Understanding Taiwan’s Colonial History

Understanding Taiwan’s Colonial History

History and Asian Studies

Chen, Jeffrey

Harney, John (Mentor)

English

This research explores the social understanding of Taiwan by conceptualizing Taiwan’s status during two significant transitions in its history, the seventeenth century Qing expansionism and the fifty years of Japanese colonial period. The underlying perception of Taiwan being an uncharted territory is crucial in understanding the notion of Taiwan retrospectively. The historical accounts and descriptions of Taiwan created a multilayered narrative of Taiwan in its respective context. The social dynamics of the respective imperial empires constructed a unique hybrid Taiwanese identity in its culture. Built on top of its historical narratives, Taiwan faces a complex and convoluted barrier in constructing a coherent account of its past; however, through the lens of its occupied history, Taiwan has always been seen as a separate entity.