zhu jia mian, Li jia mo,
做成一個大饃饃,--Zuo cheng yi ge mo mo,
送給對巷趙大哥.--Song gei dui xiang Zhao da ge.

Zhu[1] family's flour, Li[2] family kneaded it into a dough,
And made a big steamed bun,
To give it to Elder brother Zhao[3] who lived opposite.

[1] Zhu meant the Ming Royal family.
[2] Li meant Li Zicheng who ransacked Beijing
[3] Zhao meant the Manzhou.

A folk song
===========================================

During the Dynasties of Qin (秦朝 221BC to 207BC) and Han (漢朝 206BC to 220AD) the present day Taiwan Island was called Dai Yu (岱與) or Da Yuan (大冤). During the Three Kingdoms Period (三國時代 220AD to 265AD) Taiwan was called Yi Zhou (夷州). During the Dynasties of Sui (隋朝 581AD to 618AD) and Tang (唐朝 618AD to 907AD) Taiwan was called Liu Qiu (流求). During the Five Dynasties (五代 907AD to 960AD) Taiwan was called Bei Gang (北港). During the Dynasties of Song (宋朝 960AD to 1279AD) and Yuan (元朝 1206AD to 1368AD) Taiwan was called Bei She Na (北舍那). During the Ming Dynasty (明朝 1368AD to 1644AD) Taiwan was called Ji Long (雞籠) or Dong Fan (東番) or Tai Yuan (台員), but in 1599AD, in the 27th year reign of Emperor Shen Zong (神宗皇帝), the year of Ji Hai (己亥年)
Taiwan was called Taiwan.

The distance of the Island of Taiwan is about 150 kilometers southeast from the province of Fujian (福建省). 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 dared to land on Taiwan Island to establish their hideouts. They encountered the aboriginal tribe of Malay in the western plateau of the island where the Malays called Tai Wan (台灣), a big flat raised land bounded by a gulf bay.

The Dutch were insatiable empire-builders. Having subjugated the East Indies (present day Indonesia) in 1619AD, they, in earlier 1622AD, sent an armada of seventeen vessels to capture Macao from the Portugese. Their invasion of Macao was repulsed by the Portuguse with the help of the imperial troops of the Ming Dynasty (1368AD to 1644AD). The Dutch then retreated to the Pescadores (澎湖列島 or Peng Hu Lie Dao) where they previously had constructed fortified posts as a base of operations. They attempted several times to establish trading links with Fujian province (福建省) but to no avail.

In 1624AD, out of frustration, the Dutch step foot on Taiwanese soil and built a base there after expelling the Spaniards from their erstwhile posts at Tamsui
(淡水) and Keelung (基隆). The Dutch became the rulers of the Chinese, Japanese and Malays who were living Taiwan .

Zheng Chenggong (鄭成功) was born on Hirado (平戶), an island in Kyushu,
(九州) Japan, in 1624AD, the 4th year reign of Emperor Xi Zong of Ming Dynasty
(明朝熹宗皇帝), the year of Jia Zi (甲子年) or the Year of the Rat. His father, Zheng Zhilong (鄭芝龍), was from Shi Jing village (石井鄉) of Nan An county (南安縣) in the city of Quan Zhou (泉州) in Fujian province (福建省). His mother was a Japanese woman by the name of Tian Chuan Shi (田川氏).

Zheng Zhilong was formerly a pirate under the leadership of Yan Siqi (顏思齊), but he surrendered to Shen Youlong (沈猶龍), the governor of Fujian province (福建省). In 1631, when Zheng Chenggong was seven-years-old, his mother took him back to live with his father in An Hai (安海) of Jin Jiang county (晉江縣) in Fujian province. In 1633 the Dutch invaded Shamen (廈門) harbour the new governor of Fujian province, Zou Weilian (鄒維璉), ordered the Ming Naval Force to encounter the Dutch. Zheng Zhilong was ordered to be the vanguard of the naval force. The Dutch naval force was repulsed. The naval force under the command of Zheng Zhilong destroyed five Dutch ships and captured one. Zheng Zhilong was promoted as the commander of the naval force in Fujian province (福建水師提督).

In the second Month of 1644AD, Li Zicheng (李自成), the leader of the peasant uprising, occupied Beijing (北京), the capital of the Ming Dynasty. He ransacked the capital. The Ming Emperor Yi Zong (毅宗皇帝) committed suicide. In the fourth Month Wu Sangui (吳三桂), a Ming General, who surrendered to the Manzhous (滿洲) in order to save his concubine Chen Yuanyuan (陳圓圓). Wu Sangui invited the Manzhous into proper China in helping him to put down the rebellion. Li Zicheng retreated to the west. In the tenth Month, the Manzhous established the Qing Dynasty (清朝 1644AD to 1912AD).
==========================================================

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 18032004

---
CHUNG Yoon
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 Re: The province of Taiwan (02)
Author: Andries (212.67.162.---)
Date:   03-18-04 10:38

Dear Yoon-Ngan,

You understand that I follow this with interest. we talked about it previously and I must say that I can't find much difference in the Dutch view on that period.

Regards,
Andries
Reply To This Message
 
 The province of Taiwan (03)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-18-04 21:32


The Province of Taiwan (03)
==========================================

[Dear Andries, Thank you for your support. At that time Taiwan was still occupied by the Dutch. Zheng Chenggong fought many battles with the Dutch.He killed the Dutuch Governor in Taiwan and repulsed the Dutch reinforcement sent from the East Indies. Eventually, the Dutch surrendered to Zheng Chenggong on the 1st February 1662. There is the copy of the surrendering document, in Dutch, I think, in my book. Shall I scan it for your perusal?]

Yoon-Ngan
============================================

北戰南征收寶島---Bei zhan nan zheng shou bao dao

Fighting in the north and the south
As well as to restore the Treasure Island

The motto of Zheng Chenggong (鄭成功)
========================================================

In the same year, 1644AD, Fu Wang (福王 or Prince Fu), Zhu Yousong (朱由崧), the first cousin brother of Emperor Yi Zong, was installed the new Emperor of the Ming Dynasty in Nanjing (南京) in Jiangsu province (江蘇省). Zheng Chenggong was 21-years-old and he went to Nanjing to study at a University. His father and his uncle Zheng Hongkui (鄭鴻逵) were supporting Zhu Yousong. Zheng Chenggong was told by his father and uncle to serve Zhu Yousong. Zheng Chenggong was charmed by the charisma of Zhu Yousong and became a staunch supporter of Zhu Yousong. Seeing him so loyal to him Zhu Yousong bestowed upon Zheng Chenggong the title of the Loyal Viscount (忠孝伯).

In the 6th Month of 1645AD the Qing Army captured Nanjing. While fleeing south Zhu Yousong was captured by the Qing troops at Wuhu (蕪湖) in Anhui province (安徽省). He was sent to Beijing and executed in a market place.

In the intercalary 6th Month, Zheng Zhilong the military commander of Fuzhou (福州) installed Zhu Yujian (朱聿鍵) as the new Ming Emperor in Fu Zhou in Fujian province. However, Zheng Zhilong was only using Zhu Yujian to raise his prestige. Zheng Zhilong had no intention to become a loyal general to the extinct Ming Dynasty. Secretly Zheng Zhilong sent messages to the commander of the Qing troops and inviting them to come to Fuzhou. In the 8th Month the Qing Army entered Fujian province without a fight. Zhu Yujian, the newly installed Ming Emperor, was captured by the Qing troops while trying to escape. He was brought back to Fuzhou and executed.

In the 11th Month Gui Wang (桂王 or Prince Gui), Zhu Youlang (朱由榔), the elder cousin brother of Zhu Yousong, was installed as the third Emperor of the Ming since the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, in Zhao Qing (肇慶 present day Gao Yao county 高要縣) in Guangdong province (廣東省).

Zheng Chenggong, who was 23-years-old, went to a Confucius temple in Feng Chuan town (豐川鎮) of Quan Zhou (泉州) in Fujian province. In the temple he burned his scholar attire. He swore, "我現在是孤臣遺子﹐應該幹我的事了 Now I
am a subject without a Lord and I should go and do my own business." He raised an army to fight against the Qing Authorities. He captured Hai Cheng (海澄), Quan Zhou (泉州), Tong An (同安), Zhao An (詔安), Hui Lai (惠來), Chao Yang (潮陽),Sha Men (廈門), Jin Men (金門), Zhang Pu (漳浦) and Zhang Zhou (漳州).

It was a shocked to the Qing Authorities and the whole country knew that Zheng Chenggong might revive the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Youlang, the newly installed Ming Emperor In Guangdong province, heard the good news and rewarded Zheng Chenggong the title of Zhang Guo Gong (漳國公) or the Duke of the State of Zhang. The Qing Authorities forced Zheng Zhilong to write to his son telling him to surrender. Zheng Shizhong (鄭世忠), the youngest son of Zheng Zhilong went to Hai Cheng to deliver the letter to Zheng Chenggong, but he refused to surrender. Zheng Chenggong replied his father, "豈有捨鳳凰而就虎豹者哉. How can I depart from the phoenix and go to live with the tiger and the leopard." Zheng Chenggong broke off his relationship with his father and he supported Zhu Youlang. Zheng Chenggong formed an alliance with Zhang Huangyan (張煌言), who had been leading an army fighting the Manzhous trying to reconquer the north.

In the first Month of 1647AD, the Qing Army attacked Zhu Youlang in Zhao Qing. Zhu Youlang fled to Guilin ( 桂林) in Guangxi province (廣西省). Again in the 11th Month the Qing Army attacked Zhu Youlang and he fled to Wu Gang (武岡) in Hunan province (湖南省).

In 1655AD Zheng Chenggong established an Administration Office in the present day of Shamen which he renamed it Si Ming Zhou (思明州) or the State to Remember the Ming. In 1657, Zhu Youlang, the new Ming Emperor, bestowed upon Zheng Chenggong the title of Yan Ping Wang (延平王) or the Prince of Yan Ping.

In 1658AD Zheng Chenggong and Zhang Huangyan marched north to reconquer the territory that was lost to the Manzhous. They started from Chong Ming (崇明) at the mouth of the Yangtze River. They captured Gua Zhou (瓜州)﹐Zhen Jiang (鎮江), Wu Hu (蕪湖), the four prefectures and twenty four counties. Zheng Chenggong's objective was the city of Nanjing (南京). In the north gate of Nanjing city Zheng Chenggong was defeated by the Qing Army. He lost more than 500 battleships and thousands of men. Zheng Chenggong retreated back to Shamen.

In 1660AD, the Qing Army attacked Shamen with a large force. Zheng Cheng Gong repulsed the attack. The following year on the 23rd day of the 3rd Month Zheng Chenggong left Shamen (金門) for Taiwan Island with a force of more than 20,000 and 900 ships. He left his son Zheng Jing (鄭經) behind to guard Shamem.
=======================================================

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 18032004

---
CHUNG Yoon
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 Re: The province of Taiwan (03)
Author: Andries (212.67.162.---)
Date:   03-19-04 02:29

Dear Yoon-Ngan,

Yes please scan the document and if it is in Dutch I could translate it for you. The Dutch language of that time is quite difficult but in my student time I did some study of the 17th century Dutch so it should be possible. The language of that time is similar to the "Afrikaans" and we assume that the originators are the same, because South Africa was used as a supply stop of VOC ships on their way to the "EAST". The language of these isolated people developed differently than in the Netherlands. These people used to be farmers which are called "Boeren" in Dutch. In 1842 the war of the "Boeren" ,being French, German and Dutch, against England started and was one of the most violent actions. The British were the first in history to create concentration camps.

Regards,
Andries
Reply To This Message
 
 The province of Taiwan (04)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-19-04 03:26


The province of Taiwan (04)
=========================================

[The Dutch surrendering document
http://chungyn.webhop.net/dutchSurrender.jpg]
=========================================

開闢荊榛逐荷夷,---Kai pi jing zhen zhu He Yi,
十年始克復先基.---Shi nian shi ke fu xian ji.
田橫尚有三千客,---Tian heng shang you san qian ke,
茹苦間關不忍離.---Ru ku jian guan bu ren li

Having defeated the Dutch we cleared the brambles and developed the land,
After a decade of drudgery the foundation was laid.
Despite the hardship, we, the force of three thousand Ming royalists,
Determined to stay.

A poem:
"The Return of Taiwan 復台"
By Zheng Cheng Gong 鄭成功著
========================================================

In the 1st Month 1661AD, the first Emperor of the Qing Dynasty died and was succeded by his eldest son who was crowned Emperor Kang Xi (康熙皇帝 1662AD to 1722AD). In the 10th Month of the same year, Zheng Zhilong, the father of Zheng Chenggong, was killed. While he and his forces were languishing in Shamen (廈門) in Fujian province Zheng Chenggong suddenly thought of the island of Taiwan which lay across the Taiwan Straits. With a force of about 900 ships and 25,000 troops Zheng Chenggong sailed for the island of Taiwan.

Meanwhile Zhu Youlong, the Ming Emperor was hiding in Burma. In the 12th Month Wu Sangui (吳三桂), the Ming General, led the Qing troops into Burma with the intention of capturing the Ming Emperor. The Burmese had no means to stop the incursion by the Qing troops. Without alternative the Burmese Authorities captured the Ming Emperor and presented him to Wu Sangui who then left Burma. Wu Sangui personally presented the Ming Emperor as a gift to Emperor Kang Xi's coronation. A happy Wu Sangui was greatly rewarded. That was the end of the Ming Dynasty after 294 years in existence.

As stated in (02) in 11th Month of 1624AD the Dutch landed in Tainan (台南 see map http://chungyn.webhop.net/taiwanProvince.jpg). In 9th Month of 1626AD, the Portuguese landed in port Jilong (雞籠 or chicken basket, present day port Jilong 基隆 near Taibei 台北). However, in 11th Month of 1642AD the Dutch expelled the Portuguese from Jilong. The whole of Taiwan island was under the control of the Dutch who built a strong fortification in Tainan.

On the 23rd of the 3rd Month of 1661, Zheng Chenggong and his armada of more than 900 ships and 25,000 troops, crossed the Straits of Taiwan and landed in Lu Er Men (鹿耳門 the Gate of the Deer's Ears, present day An Ping 安平 harbour in Tainan). On the 2nd of the 4th Month Zheng Chenggong attacked the Dutch fortification. The next day the Dutch Military Governor was killed in battle. On the 4th of the 4th Month the Dutch sued for peace and were willing to surrender. However, the next day the Dutch changed their mind stating that they were willing to give Zheng Chenggong all the silver they had but they did not leave Taiwan. Zheng Chenggong sent a messenger called Li Chong (李沖) to tell the Dutch:

"台灣者, 中國土地也" "地當歸我"
"Taiwan is Chinese land and it should return to the Chinese"

But the Dutch would not budge. Actually, the Dutch were marking time and waiting for the reinforcement from East Indies (present day Indonesia) to arrival. So fighting started again. Eventually, the Dutch reinforcement arrived from the East Indies. Severe battles followed. Zheng Chenggong laid siege to the Dutch fortification. The siege lasted 9 months. Zheng Chenggong gave the Dutch 8 conditions to give up fighting. Over 1,600 Dutch were killed or wounded. The Dutch were without food and water. In the end the Dutch had no choice but to accept the 8 conditions and surrender.

On the 1st day of the 2nd Month 1662AD the Dutch signed the surrendered document. That was the end of the 38 years rule of Taiwan by the Dutch. All the Dutch personnels were repatriated to the East Indies.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 19032004

---
CHUNG Yoon
Reply To This Message
 
 Re: The province of Taiwan (01)
Author: Andries (212.67.162.---)
Date:   03-19-04 06:25

Dear Yoon-Ngan,

Thank you for the scanned document. The readibility is not sufficient to enable my translation. However I contacted our ministery of foreign affairs and got the Official English version of the document. I hope that Koxinga is sufficiently clear if not I can give you the Chinese names of that period.

"Quote"
Treaty between Koxinga and the Dutch Government
Signed at Zeelandia 1 February 1662

Treaty made and agreed upon; from the one side, by His Highness the Lord Teibingh Tsiante Teysiancon Koxin, who has besieged Castle Zeelandia on Formosa since 1st May 1661 up till this 1st day of February 1662; and from the other side, as representing the Dutch Government, by the Governor of the said Castle, Frederik Coyett, and his Council, consisting of the undernoted eighteen Articles:

Article 1

All hostilities committed on either side to be forgotten.

Article 2

Castle Zeelandia, with its outworks, artillery, remaining war materiel, merchandise, money, and other properties belonging to the Honourable Company, to be surrendered to Lord Koxinga.

Article 3

Rice, bread, wine, arack, meat, pork, oil, vinegar, ropes, canvas, pitch, tar, anchors, gunpowder, bullets, and linen, with such other articles as may be required by the besieged during their voyage to Batavia, to be taken aboard the Company's ships in keeping with instructions from the before-mentioned Governor and Council.

Article 4

All private movable property inside the Castle or elsewhere belonging to officers of the Dutch Government, shall first be inspected by Lord Koxinga's delegates, and then placed on board the said ships.

Article 5

In addition to these goods, each of the twenty-eight Councillors shall be permitted to take with them two hundred rijksdaalders, and twenty chosen civilians an aggregate sum of one thousand rijksdaalders.

Article 6

After inspection, the Dutch soldiers may come forth with flying banners, burning fusees, loaded rifles, and beating drums, marching thus for embarkation under command of the Governor.

Article 7

The names of all Chinese debtors or lease-holder in Formosa, with particulars of claims against them, shall be copied out of the company's books, and handed to Lord Koxinga.

Article 8

All the Government archives may be taken to Batavia.

Article 9

Every servant of the Company, now imprisoned by the Chinese in Formosa, shall be liberated within eight or ten days, and those who are in China, as soon as possible. Servants of the Company who are not imprisoned in Formosa shall be granted a free pass to reach the Company's ships in safety.

Article 10

The said Lord Koxinga shall now return to the Company the four captured boats, with all their accessories.

Article 11

He shall also provide a sufficient number of vessels to take the Honourable Company's people and goods to their ships.

Article 12

Vegetables, flesh-meat, and whatever else may be necessary to sustain the Company's people during their stay, shall daily be provided by His Highness's subjects at a reasonable price.

Article 13

So long as the Honourable Company's people remain on land before embarkation, no soldier or other subject of Lord Koxinga shall be permitted to enter the Castle (unless ... on service for the Company), to approach the outworks nearer than the gabions, or to proceed further than the palisades erected by order of His Highness.

Article 14

No other than a white flag shall float from the Castle until the Honourable Company's people have marched out.

Article 15

Those who guard the stores shall remain in the Castle two or three days after the other people and goods have been taken on board, and thereafter they shall proceed themselves to the vessels.

Article 16

As soon as this agreement is signed, sealed, and sworn to on both sides, each according to his country's customs, Lord Koxinga shall deliver to one of the Dutch ships two hostages, viz. the Mandarin or Captain Moor Ongkun and Pimpan Jamoosje of the political Council. On the other side, and as representing the Company, Lord Koxinga shall receive custody of Mr. Jan Oetgens van Waveren, an official second in rank to the Governor, and Mr. David Harthouwer, also a member of the Formosan Council. Each of these hostages shall remain in a previously fixed place until everything has been carried out in accordance with the terms of this contract.

Article 17

Chinese prisoners at present in the Castle or on the Company's ships shall be exchanged for any of our people who have been seized by the subjects of Lord Koxinga.

Article 18

All misunderstandings, and every important matter overlooked in this Agreement, shall immediately be dealt with to the satisfaction of both parties, upon notice having been given on either side.

LORD CHENG CHEN-KUNG, [L.S.]


FREDERIK COYETT, [L.S.]
"Unquote"

Regards,
Andries
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 Re: The province of Taiwan (01)
Author: Andries (212.67.162.---)
Date:   03-19-04 06:29

Dear Yoon-Ngan,

I had the information of Koxinga available

Koxinga (靇; pinyin: G迆ox足ngy谷) is the popular name of Zheng Chenggong (傖髡 pinyin: Zh豕ng Ch谷ngg身ng; WG: Cheng Ch'eng-kung; Cheng Kung) (1624 - 1662), who was a military leader at the end of the Chinese Ming Dynasty. He was a prominent leader of the anti-Qing movement opposing the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and a Han Chinese general who seized Taiwan from Dutch colonial rule in 1661.

Regards,
Andries
Reply To This Message
 
 Re: The province of Taiwan (01)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-19-04 07:27


Dear Andries,

Thank you so much for the English version of the agreement singed on 1st February 1662AD bwtween Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) and the Dutch in Taiwan. The Chinese called it the Dutch surrendered document. The Chinese version of the document was not in such details as the English one. I will download it for future reference. Zheng (Tey in Japanese) is also my surname, Chung in Hakka. Indeed I am very happy to know that there is someone who understands what I am writing about.

Thanks again

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan
19032004

---
CHUNG Yoon
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 Re: The province of Taiwan (01)
Author: Andries (212.67.162.---)
Date:   03-19-04 07:52

Dear Yoon-Ngan,

Your tremendous work is not only appreciated by me but I'm sure by many silent readers. The difference in detail between the Chinese and the English version might be explained by the limited Dutch-Chinese translators. There have been misunderstandings because of that. Please find below an interesting link that I just found including the integral text of the VOC treaty.

http://www.taiwandocuments.org/doc_treaties.htm

Regards and supporting wishes,
Andries
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 Re: The province of Taiwan (01)
Author: SL Lee 
Date:   03-19-04 09:09

In this reference, the picture shown as Zheng Chenggong is also known as Zheng He in other sites. They are 200 years apart!

http://images.google.com/images?q=zheng+he+&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&start=20&sa=N

There is another picture of Zheng Chenggong:
http://images.google.com/images?q=zheng+chenggong&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en
--------------

SL Lee
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 Re: The province of Taiwan (01)
Author: Andries (212.67.162.---)
Date:   03-19-04 09:24

Dear SL Lee,

Indeed very interesting links. I could not click them but after copying them to the command line I was surprised to find a Dutch text at the first Zheng Chenggong figure and a French text at the first picture of the second link. If you did this on purpose refering to my two mother tongues I thank you very much and admire your reaction speed.

Regards,
Andries
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 The province of Taiwan (05)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-19-04 22:15

The province of Taiwan (05)
===============================

高...山...青--Gao shan qing
The green and high mountain
澗...水...藍--Jian shui nan
The blue water in the ravine
阿里山的姑娘美如水--Alishan* di gu niang mei ru shui
The girls in Ali Mountain are as beautiful as the water
阿里山的少年壯如山--Alishan di shao nian zhuang ru shan
The youths in Ali Mountain are as strong as the mountain
阿...........阿..........--------A...........A.....
阿里山的姑娘美如水,---Alishan di gu niangmei ru shui
The girls in Ali Mountain are as beautiful as the water
阿里山的少年壯如山---Alishan di shao nian zhuang ru shan
The youths in Ali Mountain are as strong as the mountain

*Alishan is a famous scenic spot in the center of Taiwan,
see the map of Taiwan
http://chungyn.webhop.net/taiwanProvince.jpg

A Taiwan folk song
阿里山的姑娘 The girls in Ali Mountain
=================================================

Zheng Chenggong proclaimed that Taiwan was a territory of the Ming Dynasty. He established a Kingdom called The Yan Ping Kingdom (延平郡王府) after his title that the last Emperor of Ming bestowed upon him. The capital was in Tainan.

In the 4th Month 1662AD the Qing Authorities executed Gui Wang Zhu Youlang (桂王朱由榔), the last Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. On the 16th of June 1662, a few months after the victory over the Dutch Zheng Chenggong got a cold and he was ill. Yet every day he continued to climb up the tower and looked into the distance of Penghu Liedao (澎湖列島 Pescadores) and his motherland . On the 23rd of June he returned home after a look at the distance in the sea. He went to his study. Looking at the portray of Emperor Tai Zu Zhu Yuanzhang (太祖皇帝朱元璋) he sighed, "吾何面目見先帝于地下! I have no face to see the anecestor". He put his two hands on his face. He collapsed and died, aged 39.

After the death of Zheng Chenggong, his eldest son Zheng Jing (鄭經) succeeded him. In the 10th Month of 1663AD the Qing army attacked Shamen which was still under the control of Zheng Jing. In the same month the Dutch planned to join forces with the Qing Government to invade Taiwan. However, the Dutch plan did not materialize. Seeing no hope of defending Shanmen, in the 3rd Month 1664AD Zheng Jing withdrew and evacuated his troops to Taiwan.

In the 2nd Month of 1668AD, the Qing Government issued an imperial edict to
Zheng Jing asking him to return to the motherland's fold. Zheng Jing demanded that the Qing Government should recognise Taiwan as an independent country like Korea (高麗), Annam (安南) and Ryukyu (琉球). He emphasized that Taiwan would forever become a protectorate of the Qing Government and the people in Taiwan should be exempted from wearing pigtails. The Qing Government acceded to all the conditions.

Zheng Qing thought that the Qing Government was weak because it had not yet firmly established itself in the mainland. Zheng Jing wanted more and he demanded again that the Qing Government should grant him the authority to establish a trading base in Shamen (廈門 in the present day province of Fujian) to facilitate the Taiwanese trading along the coast of Fujian province. This time his demands were regarded as excessive by the Qing Government. Communications between them broke down. Zheng Jing tried unsuccessfully to retract the new conditions, but it was too late and the Qing Government refused to accept any condition. The Qing Government resolved to liberate Taiwan by force
[Watch out! History might repeat itself].

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 20032004

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CHUNG Yoon
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 The province of Taiwan (06)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-20-04 05:50


The province of Taiwan (06)
===============================

一把黃土,-------------Yi ba huang tu,
塑成千萬個你我,---Su cheng qian wan ge ni wo,
靜脈是長城,---------Jing mai shi Changcheng,
動脈是黃河.----------Dong mai shi Huanghe.

五千年的文化是生生不息的脈搏,
Wu qian nian di wen hua shi sheng sheng bu xi mai bo,
提醒你, 提醒你,---Ti xing ni, ti xing ni,
我們擁有個名字叫中國.
Wo men yong you ge ming zi jiao Zhongguo.

A piece of land,
That moulds into thousands upon thousands of us,
The vein is the Great Wall,
The artery is the Yellow River.

The pulse of the five thousand years of culture is non-stop beating,
It reminds you and again,
That we possess a name that calls China.

A patriotic Chinese song
====================================================

In the 2nd Month of 1642AD, Emperor Yi Zong (毅宗皇帝) of the Ming Dynasty sent General Wu Sangui (吳三桂) to defend Shan Hai Guan (山海關 The Gate of Mountain and Sea) which was the only gate acessable to the Central Plain of China, through the Great Wall that dividing the Zhongyuan (中原) and the Liaoning (遼寧) peninsular (Southern Manchuria). In the 4th Month of 1644AD Wu Sangui
opened the gate of Shan Hai Guan and invited the Manzhous to Central Plain of China. The Manzhous were delighted with Wu's invitation. They established the Qing Dynasty (1644AD to 1911AD).

Wu Sangui turned his coat and worked for the Manzhous who were, indeed, very grateful to him. The Manzhous bestowed upon him the title of the Prince of Yunnan (雲南王). With great enthusiasm Wu Sangui helped the Manzhous exterminated the remnants of the Ming Dynasty under the leadership of Gui Wang Zhu Youlang (桂王朱由榔), the last Ming Emperor. General Wu Sangui went into Burma and captured Zhu Youlang and presented him to Kang Xi Emperor (康熙皇帝1662AD to 1722AD), as a gift for his coronation as the 2nd Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. What a quisling Wu Sangui was.

However, Wu Sangui became very power. He was so powerful that the Manzhous were afraid of him. In order to check his power the Manzhous reduced supplying him the resources to run his fiefdom. Wu Sangui was angry and in the 11th Month of 1673AD he rebelled against the Manzhous just like what he did to the Ming Dynasty. He proclaimed that he was a Ming General again and was not working for the Manzhous. He wanted to oppose the Manzhous and revive the Ming Dynasty (反清復明 Fan Qing Du Ming) that he had helped to destroy. Wu Sangui thought that all the Han Chinese were stupid enough to follow him.

Shang Kexi (尚可喜), a former Ming General, who surrendered to the Qing and was rewarded a fiefdom. And so did Geng Zhongming (耿仲明) another Ming General who betrayed the Ming Dynasty and surrendered to the Qing. They joined forces with Wu Sangui to go against the Qing Government. They were known as "The Three Feudatories 三藩)".

Zheng Jing (鄭經), the ruler of Taiwan, joined forces with the Three Feudatories with the intention of overthrowing the Qing Government. Zheng Jing sent troops to assist the three unpredictable recalcitrant former Ming generals. Zheng Jing's actions enraged the Qing Government which launched an all out attack on the bases along the coastal regions of the provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang, held by his forces. After many battles Zheng Jing was finally forced to abandon all his bases in the mainland and evcuated all his forces to Taiwan.

In the 1st Month of 1681AD Zheng Jing died. He was succeeded by his second son Zheng Keshuang (鄭克塽) because his eldest son, Zheng Kezang (鄭克藏), was killed by his bodyguard, Feng Xifan (馮錫范). In the 7th Month the Qing army occupied Penghu Liedao ( 澎湖列島 Pescadores) which the Qing Government used as a stepping stone to liberate Taiwan by force.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 20032004

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CHUNG Yoon
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 The province of Taiwan (07)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-20-04 21:05


The province of Taiwan (07)
===============================

天黑黑, 要落雨,----Tian hei hei yao luo yu,
阿公舉鋤要掘芋,---A gong ju chu yao jue yu,
掘阿掘掘阿公掘,---Jue a jue jue a gong jue,
掘ぴ一尾旋留鼓.---Jue zhao yi wei xuan liu gu.
阿公要煮鹹,---A gong yao zhu xian,
阿媽要煮淡,---A ma yao zhu dan,
二個相打弄破鍋.---Er ge xiang da nong po guo.

The sky was getting dark and it was going to rain,
Grandfather carried a hoe and went out to dig yam,
Grandfather dug, dug and dug,
He dug out an eel.
Grandfather wanted to cook the eel savoury,
Grandmother wanted to cook it sweet
They ended up fighting and broke the cooking pot.

A Taiwan folk song
===============================================

In 1681AD the Three Feudatories (三藩) of Wu Sangui, Shang Kexi and Geng Zhongming were crushed by the Qing army. Zheng Keshuang, the 12 years old ruler was isolated in Taiwan. Peace had returned to Qing Empire and the Qing armed forces were ready to liberate Taiwan by force. The Qing forces were building up in Penghu Liedao. Shi Lang (施瑯), the commander of the Qing forces in Penghu Liedao was formerly a subordinate to Zheng Zhilong, the father of Zheng Chenggong. When Zheng Zhilong surrendered to the Manzhous Shi Lang followed and surrendered too. Now he was the commander-in-chief of the Qing army responsible to liberate Taiwan which was ruled by the great-grandson of his former boss.

Finally, the time had arrived to liberate Taiwan. In 7th Month of 1683AD the Qing Government dispatched an expeditionary force of 300 warships and 20,000 troops, under the command of Shi Lang, to invade Taiwan. Shi Lang met no resistance when they landed at the Gate of the Deer Ears, the same place where Zheng Cheng Gong landed and defeated the Dutch in 1661AD. Zheng Keshuang, the young boy, surrendered without a fight. The date was 8th day of the 10th Month of the 22nd year reign of Emperor Kang Xi (康熙皇帝), the Year of Gui Hai (癸亥年) or the Year of the Pig.

Li Guangdi (李光地), the Prime Minister of the Qing Government, advised Emperor Kang Xi to give Taiwan back to the Red Heads (the Dutch) because the rebellion of the Zheng family had been crushed. Li Guangdi also told Emperor Kang Xi that Taiwan was a swampy land full of miasmal jungles. The island was unsuitable for inhabitantion.

However, Shi Lang (施瑯), the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force disagreed and he wrote to Emperor Kang Xi saying that:

"台灣關乎四省要害﹐不加強管理﹐不僅不利于統一安定﹐而且還可能導致外國
侵略者乘隙復踞. There are four major harms in Taiwan to the four coastal provinces. If we do not govern it properly and make it safe, foreign invaders might take the opportunity to invade the island and stay there. " Emperor Kang Xi agree.

The following year, in 1684AD (320 years ago), Taiwan was made a Prefecture (郡) of Fujian province. Taiwan officially became a part of the Qing Dynasty. Taiwan would have become a part of Indonesia if Emperor Kang Xi had listened to Li Guangdi, the Prime Minister

....to..be..continued............................

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 21032004
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 The province of Taiwan (08)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-21-04 09:50


The province of Taiwan (08)
=====================================

Before the arrival of Zheng Chenggong with his 25,000 troops in 1661AD there were already many Malays, Chinese and Japanese pirates living in the island of Taiwan. On top of them were the aborigines. In 1683AD the Qing Authority incorporated the island of Taiwan as a Prefecture of Fujian province. In 1684AD the Qing Authorities officially established a military administration in the islands of Penghu Liedao and the island of Taiwan. This was the first time that Taiwan officially became a part of China. Many Han Chinese from the Mainland emigrated to Taiwan. They were mostly from the provinces of Fujian (福建省) and Guangdong (廣東省).

The main reason for these energetic, hardworking and courageous Han Chinese
flocked to Taiwan was to escape the miserable lives and the oppression on the mainland by the newly established Qing Government. Besides, the soil in Taiwan was more fertile. To the Han Chinese, Taiwan was indeed an El Dorado. Thousands of Han Chinese moved and resettled in Taiwan. It was estimated that within a year one-quarter of the Hakka Chinese in eastern Guangdong province (in the Meixian 梅縣 area) emigrated to Taiwan. They settled mostly in the northwest part of the island where there were a few pockets of Hakka settlements, like in the present day counties of Xinzhu 新竹, Miaoli 苗栗, and Taoyuan 桃園). They also settled in the counties of Gaoxiong (高雄) and Pingdong (屏東) and in the east coast of the island in the county of Hualian 花蓮. By the turn of the eighteenth century, it was estimated that there were about 200,000 Hakkas in the island with a population of about two million.

The Qing Government considered Taiwan was a savage land. People, from the province of Guangdong, who had been convicted crimes and with even petty crimes, were banished to Taiwan - a land of swamps and miasmal jungles. Many of these so-called convicts were Hakka Chinese. In order to live far apart from the authorities, the Hakka Chinese established themselves in the fringes of the hills, particularly in the northwest part of the island. They built huts surrounded by a strong stockade and erected watchtowers and, at night, locked themselves in the forts.

During the sixteenth century, camphor forests extended down on to the plains and even to the west coast of Taiwan. As more and more emigrants from the Mainland arrived in Taiwan, forests were cleared for the cultivation of tea and food. Thus camphor trees were indiscriminately disposed of with other trees.

A crystallized product, a drug, could be produced from camphor trees.This drug
was and still is being used to cure rheumatic pains. Apart from the drug, the
camphor tree yields a valuable wood for general purposes, ship-building and cabinet-work. Clothes boxes made of camphor wood lend to keep the insects
away, especially the moths, as they dislike the scent of camphor.

During the early eighteenth century the Hakka Chinese produced the first camphor products in Taiwan. As the forests, including the camphor trees, on the plains
were destroyed to give way for cultivation, most of the remaining camphor trees
were only to be found in the mountain regions stretching through the heart of
Taiwan island from north to south. These mountainous regions were the places
where the Taiwanese aborigines lived. The method of producing camphor was
to destroy the trees, which had never been replaced by planting new trees. Aborigines disliked the camphor workers and they refused to grant the camphor workers permission to cut down the camphor trees in their domains. Ways had to be found to obtain their permissions to acquire the trees.

The aborigines were very fond of roast pig and samshu, a kind of intoxicating
drink made from rice. The Hakka Chinese promised to give them a few pigs, a jar or more of samshu, some rice and salt if they were allowed to cut down the camphor trees in their districts. Many a time, agreements were made and trees were fallen, but the Hakka Chinese could not afford to give the aborigines the articles they had promised. Thus antagonism existed between them and sometimes fighting broke out between them, resulting in the loss of lives. The aborigines and the Hakka Chinese distrusted each other and hostilities continued. Finally the Taiwanese authorities stepped in and declared a monopoly over the camphor industry. The Qing authorities decreed that the penalty for cutting down a single tree in contravention of the regulations was death. Under such a rigorous law, in just one year, in 1720, over two hundred people were decapitated. This so enraged the Hakka Chinese that a year later a rebellion broke out and the capital Taiwanfu (台灣府 present day Tainan 台南) of the island fell into the hands of the rebel leader, Zhu Yi Gui (朱一貴 Choo Yih-Kwei).

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 21032004
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 The province of Taiwan (09)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-22-04 03:50

The province of Taiwan (09)
=====================================

天高皇帝遠,---Tian gao huang di yuan
大鬧台灣府.---Da nao Taiwan Fu

The heaven is high up and the emperor is far away.
Stir up trouble in the capital of Taiwan.
=========================================

Zhu Yigui (朱一貴) was born in Changtai county (長泰縣) in Fujian province (福建省). Hoping to find a better life in Taiwan, in 1713AD, Zhu Yigui's father took him, a young man, to live in Taiwan. Zhu Yigui was employed as a labourer in the transport department. Soon, he was retrenched and without a job. Without other means to support himeslf he established a poultry-farm in keeping ducks. He excelled in this profession and people admired and respected him. He was affable, friendly and kind hearted. He was always trying to help people who needed help. He was well known among his friends and the people living in the area.

Wang Zhen (王珍) was a District Officer in charge of Fengshan county (鳳山縣). He was a harsh, ruthless and tyrannical District Officer. He let his two sons to run the affairs of the district. In the early of 1721AD he arrested and executed a few hundred lumberers accusing them of falling trees illegally. People were enraged and angry by his action. The people hated him.

In April, a man called Huang Dian (黃殿) and the angry people came to see Zhu Yi Gui and related to him how they were being treated cruely by the Qing Authorities. Huang Dian said: "如今當官的只知吃喝玩樂, 政亂刑繁, 正是舉事的時候了. Nowadays government officials know only how to enjoy themselves and ignore the government affairs which are in a mess. It is the right time to stage an uprising".

Since Zhu Yigui bore the same surname Zhu (朱) as the extinct Royal family of the Ming Dynasty, people chose him to be their leader and passed him off as the descendant of the Ming Dynasty to appeal to the masses. On the 14th of the 5th Month Li Yong (李勇) and 52 other people declared that Zhu Yigui was their leader and staged an uprising. They marched to Huang Dian's village and raised their uprising red flag with the inscription "大元帥朱 Da Yuan Shuai Zhu". They proclaimed the beginning of the uprising. About a thousand people joined the uprising. That evening they attacked and occupied the town of Gangshan (岡山). The people who were supported the uprising increased to many thousands. Since Zhu Yigui's surname was Zhu, which people spread the news that Zhu Yigui was the direct descendant of the Ming Royal Family.

The military commander in Taiwan, Ouyang Kai (歐陽凱), ordered his subortinate, Zhou Yinglong (周應龍) to lead a battalion of troops to suppress the uprising. For two days the Qing troops under the command of Zhou Yinglong had marched only 20 miles and arrived at a place called Binlanglin (檳榔林 or betel nut grove) where they fought a battle with the insurgents. They were defeated by Zhu Yigui's men. Zhou Yinglong and his troops retreated to a place near a swamp.

The defeat of the Qing troops gave the insurgents a big boost. In southern Taiwan a man called Du Junying (杜君英) responded by organizing an uprising in his area.

Zhou Ying Long was angry and he told his troops that he would reward three taels of silver to anyone who had killed an insurgent and five taels of silver for killing a leader. Indiscriminately the soldiers went killing ordinary people accusing them the insurgents in order to claim the rewards. Hundreds of innocent citizens were killed by the beastly Qing soldiers.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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 The province of Taiwan (10)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-23-04 01:58

The province of Taiwan (10)
=====================================

The indiscriminately killing of innocent people by the Qing slodiers enraged the population. People joined Zhu Yigui's movement in droves. Under the leadership of Zhu Yigui the insurrectionary army were growing bigger abd biggerl. They occupied Danshui (淡水) and defeated Zhou Yinglong's forces at Chishan (赤山). Zhou Yinglong escaped and fled back to Taiwanfu (台灣府 present day Tainan 台南). Relentlessly, the insurrectionary army were in hot pursuit.

Meanwhile in the south Du Junying captured the county of Fengshan (鳳山縣).The frightened officials fled for their lives with their families to Taiwanfu. The military Governor, Ouyang Kai ordered the troops to set up defence at Chunniupu (春牛浦). In the middle of the night the Qing troops at Chunniupu fled pell-mell thinking that the insurrectionary army had arrived. Not until the next day did Ouyang Kai manage to regroup them.

On the 26th of the 5th Month 1721AD Zhu Yigui and Du Junying formed an alliance Together their combined forces numbered several hundred thousands strong. They attacked Chunniupu vigorously in full force. More than half of the Qing troops were killed or wounded and for those were not killed or wounded were being captured. The Military Governor, Ouyang Kai was killed by Yang Tai (楊泰), a platoon commander. However, the District Officer, Wang Zhen, the battalion commander, Zhou Yinglong with their families and a few other official managed to escape to Penghu Liedao by boats. The insurrectionary army captured Taiwanfu (台灣府present day Tainan 台南), the capital of Taiwan.

Since Taiwan had become a part of the Qing Empire in 1683AD, the Chi Qian Lou (赤嵌樓 Castle Zeelandia) was sealed off. Now, after more than 40 years, the insurrectionary army opened it for the first time. They found a lot of firearm and a large quantity of explosives.

On the 28th of the 5th Month the leaders of the insurrectionary army installed Zhu Yigui as the Zhong Xing Wang (中興王) or the King of Restoration. They esablished an Administration called "永和 (Yong He) Harmony Forever" headed by Zhu Yigui. That day became the 1st day of the Administration of Harmony Forever.

On the 30th the insurrectionary army attacked and overrran Zhuluo (諸羅). They killed the Qing commanding general, Luo Wancang (羅萬倉). They presented Luo Wancang's head to Zhu Yigui as a present for his installation. With the crown on his head and wearing a yellow robe with a jade belt Zhu Yigui climbed up a high platform. He sat on the newly made throne. He was congratulated by the generals, officers, governors and many officials he appointed. He dispatched 3,000 soldiers under the command of Zheng Dingrui (鄭定瑞) and Su Tianwei (蘇天威) to station in Lumen Dao (鹿門島 the island of the Deer's Gate).

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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 The province of Taiwan (11)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-24-04 01:57

The province of Taiwan (11)
=====================================

Maps of Taiwan:

In Chinese - http://chungyn.webhop.net/taiwanProvince.jpg
In English - http://chungyn.webhop.net/taiwanMap.jpg
=================================================

Zhu Yigui's uprising in Taiwan gave the people in the Mainland a shock. People in Zhangzhou (漳州 present day Longxi county 龍溪縣) and Quanzhou (泉州 present day Jinjiang county 晉江縣) attempted to start an uprising to respond to Zhu Yigui's insurrection. But it did not materialize. The Qing Authorities were shaken by what was happening in Taiwan. Man Bao (滿保), the Governor of the two provinces of Fujian (福建省) and Zhejiang (浙江省), immediately dispatched the Fujian Naval Force of 600 ships, under the command of Shi Shipiao (施世驃), and the division of 12,000 crack troops, stationed in the island of Nanao (南澳 in Guangdong province), under the command of Lan Tingzhen (藍廷珍), to suppress Taiwan.

Shi Shipiao and Lan Tingzhen met in Penghu Liedao (澎湖列島). On the1st day of the 7th Month 1721AD, Shi Shipiao's Naval Force and Lan Tingzhen's army sailed from Penghu Liedao for Taiwan. On the 4th, the two Qing commanders sent Lin Liang (林亮) as the vanguard units to attack Lu Er Men (鹿耳門), the same place where, in 1661AD, Zheng Cheng Gong landed and defeated the Dutch. Fierce fightings took place. The 3,000 insurrectionary force under the leadership of Su Tianwei (蘇天威) and Zheng Dingrui (鄭定瑞) tried desperately to fend off the attack by the Qing naval ships and troops. The cannon fire from the Qing ships struck the insurgent's ammunition dump. There was a huge explosion and the ammunition dump blew up. Many insurrectionary men were blown into pieces. There were heavy losses in the insurrectionary force. They retreated to the town of Anping (安平). Immediately the Qing forces launched an assualt on Anping and captured it after a brief fight [Please refer to the map in Chinese].

The next day, Zhu Yigui led a large force of 8,000 men trying to recapture Anping. The battle lasted until evening and Zhu Yigui's attack was repulsed. On the 10th Zhu Yigui ordered Li Yong (李勇) to use many bullock carts to attack Anping but the attack was again without success. The next day, Weng Feihu (翁飛虎) used bullock carts in front, with his men following from behind, to attack the Qing positions. A hand to hand battle followed. The Qing's reinforcement had arrived. The battles waged on until the 16th. In the end the insurrectionary army withdrew from Taiwanfu to Zhuluo (諸羅) in the north.

On the 30th of the7th Month, Zhu Yigui and a few of his men were lured by the landlords, Yang Xiong (楊雄) and Yang Xu (楊旭), to a village called Gou Wei Zhuang (溝尾莊). It rained heavily that evening. Yang Xiong and Yang Xu invited Zhu Yigui and his men to stay in the village for that night. Zhu Yigui accepted the invitation. Zhu Yigui's men were quartered in different houses. For security reasons Zhu Yigui was asked to stay in a house which was guarded by the bodyguards of the two Yangs.

In the middle of the night the two Yangs told their men to pour water to the firearms belonging to Zhu Yigui's men. Suddenly, someone shouted, "The Qing soldiers are here, Get ready to fight". Zhu Yigui rushed out from the house where he was staying. He was captured by the two Yangs' men. Since they could not use their firearms which were all wet Zhu Yigui's men fled from the village. Weng Feihu, the valiant general of Zhu Yigui, was also captured. Zhu Yigui and Weng Feihu were bound hands and feet and threw into a bullock cart. Yang Xiong and Yang Xu presented them to the Qing commander, Lan Dingzhen. The Qing commander demanded Zhu Yigui and Weng Feihu to surrender but they refused. Lan Dingzhen had them sent to Beijing where they were executed.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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 The province of Taiwan (12)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-24-04 21:23

The province of Taiwan (12)
=====================================

Taiwanfu (台灣府 present day Tainan 台南 - in red dot)
See map [http://chungyn.webhop.net/taiwanMap.jpg]
========================================

The swift defeat of Zhu Yigui's insurrectionary army had something to do with the break-up movement conducted by Du Junying (杜君英). After the combined forces of the insurrectionary army and Du Junying men had captured Taiwanfu (Tainan), they established an administration. Du Junying wanted his son, Du Huisan (杜會三) to be the King. However, the majority of the people wanted Zhu Yigui to be the King. So Zhu Yigui was installed Zhong Xing Wang (中興王 or the King of Restoration). Du Junying disagreed and refused to obey Zhu Yigui and cultured an attitude of non-cooperation. Zhu Yigui sent a learned man to criticize him, but Du Junying had him detained in his camp. Finally Du Junying took his men of several ten thousands strong and pulled out of the alliance and went his own way.

When the Qing naval and armed forces attacked Lumen (鹿門) and right until they occupied Anping (安平 see map [http://chungyn.webhop.net/taiwanProvince.jpg]
next to Tainan), Du Junying did not send any men to help Zhu Yigui. When Zhu Yigui and his valiant general Weng Feihu (翁飛虎) were captured Du Junying and his men were hiding in the mountains. Du Junying was indifferent to Zhu Yigui.

Even athough Zhu Yigui was executed in Beijing (北京) by the Qing Authorities, the insurrenctionary army continued to resist the Qing troops under the leadership of Wang Zhong (王忠) who was previously appointed by Zhu Yigui as the Guo Gong (國公 the Duke of the country), until 1726AD when all the leaders and men were captured and put to death.

In the 11th Month of 1722AD Emperor Kangxi died and he was succeeded by his fourth son Yunzhen (允禎) who was crowned Emperor Yong Zheng (雍正皇帝 1723AD to 1735AD), the third Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (清朝 1644AD to 1911AD).

In the same Month the Qing Authorities in Taiwan invited Du Junying to give up fighting. He and his men were promised to receive rewards if they were to come out from the mountains. Du Junying listened to the sweet words and honeyed phrases of the Qing Authorities. Du Junying disbanded his organization and sent his men back to their families. He and his son came down from the mountains and surrendered to the Qing Authorities. They could not believe themselves when the Qing Authorities had them arrested accusing them as bandits. In the 12th Month of 1722AD Du Junying and his son, Du Huisan, were sent to Beijing where they were executed in a market place.

Having learned a lesson from Zhu Yigui's uprising the Qing Authorities passed laws that were more lenient towards the lumberers. A payment of a small amount of royalty to the Qing Authorities was sufficient to obtain a permit to fall trees in the forest. However, the lumberers had to abide by the regulations decreed by the Qing Authorities.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 25032004
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 The province of Taiwan (13)
Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan 
Date:   03-25-04 02:38


The province of Taiwan (13)
=====================================

!725AD, (乙巳年==the year of Yi Si)

一月台灣生番*六社歸化。
In the first Month six minority tribes gave up their savage customs
and became responsible citizens.

生番 (Sheng fan) means savages.
熟番 (Shou fan) means civilized aborigines.
===================================

1732AD (壬子年==the year of Ren Zi)

閏五月台灣大甲番人作亂﹐平之。
In the intercalary 5th Month, the Jia tribe stage an uprising which was
crushed shortly.
===================================

1768AD (戊子年)==the year of Wu Zi

十月台灣黃教作亂。
In the 10th Month, the Yellow Cult revolted.
================================

1769AD (己丑年)==the year of Ji Chou)

四月捕台灣亂匪黃教。
In the 4th Month the leader of the Yellow Cult was captured.
=============================================

Wu Feng (吳鳳) was born in Pinghe county (平和縣) in Fujian province (福建省) in the early 18th century during the reign of Emperor Qian Long (乾隆皇帝 1736AD to 1795AD), the fourth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. When he was only a young boy his family emigrated to Taiwan which had become a Prefecture (郡) of Fujian province (福建省) in 1683AD. He was a taciturn man of integrity and righteousness. He loved books.

When Wu Feng grew up and had finished his studies he was employed as an official in the Prefectural Administration of Taiwan. He rose to the rank of Aboriginal Liaison Officer and was posted to Jiayi (Chiai 嘉義), a town not far from the central mountainous region of Alishan (阿里山) which was mostly inhabited by the head-hunting Aboriginal tribe of Gaoshan (高山 Takasago). [see map (http://chungyn.webhop.net/taiwanMap.jpg)] An animistic people the aborigines would kill strangers who happened to wander into their territory. They used the heads of their victims as sacrifices to their gods. (Please note, this thing happened more than two hundred years ago).

Wu Feng tried to bring reform and civilization to the Aborigines hoping that they would give up their barbarous practices. But they were stubborn and unyielding and did not appreciate the good work of Wu Feng. However, the Aborigines respected him and grateful for what he was doing for them.

One day, Wu Feng disguised himself as an ordinary common man and wandered into Alishan. Seeing a stranger rambling in the woods in their territory, the Gaoshan people killed and decapitated him. They took his head back to their villages. They placed his head on their sacrificial altar. The Gaoshan peole were shocked and stunned to discover that it was the head of their beloved and respected Liaison Officer, Wu Feng.

The Aborigines were overwhelmed by deep sadness and cursed themselves for having taken the life of a much loved and honest man. In order to repent for their sins they voluntarily gave up the evil practice of head-hunting.

Wu Feng was posthumously honoured as the Kind Sage (仁聖) of the Gaoshan people. A town in the region of Alishan was named after Wu Feng (吳鳳) in his honour.

This is a comment by Dr Tin-Kay Goh:

Wu Feng actually sacrficed himself to stop the constant friction between the Han settlers and the Taiwanese Aborigines. He was highly respected by the Aborigines because he stood for their rights. In order to stop the future killings he allowed himself to be ambused so that his sarfificial head would be a shock to the Aborigines elders who treasured his friendship. Subsequent to his death, head hunting lost its flavour.

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
All rights reserved 25032004
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 Re: Zheng He and Koxinga
Author: Ajeet 
Date:   04-16-04 10:59

Zheng He was born as Ma He in 1371 to poor Muslim parents in Southwest China, he was captured as a young boy by the Chinese Army and castrated. Later in life He was made an Admiral and he command of the fleet.

Koxinga (靇 in pinyin: G迆ox足ngy谷) (1624 - 1662), named Zheng Chenggong (傖髡 Zh豕ng Ch谷ngg身ng)
Koxinga was born to Zheng Zhilong (皏), a Chinese merchant and pirate, and Tagawa Matsu in 1624 in Hirado (す), Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. He was raised there until seven and moved to Quanzhou. He is still known in Japan by his birth name as Tei Se貝k身, or by his popular name as Kokusen'ya. He was a military leader at the end of the Ming Dynasty.

Two different people.

Progress is not
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