Step 1. The timeline of Taiwan (Part 1 8000BC~1957)
Pirates and Aborigines
8000BC Asian peoples settled the island of Taiwan about this time. There were only a small number of Han immigrants and Malaya-Polynesian aborigines who had dwelt on Taiwan for many thousands of years. All the aborigines are Malaya-Polynesian, however, they do not belong to same race. Beside the nine tribes of Atayal, Saisiyat, Tsou, Bunun, Rukai, Paiwan, Ami, Puyuma, Yami, there are Ketagalan, Luilang, Kavalan, Taokas, Pazeh Papora, Babuza, Hoanya, and Siraya, who are commonly called the "flatland aborigines". These aborigines have their different languages and customs, and constitute unique independent societies.
1517 Portuguese sailors named Ilha Formosa (beautiful island), later known as Taiwan.
The Dutch Era
1603 The Dutch fleet sailed toward the Pescadores of Taiwan Straits, and landed on the main island Penghu. This was the first time that Western European power ever set foot on the land of Taiwan.
1622 The Dutch made another attempt on Penghu Island and finally succeeded in occupying it.
1626 May 5, a Spanish fleet, detoured eastern Taiwan coast in order to avoid clashing with the Dutch, reached the northeast tip of Taiwan and named it the Cape of San Diego.
The Era of Cheng Ch'eng-kung (Ming) and Ching
1661 Apr 29, Chinese Ming dynasty occupied Taiwan.
1683 Taiwan was claimed by China's Manchu dynasty after large-scale immigration from the Chinese mainland to the island.
The Era of Japan
1879 Taiwanese residents to choose nationality, deadline on May 8.
1895 May 8, China ceded Taiwan to Japan under the Apr 17 Treaty of Shimonoseki. This followed a war over control of the Korean peninsula. Japanese occupation ended in 1945.
1945 Oct 25, Japanese surrendered Taiwan to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. The island was returned to Chinese control following the Japanese occupation during WW II.
The Era of Chiang Kai-shek
1947 Feb 28, There was an anti-Kuomintang demonstration on Taiwan. As many as 20,000 civilians were massacred by the Kuomintang (KMT).
1949 Sep 21, The Communist People’s Republic of China was proclaimed under Mao Tse Tung with Chou En-Lai as Premier.
1949 Oct 1, Republic of China (Taiwan) was formed on island of Formosa. The Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek had been defeated and fled to Taiwan and took control. Chiang Kai-shek established the “temporary” government of the Republic of China in Taipei and established martial law.
1949 Dec 7, The Nationalist Chinese government escaped to Formosa.
1949 Dec 8, The Chinese Nationalist government moved from the Chinese mainland to Formosa as the Communists pressed their attacks.
1949-1987 The Kuomintang (KMT) ruled Taiwan under martial law during this period.
1950 Mar 1, Chiang Kai-shek resumed the presidency of Nationalist China in Taipei.
1951 U.S. aid to Nationalist China, now on Taiwan, is resumed. The American M.A.A.G.(Military Assistance and Advisory Group) begin operation in Taiwan.
1953 Jan 30, President Dwight Eisenhower announced that he would pull the Seventh Fleet out of Formosa to permit the Nationalists to attack Communist China.
1957 May 24, Anti-American rioting broke out in Taipei, Taiwan.
1957 Paraguay began receiving economic support from Taiwan in exchange for supporting Taiwan at the UN.
References from:
http://members.shaw.ca/wchen88/intro.htm (video)
http://69.89.31.55/~taiwandn/ChinesePage.htm
Elsa, great job on your post. I enjoyed the clear way you laid out the history of Taiwan. Delving into the history of the country is definitely the best way to begin the search for a cultural identity. Where do you plan to go from here? Will you specify an area of design to focus on or will you pull elements from all areas of design as well as art, literature, theatre, etc? Do you plan to identify the markings of Taiwanese design in the present or will you show a progression leading up to today? Looking forward to hearing more about your project.
ReplyDeleteHi Elsa,
ReplyDeleteI think your brief about investigating the Taiwanese identity is a strong start (and see that you’ve expanded upon it already with a second wave of questions/approaches). Your questions are good ones getting at the fundamental defining features of Taiwanese identity, and I think it makes a lot of sense to delve deep into history to get a sense of what has emerged as a constant over time. It is clear from your conversation and your brief that Taiwan is a hybrid nation, and I’m interested to see how this concept could manifest itself under the header of a common identity. Perhaps there is a way for an identity to take new ownership of the state of constant change that Taiwan appears to be in? I also see that you are investigating who the Taiwanese people are, which is important, and perhaps as a facet of that you can determine who, today and in recent history, are key figures in Taiwan—whether they are political leaders or emerging businesspeople, or other kinds of people who represent the contemporary diversity of the country. Looking forward to talking more about your topic!