Re: hakka: (2) Hakkas in Taiwan

[al chu <alchu@i1.net>]

Dear Mr. Chung:

The information you posted "Hakka in Taiwan" is not consistent with history
and geograpgy of Taiwan. For example:

>   In the early 19th century, it was estimated that there were over
>200,000 Hakkas in Taiwan out of a total population of two and a half
>millions. The Hakkas were mainly came from the province of Guangdong.
>They lived in the regions stretching from the present day cities of Maoli
>to Nantou in the central of the island. Hakkas also occupied the areas in
>the present day towns of Yangmei, Xinbu and Zhuxin in the northwest of the
>capital of Taiwanfu. There were a few Hakka settlements in Taidong in the
>areas of Xinhua and Guanmiao. In the east coast the Hakkas settlements
>were in the areas of the present day towns of Fenglin, Bozi, Wangli,
>Guanshan, Yueya and Luya.

The Hakka areas were located not in the central of island.  Hakka located
mainly in northwest of the island (Hsin-chu, Miaoli and Taoyuan counties).
Small part of south (Kaohsiung and Pintong counties) and east coast areas
(Hua-lian and Taitong counties).  The Xinbu is my hometown.  It is not
located in the northwest of the capital of Taiwanfu.  Both my parents'
ancestors came from Kwangtong in 18 century. The capital of Taiwanfu should
be present day Tainan and it is located in the south of west coast.
  
>   During those time it was very easy to differential the Hakka females  
>from the Punti (Haklo) women because Hakka women were with big feet
>whereas the Haklo females bind their feet which became the fragility of
>two-inch golden lotus feet. 
 
The term "Punti" has never been used in Taiwan.  Hoklo (or Holo, Hok-kien)
outnumbered Hakka about 6:1.  Not all Hoklo women bound their feet even in
old time.  When I was a kid, we still saw some Hoklo women with bound feet,
they were from more rich family. The" working" Hoklo women were not. (could
not afford it ? need to work)

Feuds between Hakka and Hoklo were common in old time probably for the sake
of "survival".  Hakka and Puntis conflicts in Kwangtong also occurred in
Ching era probably for the same reason.  There were about 100 "revolution"
against Ching dynasty government in Taiwan between 1684-1888. Feuds between
different ethnic groups occurred in most of those "revoluntion".  The 1830
or 1832 incident was not the most major one.  According the my references,
Ching government was not driven out of the capital of Taiwanfu. Chen Bang
was only one of five "generals" (Yuan-Shuai) of rebellion group. Neither him
nor the leader Chang-ping (Country-founding Generalissimao,
Kai-Kuo-Ta-Yuan-Shuai) ever occupied the capital of Taiwanfu.  Chang, Chen
and other generals were all later captured and sent to Nanking to be executed.

The most famous "revolution" by Chu Yi-Kui occurred in 1721.  The Hakka and
Hoklo worked together and they did drive the Ching government out of
capital.  However, the leaders Chu(Hoklo)  and Tu Jun-ying (a Hakka) had
serious conflict and the infight between them (Hoklo-Hakka) gave the Ching
government the chance to fight back.  Chu-Tu finally failed.  

Thanks, best regards   

Albert Chu


>  Feuds between the Hakkas and the Puntis were unabated. In 1830 there
>was a very serious incident that the Qing authority was being driven out
>of the Taiwanfu, the capital of the island, by the disputers. The root of
>this conflict was the disputation over land rights between the villagers
>of Hakka and Punti. One of the parties complained to the Qing authority.
>The opposite party, wanting the authority to make decision in their
>favour, bribed the officials with presents. The party, who lost the
>case, went wild after they had discovered about the bribery. In anger
>the losing party, with thousands of their clan men, killed the officials
>who presided over the case. They went on a rampage in the towns in the
>vicinity near capital, Taiwanfu. The news of the rebellion spread like
>wild fire through out the island. The amuck mob killed many Qing troops
>and the surviving Imperial soldiers fled to the mountains. 
>  In October 1832 a mob of over 30,000 strong, led by its leader Chen Ban,
>seized Taiwanfu and ransacked the capital. Anarchy prevailed in the
>island. Different hostile parties were engaging in wars trying to
>exterminate each other.
>   Meanwhile the Qing Authority despatched troops to the island from 
>the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangxi to quell the
>insurgents. The Qing Imperial troops landed and arrived in Taiwnfu without
>any resistance because the hostile parties were too busy killing each
>other. More Qing troops arrived by landing in different parts of the
>island. Chen Ban was captured by the Qing troops and was executed in
>March 1833 and by then the insurrection through out the island was
>pacified.
>  
>   How many people died in the fratricide between the Hakkas and the
>Puntis no boby knew. The number of people killed in the mop-up operation
>by the Qing Imperial troops were not recorded. 
>
>CHUNG Yoon-Ngan.  chungyn@mozart.collective.com.au
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