Table of Taiwan History

Other Taiwan Reference Materials

This reference table is mostly divided by reigns, and the list of "direct links" show the first year of each reign. Because reign years and Western years do not begin at quite the same time, some correspondences can be off slightly (as in other sources). For western dates, the year is in some cases followed by the month or the month and day, given as decimal values following the year. For example, 1895.0417 means April 17, 1895. (You know what happened on that day, right? If not, check it out.)

A more detailed table of events involved with collapse of the Míng and the rise of the Qīng covers palace intrigues and other mainland events important to that change, but not directly part of the Taiwan story covered here. (Link)

You may also wish to consult Gregory Adam Scott's "Timeline of Political Events in Late Qing and Early Republican China" (link).

Direct Links:

• Before 1683:
  Pre-Míng, Míng Dynasty, "Nánmíng Dynasty" and Zhèng Family Rule
  
  
• Qīng Dynasty (16831895 in Taiwan):
  Kāngxī (1662), Yōngzhèng (1722), Qiánlóng (1736), Jiāqìng (1796),
  Dàoguāng (1821), Xiánfēng (1851), Tóngzhì (1862), Guāngxù (1875)
  
  
• Japanese Period (1895-1945)
  Meiji (1895), Taishō (1912), Shōwa (1926)
  
  
• Republic of China (Mínguó) (1945-present in Taiwan):
  1945-1949, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s

Pre-Míng 明 Times

10,000±-500± BC

Various prehistoric sites suggest settlement in many parts of the island, but the relationship between prehistoric inhabitants and the "aborigines" of the historic periods remains quite unclear (and heavily politicized).

AD 239

The state of Wú 吳國 unsuccessfully attempts to establish a settlement on Taiwan, said to consist of "10,000" ill-fated souls.

1200±

First known Chinese settlement, apparently of Hakka speakers, of the Pescadores Islands, today's Pénghú Xiàn 澎湖縣.

1300±-1600±

With the development of improved ships, Taiwan becomes a major off-shore center for pirates and some traders, usually involved in efforts to avoid Chinese coastal defenses or taxes.

The Míng 明 Dynasty (1368-1644)

1544± (= Míng Jiājìng 明嘉靖 23)

Portuguese ships sail past Taiwan and give the island the Portuguese name Ilha Formosa, meaning “Beautiful Island” (Měilì Dǎo 美麗島). In Chinese “Formosa” is variously transcribed, for example as Fúmósà 福摩薩 or Fú’érmóshā 福爾摩沙.

1603 (= Míng Wànlì 明萬曆 31)

Chén Dì 陳第, accompanying an anti-pirate expedition headed by captain Shěn Yǒuróng 沈有容, meets indigenous leader Dàmílè 大彌勒of Xīngǎng Shè 新港社 (“Sinkan”) village. His account of the visit to Taiwan, Account of the Eastern Savages (Dōngfān Jì 東番記) is one of the earliest Chinese mentions of Taiwan.

1604 (= Míng Wànlì 明萬曆 32)

Dutchman Wijbrand van Waerwijck (Wéi Máláng 韋麻郎) sails to Pénghú 澎湖, hoping to establish trade relations with Míng 明 dynasty China.

1622(= Míng Tiānqǐ 明天啟2)

Dutch naval forces are ejected from Macao and establish a presence in the Pescadores (Pénghú 澎湖) in the hope of controlling the Taiwan Strait and establishing shipping ports on the Chinese coast.

1624 (= Míng Tiānqǐ 明天啟4)

The Chinese navy manages to drive Dutch forces from Pénghú 澎湖. The Dutch turn to Taiwan, landing in what is modem day Ānpíng 安平, in Táinán 臺南 . (The Dutch will remain in Taiwan until 1662, and will encourage Hàn 漢 immigration to provide a stable agricultural economy. One lasting Dutch contribution will the importation of 100 or so hump-backed cattle from India, the descendants of which, with water buffalos, will be critical draft-animals in Taiwan's agricultural development until the late XXth century.

1625 (= Míng Tiānqǐ 明天啟 5)

The Dutch build Fort Providentia (Pǔluó mín zhē chéng 普羅民遮城) [note1] on land locally called Sakkam (Chìkǎn 赤崁) [note 2] purchased from Xīngǎng Shè 新港社 (“New Port Village”) (“Sinkan”), (now Táinán 臺南).

NOTE 1: Fort Providentia is called “Fort Provintia” in some sources. As far as I know, this is the propagation of an early proofing error. Providentia means “precaution” or “providence” or “foresight” in Latin. “Provintia” is not a Latin word.)

NOTE 2 : Chìkǎn 赤崁, or “Red Ridge,” is a district of Zhànjiāng 湛江市 City in Guǎngdōng 廣東 Province. Its use here may be merely a sound transcription into characters of a pre-Chinese name “Sakkam.” Or the spelling “Sakkam” may be a clumsy transcription of the Chinese name intended to refer to the slight ridge on which the fort was built. Or there may be some long lost allusion to the district in Zhànjiāng.

1626 (= Míng Tiānqǐ 明天啟6)

Spaniards occupy Jīlóng 基隆 and establish Fort San Salvador (Shèng Jiàozhǔ Chéng 聖教主城) on what is now called Hépíng Island (Hépíng Dǎo 和平島).

1626 (= Míng Tiānqǐ 明天啟6)

Catholic Dominican missionaries establish a mission in Taiwan. (They will be ejected in 1643.)

1627 (= Míng Tiānqǐ 明天啟 7)

Dutch missionary Reverend Georgius Candidus (Kāng Dé 康德) arrives at Xīnggǎng Village (Xīnggǎng Shè 新港社) (“Sinkan”).

1628 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 1 )

The Spaniards set up a Catholic mission in Dànshuǐ 淡水.

1628 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 1 )

The Japanese businessman Hamado Yahyoe (Bīn tián mí 濱田彌) captures the Dutch Governor-General Pieter Nuyts (Nú Yìzī 奴易茲).

1628 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎1)

Zhèng Zhīlóng 鄭芝龍 accepts the patronage of the Míng 明 Dynasty.

1630 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 3)

The Dutch sends a military force to put down the revolt at Xīnggǎng Shè 新港社 Village.

1632 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 5)

The Spaniards find their way to the Táiběi Basin (Táiběi péndì 臺北盆地) by following the Dànshuǐ River (Dànshuǐ Hé 淡水河) upstream.

1636 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 9)

Indigenous people in Dànshuǐ 淡水 revolt against the Spaniards

1636 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 9)

Representatives from 28 of southern Taiwan’s plains indigenous villages gather at Xīngǎng Village (Xīngǎng Shè 新港社) to swear an oath of loyalty to the Dutch East India Company (Hélán Liánhé Dōngyìndù Gōngsī 荷蘭聯合東印度公司), although it is unclear how they understood the event.

1636 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 9)

The Dutch put down resistance in Madou 麻豆 (“Mattau”) and Xiāolǒng 蕭壟 (“Soulong”), now Jiali 佳里, both in Táinán 臺南).

1636 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 9)

Taiwan's first known school is established, apparently intended by Dutch missionaries for plains aborigines and using materials printed in an aboriginal language represented in Latin letters.

1642 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 15)

The Dutch expel the Spaniards from northern Taiwan, taking advantage of the reduction in Spanish troops sent to quell rebellion in Spanish-occupied Philippines.

1643 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 16)

Spanish Dominican mission founded in 1626 is closed and the missionaries expelled.

1644 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 17 & Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 1)

Lǐ Zìchéng 李自成 invades Běijīng 北京; the last Míng 明 Emperor Sīzōng 思宗 (he of the Chóngzhēn 崇禎 reign name) hangs himself.

1644 (= Míng Chóngzhēn 明崇禎 17 & Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 1)

Zhèng Zhīlóng 鄭芝龍 supports Prince Fú’s (Fú wáng 福王) hasty organization of the so-called “Southern Míng” (Nánmíng 南明) dynasty to challenge the new (Qīng 清) regime. (This dynastic name is not recognized by later historians or used to date events.)

NOTE: The collapse of the Míng 明 dynasty and its replacement by the Qīng 清 dynasty by the Manchus was a process involving court intrigues and other events that are not directly relevant to Taiwan. A summary chronology of this interesting period from 1573 to 1662 can be found on a separate web page. (Link)

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The Nánmíng 南明 Dynasty & Zhèng 鄭 Rule (1645-1683)

1645 (= Nánmíng Hóngguāng 南明弘光 1 and Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 2)

King Táng (Táng wáng 唐王) of the “Southern Ming” (Nánmíng 南明) dynasty confers the Míng royal surname ( 朱 on Zhèng Chénggōng 鄭成功), who was thereafter called “the Lord with the royal name” or Guóxìngyé 國姓爺. (The name is spelled “Koxinga” is standard in English, based on the Hokkien pronunciation Kok-sèng-yâ. The pronunciation Watōnai is standard in Japanese.)

1645 (= Nánmíng Hóngguāng 南明弘光 1)

First and only year of the Hóngguāng 弘光 reign year of King Táng (Táng wáng 唐王) of the Nánmíng 南明 dynasty, which hoped to expel the Manchus and reestablish the Míng 明 dynasty.

1645 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 2)

The Dutch first call on plains indigenous elders to form a Consultative Council (Píngyìhuì 評議會).

1646 (= Nángmíng Lóngwǔ 隆武 1)

First year of the Lóngwǔ 隆武 reign of the Nánmíng 南明 dynasty, which hoped to expel the Manchus and reestablish the Míng 明 dynasty.

1647 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 4)

Zhèng Chénggōng 鄭成功 (Koxinga), Zhèng Zhīlóng’s 鄭芝龍 son, abandons school and leads troops into battle against the Qīng 清 forces.

1647 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 4)

Zhèng Zhīlóng 鄭芝龍 is forced to surrender to Qīng 清 forces.

1648 (= Nánmíng Yǒnglì 南明永曆 1)

First and only year of the Yǒnglì 永曆 reign of the Nánmíng 南明 dynasty, which hoped to expel the Manchus and reestablish the Míng 明 dynasty. No further reign names are recorded for the Nánmíng dynasty. But hopes of Míng revival continued in Taiwan. (See 1661.)

1648 (= Nánmíng Yǒnglì 南明永曆 1)

Laws are changed to permit marriage between Chinese and Manchus.

1652 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 9)

An anti-Dutch rebellion of Chinese immigrants (and some aboriginal allies) is led by Chinese immigrant Guō Huáiyī 郭懷一 but fails. About 3,000 to 4,000 rebels are massacred and more than 1,000 are taken prisoner, a number that strains Dutch capacity to maintain them in prison. (It is celebrated by some people today for being Taiwan's first anti-colonial uprising.)

1659 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 16)

Zhèng Chénggōng 鄭成功 allies himself with Zhāng Huángyán 張煌言 in a Yangtze delta (Cháng Jiāng liúyù 長江流域) campaign and is defeated.

1660 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 17)

On the death of a favorite concubine, the young Shùnzhì emperor, now only 22 years old, proposes to commit suicide, causing courtiers to worry that he is coming unhinged.

1661 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 18)

The Shùnzhì emperor dies of smallpox at the age of 23 and his third son is enthroned as the Kāngxī emperor at the age of 7, under the tutelage of four regents, dominated by the warlord Áobài 鼇拜 (better known in English by his Manchu name, Oboi).

1661 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 18)

Zhèng 鄭 declares Taiwan the Eastern Capital (Dōngdū 東都) of the Míng 明 Government and establishes two xiàn 縣 (“counties”): Tiānxīng 天興 and Wànnián 萬年. He establishes an administrative office, the Chéngtiān Fǔ 承天府, in the old Fort Providentia. (The building, located in downtown Táinán 臺南, is today referred to as the Chìkǎn Lóu 赤崁樓.)

1661 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 18)

Zhèng 鄭 forces institute military settlement farming system (túntián 屯田).

1661 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 18)

Zhèng Chénggōng 鄭成功, also known as Koxinga (Guóxìngyé 國姓爺, “Lord of the National Surname”), siezes Pénghú 澎湖 and then lands in Lù’ěrmén 鹿耳門, in Táinán 臺南, enabling him to launch an attack on the less fortified land side of the Dutch fortifications. (Lù’ěrmén at that time was probably not quite where the town of the same name is today. The rival hamlet of Māzǔgōng 媽祖功 claims that modern Lù’ěrmén was under water in the XVIIth century, and that Zhèng’s landing point was located in modern Māzǔgōng.)

1661 (= Qīng Shùnzhì 清順治 18)

Angered by coastal activities by Japanese, Dutch, and Chinese pirates, the imperial regent Oboi decrees (on behalf of the emperor) an evacuation of the southeaster coast of Fújiàn 福建 and especially Guǎngdōng 廣東 provinces to a distance of 20 miles inland, referred to as the Coastal Evacuation (Qiānhǎilìng 遷海令). (One result is to produce massive, if illegal, migration to Taiwan and southeast Asia.) The decree will lifted in 1669, when Oboi is overthrown.

1662 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 1)

The Dutch surrender Taiwan to Zhèng Chénggōng 鄭成功, ending 38 years of occupation, beginning in 1624.

1662 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 1)

Zhèng Chénggōng 鄭成功 dies of illness.

1662 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 1)

Zhèng Jīng 鄭經 arrives in Taiwan from Xiàmén 廈門 to inherit the position of Zhèng Chénggōng 鄭成功.

1663 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 2)

The Dutch ally with Qīng 清 forces to attack Jīnmén 金門 and Xiàmén 廈門. Zhèng Jīng 鄭經 retreats to Tóngshān 銅山.

1664 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 3)

The Zhèng 鄭 clan changes the name of the Eastern Capital Dōngdū 東都) to Dōngníng 東寧; Tiānxīng 天興 and Warmian 萬年 counties (xiàn 縣) are reclassified as subprefectures (zhōu 州)

1664 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 3)

Zhèng Jīng 鄭經 abandons Jīnmén 金門 and Xiàmén 廈門.

1665 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 4)

Chén Yǒnghuá 陳永華 instructs the people on salt production and institutes the so-called bǎo-jiā 保甲 system for low-budget, “neighborhood-watch”-style local-level control.

1666 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 5)

Chén Yǒnghuá 陳永華 advocates establishment of a Confucian temple and school.

1669 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 8)

The emperor, now 14, overthrows his warlord regents (with the help of his grandmother and the palace guard) and takes command. He lifts the Coastal Evacuation Decree (Qiānhǎilìng 遷海令) of 1661. (Oboi is executed the following year.)

1670 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 9)

the Zhèng 鄭 faction’s General Liú Guóxuān 劉國軒 massacres several hundred indigenous peoples at Shālù 沙轆, killing several hundred; only six survivors escape to the coast.

1673 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 12)

The Three Feudatories Rebellion (Sānfān zhī Luàn 三藩之亂) breaks out in China; Zhèng Jīng 鄭經 joins the forces of the rebellion.

1681 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 20)

Zhèng Jīng 鄭經 dies. His son, Zhèng Kèshuǎng 鄭克塽, assumes the throne in Taiwan.

1683 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 22)

General Shī Láng 施琅 leads Qīng 清 troops in assault on Pénghú 澎湖 and Táiwān 臺灣; Zhèng forces are no match.

1683 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 22)

Zhèng Kèshuǎng 鄭克塽 surrenders.

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The Qīng 清 Dynasty (1644-1911), Kāngxī 康熙 Reign (1662-1722)

1684 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 23)

Taiwan is included in the Qīng 清 administrative system; establishing “Taiwan Prefecture” (Táiwān Fǔ 臺灣府) as a part of Fújiàn 福建 Province.

1684 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 23)

Taiwan Prefecture School ( 臺灣府學), Taiwan County School (Táiwān Xiàn Xué 臺灣縣學), and Fongshan County School (Fèngshān Xiàn Xué 鳳山縣學) are established.

1686 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 25)

Hakkas (Kèjiā 客家) settle Lower Dànshuǐ Plain (Xià Dànshuǐ Píngyuán 下淡水平原) [note].

NOTE: The port town of Dànshuǐ 淡水, or “Sweet Water,” is at the north end of Táiwān, astride the river of the same name. The unrelated “Lower Dànshuǐ Plain” is at the south end of Táiwān, in modern Píngdōng 屏東 county.

1694 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 35)

Prefect (zhīfǔ 知府) Gao Gongcian 高拱乾 edits “Taiwan Prefecture Gazetteer” (Táiwān Fǔ Zhì 臺灣府志).

1697 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 36)

Yu Yonghe 郁永河 mines sulfur in the North, recording his experiences in his Adventures in a Small Sea, effectively a history of Taiwan in the 1600s. (Píhǎi Jìyóu 裨海紀遊), printed following year.

1699 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 38)

The plains indigenous people in Tūnxiāo Village (Tūnxiāo Shè 吞霄社) rebel against abuse by Chinese interpreters. Tribes in Dànshuǐ Shè 淡水社 Village and Běitóu Shè 北投社 Village join in the rebellion.

1709 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 48)

Chén-Lài Zhāng 陳賴章 settles Dàjiālà 大佳臘 (present-day Xīyuán 西園 in Táiběi 臺北).

1711 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 50)

The Qīng 清 Government decrees that mainlanders settling in Taiwan must register with authorities in their hometown and return to that location within a prescribed period of time.

1714 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 53)

Qīng 清 Government decrees that residents who wish to travel north of Dàjiǎ River (Dàjiǎ Xī 大甲溪) must obtain a permit from the government. Dànshuǐ 淡水 in the north is considered “beyond the realm of civilization” (huàwài zhi dì 化外之地).

1716 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 55)

Indigenous people in Anli 岸裡社 (present-day Shengang Township (Shéngāng Xiāng 神岡鄉), Taichung 臺中 County) settle Māowùsǒng 貓霧揀 (“Babuza”).

1719 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 58)

Shih Shihbang 施世榜 builds Dōngluó Bǎo 東螺堡 and Eight Bǎo Canal (Bā Bǎo Zùn 八堡圳). (A bǎo 堡 is a kind of fortified settlements.)

1720 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 59)

Two Quánzhōu 泉州 natives, Shī Chánglíng 施張齡 and Wu Luo 吳洛, along with Hakka Zhāng Zhènwàn 張振萬, settle the Táiběi 臺北 Basin.

1721 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 60)

Indigenous people from Ālǐshān 阿里山 and Shuǐshālián 水沙連 Villages (shè 社) rebel against abuse by interpreters. Rebellion lasts until 1722.

1721 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 60)

Zhū Yīguì 朱一貴 and Dù Jūnyīng 杜君英 lead an unsuccessful rebellion against the Qīng 清 government and are executed.

1722 (= Qīng Kāngxī 清康熙 61)

Armed feuding break out between Hoklo and Hakka people in southern Taiwan. Violence erupts again the following year.

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The Qīng 清 Dynasty (1644-1911), Yōngzhèng 雍正 Reign (1723-1735)

1723 (= Qīng Yōngzhèng 清雍正 1)

Lán Dǐngyuán 藍鼎元 writes “A Brief History of Taiwan Pacification” (Píng Tái Jìluè 平臺紀略).

1723 (= Qīng Yōngzhèng 清雍正 1)

Qīng Government establishes Jānghuà Xiàn 彰化縣, and the tíng 廳 (sub-prefectures) of Dànshuǐ 淡水 and Pénghú 澎湖.

1724 (= Qīng Yōngzhèng 清雍正 2)

Villagers from Quánshān Zhuāng 拳山莊, in Dànshuǐ 淡水 build the Wù Líxuē 霧里薛 irrigation canal (near modern Jǐngměi 景美 and Xīndiàn 新店).

1727 (= Qīng Yōngzhèng 清雍正 5)

Huáng Shújǐng 黃叔璥 writes “Notes on the Red Ridge” (Chìkǎn Bǐtán 赤崁筆談) and “Six Inquiries Into the Customs of the Savages” (Fānsú Liùkǎo 番俗六考).

1727 (= Qīng Yōngzhèng 清雍正 5)

The Qīng 清 government prohibits bringing families to Taiwan.

1730 (= Qīng Yōngzhèng 清雍正 8)

Settlers without families on Taiwan are ordered to return to the mainland.

1732 (= Qīng Yōngzhèng 清雍正 10)

Lín Wǔlì 林武力 organizes tribes in Villages of Shālù Shè 沙轆社 and (Tūnxiāo Shè 吞霄社), laying siege to Zhānghuà Xiàn 彰化縣.

1732 (= Qīng Yōngzhèng 清雍正 10)

The Qīng 清 government authorizes bringing families to Taiwan.

1734 (= Qīng Yōngzhèng 清雍正 12)

Travel to Taiwan is strictly prohibited.

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The Qīng 清 Dynasty (1644-1911), Qiánlóng 乾隆 Reign (1736-1795)

1738 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 3)

Lóngshān (“Dragon Mountain”) Temple (Lóngshān Sì 龍山寺) is erected in the riverside district (qū 區) of Měngjiǎ 艋胛 (modern Wànhuá 萬華) in Táiběi 臺北 City).

1739 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 4)

Chinese settlers are prohibited from entering “savage lands” (fāndì 番地)

1744 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 9)

Plains indigenous people from four villages in Qiáobānián 瞧吧哖 move to the area between the Rivers Lǎonóng Xī 荖濃溪 and Nánzǐxiān Xī 楠梓仙溪.

1745 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 10)

Hoklo residents of Fèngshān 鳳山 move north to Táojiàn Bǎo 桃澗堡 (near present-day Táoyuán 桃園 City) to in search of more farmland.

1745 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 10)

Quánzhōu 泉州 native Shěn Yòng 沈用 leads a settlement in Xíkǒu 錫口 (today’s Sōngshān 松山 District, Táiběi 臺北 City).

1747 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 12)

Hakka settlers move into Māolǐ 貓裡 “ (Cat Gut,” now renamed Miáolì 苗栗, “Seedlings and Chestnuts”).

1755 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 20)

Lin Chengzu 林成祖, a settler at Bǎijiē Township (Bǎijiē Bǎo 擺接堡) in Dànshuǐ 淡水, begins construction of the Dà’ān 大安 irrigation canal system (irrigating an area encompassing present-day Zhōnghé 中和, Bǎnqiáo 板橋 and Tǔchéng 土城 in Táiběi Xiàn 臺北縣).

1759 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 24)

Special tax levied against Chinese “purchasing savage lands” (fān zū 番租).

1768 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 33)

Huang Jiao 黃教 attacks Qīng 清 garrison at Gangshan 岡山, burning the Dàmùjiàng 大目降 Barracks (present-day Xīnhuà 新化, in Táinán 臺南), and launches assault on Doulioumen 斗六門.

1781 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 46)

Hoklo and plains indigenous people from Xiùláng Shè 秀朗社 (present-day Yonghe 永和, Táiběi Xiàn 臺北縣) make agreement to settle Shenkeng 深坑埔.

1782 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 47)

A dispute over gambling interests leads to large-scale armed conflict between Quánzhōu 泉州 and Zhāngzhōu 漳州 people in Zhānghuà 彰化. In suppressing the chaos, the Qīng 清 the naval commander executes 200 people.

1786 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 51)

Lóngshān Sì 龍山寺 Temple is founded in Lùgǎng 鹿港.

1787 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 52)

The rebel Lín Shuǎngwén 林爽文 fails in the attempt to take over Taiwan.

1787 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 52)

The Qīng 清 government prohibits people from bringing families to Taiwan.

1788 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 53)

Qīng 清 implements military colony system (túnfān zhì 屯番制) in Taiwan.

1795 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 60)

Chén Zhōuquán 陳周全 rebels against the Qīng 清.

1795 (= Qīng Qiánlóng 清乾隆 60)

Wú Shāzhàn 吳沙占 leads the settlement of Tóuwéi 頭圍 (modern Tóuchéng 頭城 area in Yílán Xiàn 宜蘭縣) opened to cultivation.

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The Qīng 清 Dynasty (1644-1911), Jiāqìng 嘉慶 Reign (1796-1820)

1796 (= Qīng Jiāqìng 清嘉慶 1)

Wang Shihjyun 王士俊 opens private school in Zhúqiàn 竹塹Zhèng Yòngxī 鄭用錫 and others go on to study there.

1797 (= Qīng Jiāqìng 清嘉慶 2)

In Kavalan (Gézǎilán 蛤仔蘭, modern Yílán Xiàn 宜蘭縣), land rights disputes lead to armed conflict between area Hakka and Quánzhōu 泉州 people.

1804 (= Qīng Jiāqìng 清嘉慶 9)

Led by Pān Xiánwén 潘賢文, the Plains indigenous people from the Zhānghuà 彰化 region move north to Kavalan (Gézǎilán 蛤仔蘭).

1805 (= Qīng Jiāqìng 清嘉慶 10)

The pirate Cài Qiān 蔡牽 attacks Dànshuǐ 淡水, Lù’ěrmén 鹿耳門, and other areas, seizing merchant vessels.

1809 (= Qīng Jiāqìng 清嘉慶 14)

Ethnic tension between Zhāngzhōu 漳州 and Quánzhōu 泉州 ethnic groups escalates into armed conflict that spreads to Zhānghuà 彰化 and Jiāyì 嘉義 .

1809 (= Qīng Jiāqìng 清嘉慶 14)

The Bǎo’ān Gōng 保安宮 Temple in Dàlóngdòng 大龍峒 is founded.

1814 (= Qīng Jiāqìng 清嘉慶 19)

Guard-post leaders (àishǒu 隘首) Huáng Línwàng 黃林旺, Chén Dàyòng 陳大用, and Guō Bǎinián 郭百年 seize and occupy the indigenous villages of Shuǐlǐ 水裡 and Pǔlǐ 埔里 until 1817, when government troops drive Chinese tenant farmers out of Pǔlǐ and post “No Entry” signs.

1817 (= Qīng Jiāqìng 清嘉慶 22)

Dànshuǐ Sub-Prefecture Government sets up a Confucian school (rúxué 儒學) in Zhúqiàn 竹塹 (present-day Xīnzhú 新竹).

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The Qīng 清 Dynasty (1644-1911), Dàoguāng 道光 Reign (1821-1850)

1823 (= Qīng Dàoguāng 清道光 Year 3)

Lín Yǒngchūn 林詠春, a Kevalan (Gámǎlán 噶瑪蘭) tribal armorer, rebels against the Qīng 清 government, attacking Qīngtán 青潭 and Dapinglin 大坪林.

1825 (= Qīng Dàoguāng 清道光 Year 5)

Around 700 plains indigenous people from Dongshihjiao 東勢角 and Huludun 葫蘆墩 flee to Pǔlǐ 埔里.

1830s (= Qīng Dàoguāng 清道光 Reign)

Walter Henry Medhurst (1796-1857) (Mài Dūsī 麥都思), an English Congregationalist missionary to China and founder in 1842 of the London Missionary Society Press (Mòhǎi Shūguǎn 墨海書館.In the 1830s, with colleagues, he creates with others a Romanization system for Hokkien in the course of preparing a Bible translation (completed in 1847). Still the most commonly used Hokkien spelling system today, it is often called “Mission Romanization” in English, but some prefer to call it “Vernacular” or “POJ” after one of its modern Hokkien names, Pe̍h-ōe-jī (Mandarin: Báihuàzì 白話字). See 1832.

1831 (= Qīng Dàoguāng 清道光 Year 11)

Jiāng Xiùluán 姜秀鑾, a Hakka, and Zhōu Bāngzhèng 周邦正, a Hoklo, jointly found the Jīnguǎngfú 金廣福 Corporation with government assistance and begin cultivating fields around Běipǔ 北埔 (present-day Xīnzhú Xiàn 新竹縣).

1832 (= Qīng Dàoguāng 清道光 Year 12)

Publication of Walter Henry Medhurst’s A Dictionary of the Hok-këèn Dialect of the Chinese Language: According to the Reading and Colloquial Idioms: Containing about 12,000 Characters. Macao: Macao: Honorable East India Co.'s Press. See 1830.

1838 (= Qīng Dàoguāng 清道光 Year 18)

The British enter Dànshuǐ 淡水 to trade opium for camphor.

1839-1842

The First Opium War. In the end China loses and is forced to open ports to European trade, including trade in opium. Roughly the same issues will be at stake in the Second Opium War (1456-1860), with roughly the same outcome.

1841 (= Qīng Dàoguāng 清道光 Year 21)

An English vessel, the Nerbudda (Nà’ěrbùdá 納爾不達), hits a reef in Jīlóng 基隆 harbor. More than 400 people on board are killed or taken hostage.

1847 (= Qīng Dàoguāng 清道光 Year 27)

English Presbyterian Mission in China, destined to become the first Protestant mission in Taiwan, begins with arrival of William C. Burns (1815-1868) (Bīn Huìlián 宾惠廉 in Xiàmén 廈門 in Fújiàn 福建 province. In 1856 he moved to Shàntóu 汕頭 in Guǎngdōng 廣東, establishing an important mission to Hokkien speakers.

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The Qīng 清 Dynasty (1644-1911), Xiánfēng 咸豐 Reign (1851-1861)

1853 (= Qīng Xiánfēng 清咸豐 3 )

In Dànshuǐ 淡水 the Zhāngzhōu 漳州 and Quánzhōu 泉州 people engage in armed feuding. People from the Tóng’ān 同安 faction of the Quánzhōu 泉州 group retreat to Dàdàochéng 大稻埕.

1856-1860

The Second Opium War, essentially a continuation of the First Opium War (1839-1842).

1858 (= Qīng Xiánfēng 清咸豐 8)

“Treaty of Tientsin” (Tiānjīn Tiáoyuē 天津條約) is signed by the central government, ending the first period of the Second Opium War by opening additional trading ports and permitting travel by foreigners, including missionaries, throughout China. As a result, Taiwan will be forced to open some of its ports to international trade.

1859 (= Qīng Xiánfēng 清咸豐 9)

Armed conflict between Zhāngzhōu 漳州 and Quánzhōu 泉州 settlers erupts in areas throughout the north (including Dànshuǐ Gǎngzǎizuǐ 淡水港仔嘴 (modern Jiāngzicuì 江子翠, now part of Bāngqiáo 枋橋), Jiānàzǎi 加鈉仔 (modern Shuāngyuán 雙園), Bāngqiáo 枋橋, Zhīlán Zhuāng 芝蘭莊 (modern Shílín 士林), and Táozǎi Yuán 桃仔園 (modern Táoyuán 桃園). The violence continues into the following year.

1859 (= Qīng Xiánfēng 清咸豐 9)

Catholic Dominican missionaries, expelled in 1643, reestablish a mission in Gāoxióng 高雄, but a century later, in 1945, the number of Catholics in Taiwan was only about 8,000. Far more rapid Catholic expansion occurred after that, as foreign missionaries expelled from the mainland flocked to Taiwan. Because their language competence tended to be in Mandarin, Catholic mission progress was greatest among immigrant Mandarin speakers.

1860 (= Qīng Xiánfēng 清咸豐 10)

“Convention of Peking” (Běijīng Tiáoyuē 北京條約) is signed, opening the ports of Dànshuǐ 淡水 and Ānpíng 安平 for international trade.

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The Qīng 清 Dynasty (1644-1911), Tóngzhì 同治 Reign (1862-1874)

1860s (= Qīng Tóngzhì 清同治)

John Dodd, a Scottish merchant, propotes tea production in northern Taiwan and works to popularize "Formosa Oolong Tea" in Britain and America. (This site contains a separate web page on tea. Link)

1862 (= Qīng Tóngzhì 清同治 1)

Dài Cháochūn 戴潮春 leads a rebellion against the Qīng 清 government.

1865 (= Qīng Tóngzhì 清同治 4 )

Dài Cháochūn 戴潮春 is captured; leadership of his leadership is transferred to Yan Ban 嚴辦, who is killed in battle later in the year; Dài’s rebel forces begin to decline.

1865 (= Qīng Tóngzhì 清同治 4 )

James Laidlaw Maxwell (1836-1921) (Mǎ Yǎgè 馬雅各) arrives in Taiwan, and founds the first Presbyterian mission. A medical missionary of the English Presbyterian Mission, he seeks to establish himself in Táinán 臺南. (He is driven out and spends the next three years in Qíjīn 旗津, a coastal island district (now part of Gāoxióng 高雄 City) before managing to return to Táinán.)

1867 (= Qīng Tóngzhì 清同治 6)

The American ship Rover (Luófā 羅發) is involved in an “incident” that people don’t talk about today.

1867 (= Qīng Tóngzhì 清同治 6)

Reverend Hugh Ritchie of the English Presbyterian Mission, Taiwan's first ordained Protestant missionary, arrives in Taiwan.

1871 (= Qīng Tóngzhì 清同治 10)

Reverand William Campbell (1841-1921) (Gān Wéilín 甘為霖) of the English Presbyterian Mission arrives in Taiwan. Campbell, who will write extensively about Taiwan, rapidly comes to be known as the most informed of all the foreign missionaries working there during his tenure (1871-1917).

1872 (= Qīng Tóngzhì 清同治 11)

Dr. George Leslie Mackay (1844-1901) (Mǎ Xié 馬偕 or 馬偕 or Xié Ruìlǐ 偕叡理) of the Canadian Presbyterian Mission, arrives in Taiwan. He establishes a church and medical mission in Dànshuǐ 淡水, where he establishes several local churches.

1873 (= Qīng Tóngzhì 清同治 12)

The Mǔdan Shè 牡丹社 Village Incident occurs (not resolved until 1874).

1874 (= Qīng Tóngzhì 清同治 13)

Chén Bǎozhēn 沈葆禎 sets up sea defenses for Taiwan after a Japanese attack on southern Taiwan to avenge the killing of shipwrecked Japanese soldiers.

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The Qīng 清 Dynasty (1644-1911), Guāngxù 光緒 Reign< (1875-1908)

1875 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 1)

Táiběi Fǔ 臺北府 (“prefecture”) is established, with jurisdiction over Dànshuǐ 淡水, Xīnzhú 新竹, and Yílán 宜蘭 Xiàn 縣 as well as the three Tíng 廳 (“sub-prefectures”) of Jīlóng 基隆, Bēinán 卑南, and Pǔlǐ Shè 埔里社 Village.

1875 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 1)

Reverend Thomas Barclay (1849-1935) (Bā Kèlǐ 巴克禮) of the English Presbyterian Mission arrives in Taiwan.

1876 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 2)

Government begins two-year suppression campaign against indigenous peoples in several eastern areas.

1876 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 2)

Tainan Theological College (Táinán Shénxué Yuàn 臺南神學院) is founded by English Presbyterian missionary Thomas Barclay for the training of native missionaries, the first institution of higher education in Taiwan.

1876 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 2)

The British begin mining coal in Bādǒuzi 八斗子.

1877 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 3)

Telegraph cables are laid from Táinán 臺南 to Qíhòu 旗後.

1878 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 4)

The Qīng 清 government encourages settlers to settle “savage land” (fān dì 番地).

1879 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 5)

Canadian Missionary George Leslie Mackay founds Mackay Hospital (Mǎ Jiē Yīguǎn 馬偕醫館) in Hùwěi 滬尾 (present-day Dànshuǐ 淡水).

1882 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 8)

Mackay (Mǎ Jiē 馬偕) founds Oxford College (Niújīn Xuétáng 牛津學堂), the first school of Western studies in northern Taiwan.

1882 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 8)

U.S. Congress passes the Chinese Exclusion Act barring Chinese (including Taiwanese) from migrating to the United States.

1883 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒9)

Sino-French War erupts in Vietnam.

1884 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒10)

As part of a wider Sino-French war, French forces blockade northern Taiwan around the port at Dànshuǒ 淡水 and occupy Pénghú 澎湖, and successfully land briefly in Jālóng 基隆.

1885 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 11)

Taiwan Province (Táiwān Shěng 臺灣省) is established. The energetic modernizer Liú Míngchuán 劉銘傳 is appointed governor.

1886 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 12)

Tax bureaus are set up in the north and south. The Telegraph Bureau (Diànbào Jú 電報局), Tea Bureau (Chá Xiá 茶匣), Tax Bureau (Shuì Xiá 稅匣), and Bureau of Mines (Kuàngwù Zǒngjú 礦務總局) are set up in Táiběi 臺北.

1887 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 13)

The government begins to build railways. Undersea telegraph cables are laid between Taiwan and Fúzhōu 福州 in Fújian 福建 Province.

1888 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 14)

Postal system is established. Small-rent direct tax remittance system is implemented.

1894.0801 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 20 )

First Sino-Japanese war breaks out (to continue until April 17, 1895). China will lose.

1894.11 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 20 )

Sun Yat-sen (Sūn Zhūngshān 孫中山) and associates, meeting in Honolulu, found the "Society for Regenerating China" (Xīng Zhōng Huì 興中會), which unites with other rebel groups to found the "Chinese United League" or Tóngméng Huì 同盟會, which will overthrow the Chinese empire in 1911 and found the Republic of China (Zhōnghuá Mínguó 中華民國). The Tóngméng Huì was the the forerunner of the Guómíndǎng 國民黨 or Nationalist Party.

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The Japanese Period, Meiji (Míngzhì) 明治 Reign

1895.0320 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 20 )

Japanese forces seize control of the Pescadores archipelago (Pénghú 澎湖).

1895.0417 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 21 and Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 28 of Japan)

Treaty of Mǎguān (Mǎguān Tiáoyuē 馬關條約) (Treaty of Shimonoseki 下関条約 in Japanese) is signed, by which the Chinese Government recognizes Korea as an independent nation rather than part of China and cedes Taiwan and the Liáodōng 遼東 Peninsula (part of Liáoníng 遼寧 province) to Japan. By November European powers forced Japan to return Liáoníng to Chinese control. (The full English text of this document is available elsewhere on this web site. Link)

1895.0516 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 21 and Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 28 of Japan)

Táng Jǐngsōng 唐景崧, Qiū Féngjiǎ 丘逢甲 and others establish the Republic of Taiwan. (Táiwān Mínzhǔguó 臺灣民主國) cable a declaration of independence to Běijīng 北京

1895.0523 (= Qīng Guāngxù 清光緒 21 and Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 28 of Japan)

Former Taiwan governor Táng Jǐngsōng 唐景崧, urged on by gentry firebrand Qiū Féngjiǎ 丘逢甲 and others, declare the establishment of the Republic of Taiwan. (Táiwān Mínzhǔguó 臺灣民主國), with Táng as president, inaugurated on May 25.

1895.0528 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 28 )

Japanese forces under Viscount Kawamura Kageaki 川村 景明 land in Taiwan at Yánliáo 鹽寮 in Aòdǐ 澳底 area (near present-day Gòngliáo Xiāng 貢寮鄉 in Táiběi Xiàn 臺北縣). (Wikipedia lists the names of no fewer than 19 Japanese governors-general of Taiwan, and average tenure of only about two and a half years. Link)

1895.0605 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 28 )

President Táng Jǐngsōng 唐景崧 flees to China with his family; Qiū Féngjiǎ 丘逢甲 flees to China at about the same time, ostensibly to recruit resources and reinforcements.

1895.0717 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 29 )

Having entered Táiběi 臺北 virtually unopposed on June 7, the Japanese authorities officially found their administration

1895.09 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 28 )

Liú Yǒngfú 劉永福, chief military officer of the Republican forces, agrees to assume command of what is left of the Republic of Taiwan (and issues postage stamps) but declines the title of president.

1895.1019 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 28 )

Liú Yǒngfú 劉永福, chief military officer of the Republican forces, having offered to surrender but being rebuffed, flees Taiwan.

1895.1021 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 28 )

Táinán 臺南 is fully occupied by the Japanese and the Republic of Taiwan ceases to exist, although anti-Japanese rebellions continue for many years.

1896 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 29 )

Japanese archaeologists discover the archaeological site of Zhīshānyán 芝山岩, the beginning of scientific archaeology in Taiwan.

1896.0330 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 29)

The Japanese Government promulgates “the 63rd Law” (liù-sān fǎ 六三法).

1898.0812 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 31)

Hawaii officially becomes a territory of the United States, thus subject to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and associated laws denying citizenship eligibility to immigrants from China. It is unclear whether it applied to Taiwan, now part of Japan.

1899 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 32)

Construction begins on the North-South Railroad from Jīlóng 基隆 to Gāoxióng 高雄.

1899 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 32)

Táiběi 臺北 tap water and sewerage systems completed.

1899 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 32)

The Bank of Taiwan opens.

1899 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 32)

The Japanese colonial government executes 1,023 people in accordance with the “Statute for the Punishment of Bandits” (Fěitú Xíngfá Lìng 匪徒刑罰令)

1899 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 32)

The Táiběi Normal (Teachers’) College (Shīfàn Dàxué 師範大學) is established.

1900 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 33)

Public telephones set up in Táiběi 臺北 and Táinán 臺南.

1901 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 34)

The Taiwan Governor-General’s Office (Táiwān Zǒngdū Fǔ 臺灣總督府) establishes a Colonial Monopoly Bureau (Zǒngdūfǔ Zhuānmàijú 總督府專賣局), to engage in all trade in camphor, opium, and salt and consolidating the trade under one bureau. Other monopoly bureaux (Chinese: gōngmàijú 公賣局) will be established (such as one for tobacco and alcoholic beverages in 1922), in some cases continuing in various forms to the present. In some cases the intention was to control dangerous substances (such as opium) or profitable ones (such as salt). In other cases the intention was to promote infrastructure development. (See 1953, 2002.)

1903 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 36)

The “Taiwan Provisional Savages’ Land Investigative Commission” (Línshí Táiwān Fāndì Diàochá Shìwù Wěiyuánhuì 臨時臺灣番地調查事務委員會) is established.

1903 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 36)

The first hydroelectric power station is established at Guīshān 龜山, in Táoyuán 桃園. (This is not the same as the tiny island of Guīshān off the east coast.)

1905.1001 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 38)

The first general population census (hùkǒu pǔchá 戶口普查) of Taiwan is undertaken, intended as a small-scale experiment or "dry run" for a continuing household registration census throught Japan. The registration system continues in both Japan and Taiwan to the present.

1906 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 39)

Weights and measures are standardized.

1907.0427 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 40)

“Běipǔ 北埔 Incident” and Japanese suppression.

1908 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 41)

Construction of Gāoxióng 高雄 Harbor formally begins (1908-1912).

1908.0229 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 41)

Regulations Governing Government Irrigation Works promulgated.

1908.0420 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 41)

Completion of the North-South Railway.

1909 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 42)

Rebellion of 26 Villages of the Atayal (Tàiyǎ 泰雅) people near the subprefecture (zhītīng 支廳) of Pǔlǐ Shè 埔里社.

1910 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 43)

Establishment of five-year “Plan for Dealing With Savages” (Lǐfān Jìhuà 理番計畫 begins.

1911 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 44)

Ālǐshān 阿里山 mountain railway completed.

1911 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 44)

Taiwan’s currency unified.

1911.1026 (= Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 44)

Taiwanese are given positions as patrol officials (xúnchá 巡查) (lowest-level police officers).

1912.0212 (= Qīng Xuāntǒng 清宣統 4 = Meiji [Míngzhì] 明治 44)

The last Manchu emperor, six-year-old Aisin-Gioro Puyi, Àixīnjuéluó Pǔyí 愛新覺羅·溥儀, abdicates as China becomes a republic. (See 1932.)

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The Japanese Period, Taishō (Dàzhèng) 大正 Reign

1913 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 2)

William Campbell, under his Romanized Chinese name Kam Uî-lîm (Gān Wéilín 甘為霖), publishes the first all-romanized monolingual dictionary of the Hokkien under the title Ē-mn̂g īm sīn jī-tián 廈門音新字典 (A Dictionary of the Amoy Vernacular), a work that remains critical in Taiwan studies even today.

1914 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 3)

Annihilation campaign against the Truku (Tàilǔgé 太魯閣) people begins in the area around present-day Taroko National Park.

1914 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 3)

World War I (1914-1918) breaks out in Europe.

1915 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 4)

Religious rebel Yú Qīngfāng 余清芳 leads his followers in uprising known as the Yùjǐng 玉井 Incident, or the Xīlái Ān 西來庵 Temple Incident; Japanese troops massacre about 1,000 in the town of Jiàobānián 噍叭哖, pronounced Tä-pa-nî in or Tä-pa-nî Taiwanese. The incident is therefore also referred to as the “Tä-pa-nî Incident.” Some estimates put the total death toll at about 10,000. This is both the largest and the last major anti-Japanese uprising by Chinese in Taiwan. (The last major uprising by aborines will be in 1930.)

1915 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 4)

Taiwan Governor-General’s Office begins exploitation of ancient forests around Bāxiān Shān 八仙山 Mountain and Tàipíng Shān 太平山 Mountain in today’s Yílán Xiàn 宜蘭縣.

1919 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 8)

Public buses begin operation in Táiběi 臺北 City.

1921 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 10)

Petitions begin for the establishment of a Taiwan Representative Assembly (Táiwān Yìhuì 臺灣議會).

1921.0117 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 10)

The Taiwan Culture Association (Táiwān Wénhuà Xiéhuì 臺灣文化協會) is established.

1923 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 12)

Cài Péihuǒ 蔡培火 publishes “The Roman Alphabet and the New Taiwanese Literary Movement” (Táiwān Xīnwénxué Yùndòng yǔ Luómǎzì 臺灣新文學運動與羅馬字).

1923 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 12)

Huáng Cháoqín 黃朝琴 publishes “The Revolution in Chinese Language” (Hànwén Gǎigé Lùn 漢文改革論).

1923 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 12)

Huáng Chéngcōng 黃呈聰 publishes “The New Mission for the Vernacular Language” (Lùn Pǔjí Báihuàwén de Xīn Shǐmìng 論普及白話文的新使命).

1923 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 12)

The vernacular writing movement (Báihuàwén Yùndòng 白話文運動) in Taiwan begins but is of little interest since people using Chinese are accustomed to Literary Chinese, the official language is Japanese, and it is not obvious how to render many spoken Hokkien expressions in characters.

1923 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 12)

U.S. Supreme Court declares that all "Asiatics" are covered by exclusionary imigration legislation, establishing a precedent to consider geography the definitional trait of "race."

1924 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 13)

The “Seven Stars” Art Forum (Qīxīng Huàtán 七星畫壇) is established. Most of the seven are named Chén 陳: Chén Chéngbō 陳澄波, Chén Yīngshēng 陳英聲, Chén Chéngfān 陳承藩, Chén Zhíqí 陳植棋 and Chén Yínyòng 陳銀用, Lán Yìndǐng 藍蔭鼎, Ní Jiǎnghuái 倪蔣懷).

1924.0524 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 13)

U.S. President Coolidge signs the Immigration Act aimed at reducing the number of southern European immigrants and denying citizenship to permanent residents or immigrants of "Asiatic" origin.

1925 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 14)

The Kānō 嘉農 high school baseball team, made up of Aboriginal boys under the leadership of Huālián 花蓮 native Lín Guìxīng 林桂興, wins 5 out of 6 games against Japanese teams in Japan, launching “Taiwan baseball” as a major source of Taiwan pride clear down to the present.

1925.1022 (= Taishō [Dàzhèng] 大正 14)

Èrlín 二林 Incident occurs when sugarcane farmers clash with police over rights. Èrlín is in ZHX.

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The Japanese Period, Shōwa (Zhāohé) 昭和 Reign

1926.0327 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 1)

Táidōng 臺東 to Huālián 花蓮 railroad opens through the eastern rift valley.

1926.0628 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 1)

Taiwan Farmers Association (Táiwān Nóngmín Zǔhé 臺灣農民組合) is established.

1929 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 4)

The Bamboo Forest (Zhúlín 竹林) Incident, a dispute that had been ongoing for more than 20 years, finally ends. The Japanese colonial government requires all the villagers concerned to buy back the Bamboo Forest. Dissatisfied farmers continue opposition and are suppressed by police.

1930.0410 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 5)

Jiā-Nán Irrigation Canal (Jiā Nán Dà Zhèn 嘉南大圳) begins operation in the fertile agricultural plain of today’s Jiāyì Xiàn 嘉義縣 and Táinán Xiàn 臺南縣, an area known as the Jiā-Nán or Jiānán 嘉南 Plain.

1930.0922 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 5)

Farmers surround township offices in Xuéjiǎ 學甲, Xiàyíng 下營, Jiālǐ 佳里, Mádòu 麻豆 and other areas of northern Táinán 臺南 demanding a reduction in water rates.

1930.1027 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 5 )

27 October: Wùshè 霧社 Incident of the Sedeq (Sàidékè 賽德克) subgroup of the Atayal (Tàiyǎ 泰雅) People of north-central Taiwan. This is the last major uprising against the Japanese administration by aboriginal peoples in Taiwan. (The group is sometimes also called Taroko. A separate page of this web site includes brief summary information on Taiwan's indigenous peoples. Link)

1931 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 6)

Japan invades Manchuria (the northeastern provinces of today's China), homeland of the Manchus, following an event known to history as "the Mukden Incident" or "the Manchurian Incident." ("Mukden" is an older name of modern Shěnyáng 沈阳, the capital of Liáoníng 遼寧 Province.)

1932 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 7)

In occupied Manchuria, Japan creates the client state of Manchuko (Japanese: Manshū-koku 满洲国, Chinese: Mǎnzhōu Dìguó 大滿洲帝國). In 1934 the name will changed to "Great Empire of Manchuria" (Dai Manshū Teikoku 大满洲帝国 or Dài Mǎnzhōu Dìguó 大滿洲帝國. To reduce local resistance, the Japanese authorities 溥儀 draft the former Xuāntǒng 宣統 emperor of the Qīng 清 dynasty (who abdicated in 1912, q.v.) as the "emperor" of the new entity.

1932 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 7)

A Taiwanese youth baseball team triumphs over as Japanese counterpart for the first time, which is widely understood as suggesting that Taiwanese are just as competent as their Japanese overlords. (Baseball was introduced into Taiwan as a popular Japanese recreation early in the 1900s.) Baseball will become an important political symbol of Taiwanese competence until it becomes internationalized in the 1990s.

1932 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 7)

Government ends prohibition on marriage between Japanese and Taiwanese.

1934.0511 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 9)

Japan’s four major financial groups agree to jointly invest in the Taiwan Aluminum Corporation.

1935 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 10)

The government establishes the expression Gāoshā zú (takasago zoku) 高砂族 as a cover term for all highland tribal peoples. The term gāoshā refers to beautiful beautiful scenery, so this was a polite term implying that these were the tribes from scenic regions.

1935 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 10)

The "Taiwan Exposition" (Táiwān Bólán Huì 臺灣博覽會) highlights Taiwan's development and productivity under Japanese governance, especially railways and transportation, but also public education, agricultural expansion, and industrial development. Overseas, the event was considered a mere propaganda effort to promote Japanese imperialism, overlooking the genuine pride of the local people seeing their own efforts celebrated.

1935 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 10)

The government founds an aboriginal military corps (called the Gāoshā Yìyǒng Duì 高砂義勇隊 or “Highland Heroes Corps”) to conduct south seas military reconnaissance and other operations. (It is estimated that of about 12,000 youths who left Taiwan, only about 2,500 returned.)

1935.1122 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 10)

Taiwan’s first elections are held for local assemblies.

1936.0330 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 11)

Construction completed on Sōngshān 松山 Airport near Táiběi 臺北 (today within the city).

1937.0601 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 12)

Taiwan Shipyard Corporation (Táiwān Chuánwù Gōngsī 臺灣船塢公司) is established.

1937.0707 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 12)

Japan attacks mainland China, launching the Sino-Japanese War. Japan thereafter appoints military personnel as Governors General of Taiwan (as it did in the earliest days of its occupation).

1937.0731 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 12)

The construction of the second phase of Sun Moon Lake (Rìyuè Tán 日月潭) power plant is completed.

1940 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 15)

Campaign begins promoting the use of Japanese family and given names for Taiwanese.

1941.0208 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 16)

Taiwan Governor-General’s Office announces prohibition of the use of traditional lunar calendars.

1941.0419 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 16)

Imperial Citizen Associations (Huángmín Fènggōng Huì 皇民奉公會) formed.

1941.1208 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 16)

Japan stages a surprise attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii. U.S. declares war on Japan. (This is dated one day later than in the United States because of the international date line.)

1942 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 17)

Japanese recruit Taiwanese for “volunteer army brigades” (lùjūn zhìyuànbīng 陸軍志願兵)

1942 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 17)

Taiwanese first permitted to take Japanese names.

1943 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 18)

Farmers are forced to hand over rice harvests. Food rationing is implemented.

1943 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 18)

Taiwanese and Korean students are forced to join the military at the front.

1943.1126 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 18)

Roosevelt, Churchill, and Jiǎng Jièshí 蔣介石 ("Chiang Kai-shek"), after meeting in Cairo from November 22 to 26, release the "Cairo Declaration," proclaiming that after her defeat, Japan will "be stripped of all the islands in the Pacific which she has seized or occupied since the beginning of the First World War in 1914" and that "all the territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese, such as Manchuria, Formosa, and the Pescadores, shall be restored to the Republic of China." (Some have pointed out that, although Taiwan was technically ceded to Japan —under duress— in 1895, it was as "redefined" as "stolen" for purposes of the Cairo Declaration.)

1945 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 20)

American air force bombs Taiwan.

1945.0815 (= Shōwa [Zhāohé] 昭和 20 and Mínguó 民國 34)

The Japanese emperor accepts the Potsdam Declaration and offers unconditional surrender. Taiwan is retroceded to China, which in the meantime has become the Republic of China (Zhōnghuá Mínguó 中華民國), governed by the Nationalist Party (Guómín Dǎng 國民黨), frequently abbreviated “KMT” in English following now obsolete spelling conventions.

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The Republic of China (1912-), Mínguó 民國 Period (1940s)

1945.10 (= Mínguó 民國 34)

The KMT Army and New Governor Chén Yí 陳儀 arrive in Taiwan.

1945.12 (= Mínguó 民國 34)

The price of rice skyrockets and the price of goods increases by as much as ten times compared to levels just at the end of the Japanese period.

1947.0228 (= Mínguó 民國 36)

The Feburary 28 Incident (Èr’èrbā Shìjiàn 二二八事件) occurs, today usually called simply “223.”

1948 (= Mínguó 民國 37)

Public elementary school education is made both available and compulsory for girls as well as boys.

1948 (= Mínguó 民國 37)

The “Mandarin Promotion Commission” (Guóyǔ Tuīxíng Wěiyuánhuì 國語推行委員會) is established; its policies will eventually include prohibition of speaking Hakka or Hokkien in school.

1949 (= Mínguó 民國 38)

Soaring inflation results in currency reform (huòbì gǎigé 貨幣改革 creating the New Taiwan Dollar, which replaces the older Taiwan dollar at a rate of 40,000 to 1. (In 1965 it took NT$40 was worth US$1. In 2010 —45 years later— it took only about NT$30 to be worth US$1. In other words, the NT$ held its value better than the US$.)

1949 (= Mínguó 民國 38)

Taiwan governor Chén Chéng 陳誠 issues a draft of the Private Farmlands for Tenants Act (Yǒugēngdì Zūyòng Bàn Fǎ 有耕地租用辦法) limiting rents on farm land to 37.5%. (Formerly rents varied, but probably averaged about 50% of the crop.) The colloquial name is simply "land reform" (Tǔdì Gǎigé 土地改革) The policy will be finalized by the Executive Yuan (Xíngzhèng Yuàn 行政院) only in 1951. See 1951, 1953.

1949 (= Mínguó 民國 38)

The land reform begins with the “37.5%” rent reduction.

1949.05 (= Mínguó 民國 38)

Martial law is imposed.

1949.1001 (= Mínguó 民國 38)

Máo Zédōng 毛澤東 declares the founding of the People's Republic of China (Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó 中華人民共和國) from atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiān'ān Mén 天安門) at the entry to the Forbidden City in Běijīng 北京.

1949.1210 (= Mínguó 民國 38)

Jiǎng Jièshí 蔣介石 (“Chiang Kai-shek”) and what remains of the KMT Government, defeated by the Communist forces on the mainland, evacuate from their last stronghold in Yúnnán 雲南 Province to Taiwan, making Táiběi 臺北 the "temporary capital" of the republic. The euphonious term “Commie Bandits” (Gòngfěi 共匪) becomes standard in referring to the triumphant Communist government, implying that the Communist Party took the country from its legitimate “owners” by illegal force. (The Communists occasionally reciprocated by referring to the KMT forces as “Jiǎng’s Bandits” —Jiǎngfěi 蔣匪).

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The Republic of China (1912-), Mínguó 民國 Period (1950s)

1950.0301 (= Mínguó 民國 39)

Jiǎng Jièshí 蔣介石 (“Chiang Kai-shek”) resumes office as the President. Chén Chéng 陳誠 is named Premier. (He had been made Director of the State Council in 1928, an equivalent position. In 1948 he was formally elected president, but resigned in January of 1949 out of shame over KMT military defeats.)

1950 (= Mínguó 民國 39)

National lottery is established under the name “Patriotism Lottery” (Àiguó Jiǎngquàn 愛國獎券) to provide extra government income without increasing taxes and to provide jobs for disabled veterans and other unemployed people as lottery ticket sellers. (It continues through 1987, when private betting on lottery numbers results in it being judged more harmful than benevolent. See 1987.)

1950 (= Mínguó 民國 39)

An underground movement favoring independence of Taiwan from the Republic of China begins to use the term Zhōnghuá Táiwān Guó 中華臺灣國, "the Chinese Republic of Taiwan." (This deliberately contrasts with the ill-fated Republic of Taiwan declared in 1895, q.v.)

1951 (= Mínguó 民國 40)

Following on its surrender in 1945, Japan finalizes its departure from Taiwan in a formal peace treaty signed in San Francisco.

1950 (= Mínguó 民國 39)

The Korean War breaks out and the U.S. 7th Fleet enters the Taiwan Strait to prevent a mainland attack on Taiwan or vice versa [note].

NOTE: Most people argue that neither the PRC nor the ROC possessed the naval or air power to cross the strait at that time with large numbers of troops, so for the PRC to take Taiwan and for the ROC to retake the mainland were both unrealistic.

Jiǎng’s overly hopeful expectation was that the Communists were in sufficient disarray that he would be able to retake the mainland in very short order with relatively few troops because the mainland populace would happily rise up and support him as a liberator from Communist oppression. In 1950 he propagated the slogan: “Year 1: prepare. Year 2: attack. Year 3: sweep the enemy. Year 5: success.” (Yīnián zhǔnbèi. Liǎng nián fǎngōng. Sān nián sǎodàng. Wǔ nián chénggōng. 一年準備，兩年反攻，三年掃蕩，五年成功。)

President Truman’s deployment of the 7th Fleet was intended to avoid having the United States dragged into (the losing side of) a Chinese civil war while it was already entangled with the war in Korea in which China was allied with the communist North Korean side. For many years the KMT government could argue that the only condition that delayed or prevented the retaking of the mainland was the American lack of cooperation.

1951 (= Mínguó 民國 40)

U.S. aid program officially begins (continuing until 1965).

1951.0525 (= Mínguó 民國 40)

The Executive Yuan (Xíngzhèng Yuàn 行政院) officially approves the Private Farmlands for Tenants Act issues in 1949, now called the "375 Rent Reduction Act" (Sān-Qī-Wǔ Jiǎnzū Tiáolì 三七五減租條例), overcoming resistance by omitting the legislative readings. (See 1949, 1953.)

1952 (= Mínguó 民國 41)

Hairstyle restrictions are implemented in middle schools. (Boys’ hair could not exceed 3 cm in length, and girls’ hair could not extend beyond their ears.)

1952 (= Mínguó 民國 41)

The China Youth Corps (Zhōngguó Qīngnián Fǎngòng Jiùguó Tuán 中國青年反共救國團, literally the “China Youth Corps to Fight Communism and Save the Nation”) is organized with Jiǎng Jièshí’s 蔣介石 son Jiǎng Jīngguó 蔣經國 (“Chiang Ching-kuo”) serving as Director.

1952 (= Mínguó 民國 41)

The words “Never Forget Jǔ!” (Wú Wàng Zài Jǔ 毋忘在莒 in the calligraphy of President Jiǎng Jièshí 蔣介石 (“Chiang Kai-shek”) are inscribed in huge characters on a boulder on KMT-controlled Jīnmén 金門 (“Quemoy”) island in Fújiàn 福建 where generations of Taiwan soldiers will be trained.
(Perhaps the most prominent political slogan of its era, it referred to a captive VIIth century leader whose determination even while in an enemy prison eventually allowed him to retake his homeland. Unfortunately the story was not widely known in Taiwan, and the character for Jǔ 莒, where the story takes place, looks a lot like yīng 營, the character for “military camp,” so the slogan was easily misinterpreted by semiliterate draftees as meaning, “Don’t forget your camp buddies.” That wasn't a bad sentiment, but it was shy of the level of arousal that Jiǎng presumably had in mind.)

1953 (= Mínguó 民國 42)

All middle schools include military training.

1953 (= Mínguó 民國 42)

The Four Year Economic Plan begins. The “Land-to-the-Tiller” (Gēngzhě Yǒu Qí Tián 耕者有其田) program is implemented, limiting the amount of agricultural land a farmer can own and allowing tenant farmers to buy the land they actually farm through a government mortgage system paid in agricultural produce.
(The government compensated former landowners with bonds to be paid in future commodities, but salable on the open market. This forced people to invest savings in industry rather than land, providing capital for Taiwan’s rapid economic expansion. To promote industrial investiment, share of some of the government monopolies inherited from Japanese times —see 1901— were made available for sale as the industries were converted to private or semi-private corporations owned by stockholders. However some agricultural holdings, divided among children on the death of a registered landholder, resulted in fields too small for mechanized farming, requiring a (largely successful) “land consolidation” campaign in the 1970s, reshuffling some titles and creating larger fields for collective farming.)

1954 (= Mínguó 民國 43)

14,209 Chinese “anti-communist patriots” stranded in Korea are brought to Taiwan.

1954 (= Mínguó 民國 43)

Mutual Defense Treaty signed with the United States.

1954 (= Mínguó 民國 43)

Publication of Shěn Fùjìn’s 沈富進Precious Mirror Arranged by Sound (Huìyīn Bǎojiàn 彙音寶鑑) the most important Taiwanese Hokkien monolingual dictionary arranged by sound using Chinese characters as “letters.”

1958.0923 (= Mínguó 民國 47)

The “August 23 attack” sets off the second major crisis in the Taiwan Strait. For twenty years China shells Jīnmén 金門 (“Quemoy”) every other day, technically keeping open a state of war as well as providing live-ammunition training for both armies. (See 1960.)

1959 (= Mínguó 民國 48)

Population density in Taiwan is widely believed to have become the highest in the world. Authorities reject recommendation from Jiǎng Mènglín 蔣夢麟 to curb population growth.

1959.0807 (= Mínguó 民國 48)

Three hundred thousand people left homeless from flooding on August 7th.

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The Republic of China (1912-), Mínguó 民國 Period (1960s)

1960 (= Mínguó 民國 49)

Authorities arrest Léi Zhèn 雷震, editor of “Free China” (Zìyóu Zhōngguó 自由中國) on charges of sedition.

1960 (= Mínguó 民國 49)

The famous “Kennedy-Nixon” debates elevevate the status of the KMT-controlled of essentially indefensible islands of Mǎzǔ 馬祖 (“Matsu”) and Jīnmén 金門 (“Quemoy ”) in coastal Fújiàn 福建 to a point of American foreign policy. Nixon favors going to war with China to defend KMT control of them if necessary. Kennedy disagrees. (See 1958.)

1960 (= Mínguó 民國 49)

The first Central Cross-island road is completed (through Taroko Gorge).

1960 (= Mínguó 民國 49)

The National Assembly adopts an amendment to its earlier war powers act discontinuing restrictions on how many times the president may be reelected. This will allow Jiǎng Jièshí 蔣介石 (“Chiang Kai-shek”) to serve to the end of his life.

1962 (= Mínguó 民國 51)

Taiwan’s first television station TTV ( Taiwan Television) begins broadcasting.

1963 (= Mínguó 民國 52)

Jì Zhèng 紀政 (“Chi Cheng”) breaks the world record for the women’s 100-meter sprint.

1964 (= Mínguó 民國 53)

Major damage results from an earthquake in the Jiā-Nán 嘉南 area, that is, the agricultural plain stretching across the counties of Jiāyì 嘉義 and Táinán 臺南.

1964 (= Mínguó 民國 53)

Prof. Péng Míngmǐn 彭明敏, Xiè Cōngmǐn 謝聰敏, Wèi Tíngzhāo 魏廷朝, and several other professors are arrested for their “Taiwan Self Preservation Declaration” (Táiwān Rénmín Zìjiù Xuānyán 臺灣人民自救宣言)

1965 (= Mínguó 民國 54)

National Palace Museum (Guólì Gùgōng Bówùyuàn 國立故宮博物院) opens outside Táiběi 臺北 for the curation and display of a collection originating in the imperial collections in Běijīng 北京. Immediately hailed as the greatest collection of Chinese art in the world, the museum attracts enormous international attention, and Taiwan is praised for excellent curatorship of it.

1965 (= Mínguó 民國 54)

Vietnam conflict escalates. The United States declines Taiwan’s offer of military assistance, but American bases in Taiwan will serve as supply stations and as a relaxation destination for U.S. military.Bars and prostitutes servicing these installations will eventually produce two to three thousand “Amerasian babies” in Taiwan.

1966 (= Mínguó 民國 55)

Bernard Gallin’s Hsin Hsing, Taiwan: A Chinese Village in Change becomes the first post-war anthropological study of a Taiwan village. David Jordan (Jiāo Dàwèi 焦大衛) and other American graduate students arrive in Taiwan to begin several additional studies of Taiwan villages.

1966 (= Mínguó 民國 55)

First Export Processing Zone opens in Gāoxióng 高雄, allowing the importation of raw materials without import tax when used to produce new products for export. (The project was so successful that the scheme was eventually extended throughout Taiwan.)

1966 (= Mínguó 民國 55)

In order to ensure a proper “social morality,” Taiwan police are given responsibility for cracking down on the “improper appearance” of extravagantly dressed or deliberately disheveled youth.

1966.05 (= Mínguó 民國 55)

Chinese Communist Party Chairman Máo Zédōng 毛澤東, troubled that the Communist movement is becoming gentrified, launches mainland China’s Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (Wénhuà Dà Gémìng 文化大革命, or Wéngé 文革 for short), destined to continue through 1976. The widespread destruction on the mainland of people and property, including valued cultural traditions, sites, and relics, provides support for the claim of the government in Taiwan to be the only legitimate government of China and to proclaim a part of its mission in Taiwan to be safeguarding Chinese civilization.

1966.1112 (= Mínguó 民國 55)

In a largely knee-jerk response to mainland China’s Great Cultural Revolution, the ROC government founds a Chinese Cultural Renaissance Movement (Zhōnghuá Wénhuà Fùxīng Yùndòng 中華文化復興運動) and in response to the Communists’ “Little Red Book” of Máo’s quotations, the KMT issues each party member a “Little Golden Book” of quotations from Jiǎng Jièshí.

1967 (= Mínguó 民國 56)

By presidential decree, the cumbersomely named “National Security Council During the Period of National Mobilization for the Suppression of the [Communist] Rebellion” (Dòngyuán Kānluàn Shíqī Guójiā Ānquán Huìyì 動員戡亂時期國家安全會議) is established, replacing the old Ministry of Defense (Guófáng Huìyì 國防會議). The new name never really catches on.

1968 (= Mínguó 民國 57)

Archaeologists discover archaeological earliest archaeological remains yet known in Taiwan at the site of Bāxiān Dòng 八仙洞 Cave in Chángbīn Xiāng 長濱鄉 of Táidōng Xiàn 台東縣. The site included the remains of Paleolithic foragers, the so-called “Chángbīn Culture” dating to between 5,000 and 15,000 years ago.

1968 (= Mínguó 民國 57)

Compulsory education is extended from six years to nine years.

1968 (= Mínguó 民國 57)

In an effort to ensure security of buildings, all structures of three floors or more are required to use reinforced concrete.

1968 (= Mínguó 民國 57)

The Executive Yuan (Xíngzhèng Yuàn 行政院) announces a (weak) national birth control policy.

1968.0216 (= Mínguó 民國 57)

A passenger flight of “The Mandarin Jet” of Civil Air Transport (Mín Hángkōngyùn Gōngsī 民航空運公司), Taiwan’s “flagship airline” (with shadowy origins during the Second World War), crashes on a flight from Hong Kong to Táiběi 臺北. It develops that there is in fact only one “Mandarin Jet” making up the entire “fleet,” and the airline ceases operations. The status of “flagship airline” is transferred to the new China Airlines (Zhōnghuá Hángkōng Gōngsī 中華航空公司)

1968.08 (= Mínguó 民國 57)

A baseball team made up of Bunun-tribe boys from the Maple Leaf (Hóngyè 紅葉) Elementary School in Táidōng 臺東 Xiàn brilliantly wins over a visiting Japanese team. This is followed by a stunning series of successes, launching an era of Taiwan domination of international Little League competitions.

1969 (= Mínguó 民國 58)

Golden Dragon (Jīnlóng 金龍) baseball team from Taiwan wins the Little League World Series, setting off a nation-wide baseball craze. Taiwan will go on to win a total of 17 Little League World Series championships.

1969 (= Mínguó 民國 58)

Number of households with televisions increases dramatically.

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The Republic of China (1912-), Mínguó 民國 Period (1970s)

1970 (= Mínguó 民國 59)

Four hundred Taiwanese fishing vessels encounter harassment from a Japanese patrol boat near the unoccupied Pinnacle Islands (Diàoyútái Dǎo 釣魚臺島 in Chinese, Senkaku Shotō 尖閣諸島 in Japanese), disputed specks of land claimed by the ROC, the PRC, and Japan as a basis for fishing and prospecting rights. [Note]

NOTE: Diàoyútái 釣魚臺 means “fishing tower.” It is also the name of the top-level official guest house in Beijing. When Presidents Nixon and Carter visited China, they were accommodated in the building, which some commentors interpreted as intended to suggest that non-Chinese can never be more than guests in the Diàoyútái.

1970 (= Mínguó 民國 59)

Over 46,000 people are afflicted in a tuberculosis outbreak; 20,000 undergo treatment.

1971 (= Mínguó 民國 60)

Embassador of the ROC stalks out of the United Nations prior to the vote on whether the People’s Republic of China (Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó 中華人民共和國) or the Republic of China (Zhōnghuá Mínguó 中華民國) (the KMT government on Taiwan) should occupy the “China” seat. The seat is awarded to the PRC and all UN-associated Chinese embassy properties are declared to belong to the PRC. (A cascade of additional shifts of diplomatic recognition occurs around the world, and Chinese diplomatic properties are shifted from ROC to PRC ownership in capital after capital.)

1971 (= Mínguó 民國 60)

Jiǎng Jièshí 蔣介石 (“Chiang Kai-shek”) coins the slogan “In adversity be self-reliant and do not panic.” (Zhuāng jìng zìqiáng, Chù biàn bù jīng. 莊敬自強。處變不驚。) in response to Taiwan’s deteriorating international status. The year 1971 is proclaimed “Self Reliance Year” (zìqiáng nián 自強年) and the term “self reliance” (zìqiáng 自強) becomes temporarily fashionable for brand names, patriotic banners, &c. (The ROC’s reuse of the term “self-strengthening” implicitly harkens back to the anti-foreign movement of similar name in the 1860s.)

1971 (= Mínguó 民國 60)

The U.S. plans to “return” the Diàoyútái 釣魚臺 Islands to Japan. Student demonstrations protest the government’s inaction, students arguing that the government fears upsetting the U.S. and Japan.

1972 (= Mínguó 民國 61)

Japan breaks diplomatic ties with Taiwan, resulting in boycotts of Japanese products throughout the island.

1972 (= Mínguó 民國 61)

Taiwan’s population exceeds 15 million.

1973 (= Mínguó 民國 62)

First world oil crisis.

1973 (= Mínguó 民國 62)

Premier Jiǎng Jīngguó 蔣經國 (“Chiang Ching-kuo”) announces the “Ten Major Constructions” plan, including the proposal for the Taiwan’s first nuclear power plant following a year later.

1974 (= Mínguó 民國 63)

Baseball teams representing Taiwan take first place at the Little League, Junior League, and Senior League World Series. (Taiwan is later ejected from international baseball competitions because China is represented by the PRC.)

1974 (= Mínguó 民國 63)

Taiwan Provincial Governor Xiè Dōngmǐn 謝東閔 (“Hsieh Tong-min”) promotes “the living room as a factory” by exempting household factories from business income tax. Tens of thousands of households around the country participate by taking in piece work.

1974 (= Mínguó 民國 63)

World oil prices result in substantial increases (some people say doubling) in the price of consumer goods in Taiwan.

1975 (= Mínguó 民國 64)

Jiǎng Jièshí 蔣介石 (“Chiang Kai-shek”) dies. Vice-President Yán Jiāgàn 嚴家淦 (“Yen Chia-kan”), a professional economist, succeeds to the presidency. Jiǎng Jièshí’s son Jiǎng Jīngguó 蔣經國 (“Chiang Ching-kuo”) takes over as head of the KMT party.

1976 (= Mínguó 民國 65)

Ministry of Education announces the dismissal of all school principals who allow teachers to engage in exploitative tutoring practices (such as requiring that students be tutored in for-profit cram schools run by the principals).

1976 (= Mínguó 民國 65)

The Broadcasting and Television Law stipulates that the majority of programs should be broadcast in Mandarin and that programs in Hakka and Hokkien should be gradually reduced.

1977 (= Mínguó 民國 66)

Ministry of Education forbids teachers from teaching in cram schools (bǔxíbān 補習班) and prohibits students from attending cram schools, which are universal and considered necessary to pass the school entry exams for the next level.

1977 (= Mínguó 民國 66)

Native literature (xiāngtǔ wénxué 鄉土文學) debate begins. (Should writers focus on universal themes or on “homey” ones?)

1977 (= Mínguó 民國 66)

Rioting in Zhōnglì 中壢 erupts after vote rigging is discovered in elections for the Táoyuán Xiàn 桃園縣 county governor (xiànzhǎng 縣長).

1978 (= Mínguó 民國 67)

Jiǎng Jīngguó 蔣經國 (“Chiang Ching-kuo”) is elected as the sixth President of the R.O.C.

1978 (= Mínguó 民國 67)

The North-South Expressway is opened to traffic.

1978 (= Mínguó 民國 67)

U.S. announces it will establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China and terminate diplomatic ties and the Mutual Defense Treaty with Taiwan.

1979 (= Mínguó 民國 68)

President Jiǎng Jīngguó 蔣經國 (“Chiang Ching-kuo”) articulates the “Three Noes Policy” (Sān Bù Zhèngcè 三不政策) after the United States shifts its diplomatic recognition from the ROC to the PRC as the single government of all of China. (They were: “no contact, no compromise, and no negotiation” —bù jiēchù，bù tánpàn，bù tuǒxié 不接觸，不談判，不妥協) [with the PRC].) (The hijacking of a Taiwan airliner in 1986 later required compromise on this policy, leading to its abandonment by the turn of the century.)

1979 (= Mínguó 民國 68)

C.K.S. International Airport (Zhōngzhèng Jīchǎng 中正機場) opens in Táoyuán 桃園, about an hour south of Táiběi 臺北, almost entirely displacing Táiběi’s Japanese-era Sōngshān 松山 airport (which opened in 1936), and enormously increasing Taiwan’s capacity as a stop for international air travel. (“CKS” of course stands for “Chiang Kai-shek.”)

1979 (= Mínguó 民國 68)

Gāoxióng 高雄 Riot takes place in that city. (It is today called the “Formosa Magazine Incident” [Měilìdǎo Shìjiàn 美麗島事件] in Taiwan.) The much dreaded Taiwan Garrison Command (Jǐngbèi Zǒngbù 警備總部), the domestic security force, arrests the editors of “Formosa Magazine” (Měilì Dǎo 美麗島) and locks down the magazine’s facilities. A serious riot pits police against “peaceful and unarmed” protesters carrying concealed chains and other “pseudo-weapons.”

1979 (= Mínguó 民國 68)

The first nuclear power plant is completed.

1979 (= Mínguó 民國 68)

The PRC National People’s Congress (Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì 全國人民代表大會, literally “Nationwide Congress of People's Representatives”, abbreviated Réndà 人大), proposes “three links” (sān tōng 三通) between the PRC and Taiwan, namely postal links (tōng yóu 通郵), airline links (tōng háng 通航), and commercial trade links (tōng shāng 通商). The proposal is immediately rebuffed. (All three types of links were established December 15, 2008.)

1979 (= Mínguó 民國 68)

Uni-President Enterprises (Tǒngyī Qǐyè 統一企業, literally “United Company”) opens the first 24-hour convenience store ushering in a retail revolution in Taiwan.

1979.0101 (= Mínguó 民國 68)

U.S. President Jimmy Carter officially establishes diplomatic relations with the PRC and severs relations with the R.O.C. American government personnel are forbidden to utter the phrase “Republic of China.” Congress hastily enacts the “Taiwan Relations Act” (Táiwān Guānxì Fǎ 臺灣關係法), pointedly pledging US defense of Taiwan in event of an armed attack on it.

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The Republic of China (1912-), Mínguó 民國 Period (1980s)

1980 (= Mínguó 民國 69)

North Link Railroad is completed.

1980 (= Mínguó 民國 69)

Xīnzhú 新竹 ("Hsinchu") Science Park opens as a concentration of research facilities in science and technology.

1981 (= Mínguó 民國 70)

Mainland leader Dèng Xiǎopíng 鄧小平, in hopes of reuniting Taiwan with China, proposes “one country, two systems” (Yīguó-Liǎngzhì 一國兩制), something akin to the later Hong Kong model; it is immediately rejected as a communist ruse.

1982 (= Mínguó 民國 71)

Communist Chinese Pilot Wú Rónggēn 吳榮根 defects to South Korea in a MIG-19 jet, starting what will become a wave of “freedom flights” by mainland Chinese “anti-communist patriots,” each of them richly rewarded by the Taiwan government.

1982 (= Mínguó 民國 71)

Taiwan’s first post-war bank robbery occurs.

1983 (= Mínguó 民國 72)

Executive Yuan (Xíngzhèng Yuàn 行政院) announces a ban on imports of scrap metal, scrap cable, and wire for industrial reprocessing, but the environmental effects are already widespread as a result of the earlier massive expansion of the successful industry of dismantling old ships in Taiwan’s coastal waters.

1984 (= Mínguó 民國 73)

Security officials begin a campaign against underground gangs.

1984 (= Mínguó 民國 73)

The first MacDonald’s opens in Taiwan, to be followed rapidly by hundreds more MacDonald’s outlets and countless other international food franchises and local imitations of them.

1985 (= Mínguó 民國 74)

“Operation Cleensweep” (Yīqīng Zhuān’àn 一清專案) temporarily jails leaders of major crime syndicates, whose jailtime friendships set the stage for later cooperation in continuing illegal activity.

1985 (= Mínguó 民國 74)

Indigenous people demand the right to use their traditional surnames (instead of Chinese surnames), foreshadowing a coming aboriginal rights movement.

1986 (= Mínguó 民國 75 )

An anti-Dupont march is held in the town of Lugang 鹿港 marking the beginning of civic environmental protests.

1986 (= Mínguó 民國 75 )

As martial law controls are gradually softened, the Democratic Progressive Party (Mínzhǔ Jìnbù Dǎng 民主進步黨 or for short, Mínjìn Dǎng 民進黨) is formed, although still technically illegal.

1986.0503 (= Mínguó 民國 75 )

A cargo plane belonging to Taiwan’s China Airlines is hijacked and flown to Guǎngzhōu 廣州; the ROC sends “unofficial” representatives to Hong Kong to negotiate with PRC officials for the return of the plane and crew. (The hijacking pilot is hailed as a hero in the PRC for forcing the ROC to compromise its policy of non-negotiation. See 1979.)

1987 (= Mínguó 民國 76)

Martial law ends after nearly forty years.

1987 (= Mínguó 民國 76)

Residents of Taiwan are permitted to visit relatives in China. (Although these reunions were generally happy ones, economic disparities between the two regions resulted in demands for substantial gifts, which generated a certain amount of resentment in Taiwan after a time.)

1987 (= Mínguó 民國 76)

National “patriotic” lottery (Àiguó Jiǎngquàn 愛國獎券 or Àiguó Cǎijuàn愛國彩卷) is discontinued because of extensive illegal private betting on the numbers in a craze called Dàjiālè 大家樂 (“Everybody’s Happy”). The craze continues in diminished scope using numbers from lotteries in Hong Kong or elsewhere. (See 1950.)

1988 (= Mínguó 民國 77)

A demonstration in Táiběi 臺北 by farmers from southern and central Taiwan turns bloody, resulting in what has become known as the “520 Incident” (Wǔ’èrlíng Liúxiě Shìjiàn 五二零流血事件, literally “May 20 Bloody Incident”).

1988 (= Mínguó 民國 77)

A Yami (Yǎměi 雅美) (= Tao) Youth Group on Orchid Island (Lányǔ Dǎo 蘭嶼島) demonstrate against the dumping of nuclear waste there.

1988 (= Mínguó 民國 77)

Jiǎng Jīngguó 蔣經國 (“Chiang Ching-kuo”) dies, Lǐ Dēnghuī 李登輝 (“Lee Teng-hui”) becomes ROC President. Because he is a Hakka from Taiwan, commentators claim Lǐ’s presidency marks the end of the era of the KMT government being seen as an occupying force from the mainland.

1988 (= Mínguó 民國 77)

Newspaper censorship and paper-saving length restrictions end.

1988 (= Mínguó 民國 77)

Residents of the Linyuan 林園Township in Gāoxióng 高雄 launch protests against environmental pollution by the petrochemical industry.

1988 (= Mínguó 民國 77)

The indigenous land rights movement, “Return My Land” (Huán Wǒ Tǔdì 還我土地) begins to gain momentum, at least as a slogan.

1989.0604 (= Mínguó 民國 78)

Pro-democracy protests are suppressed on Běijīng’s Tiān’ānmén 天安門 Square, with worldwide publicity.

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The Republic of China (1912-), Mínguó 民國 Period (1990s)

1990 (= Mínguó 民國 79)

President Lǐ Dēnghuī 李登輝 (“Lee Teng-hui”) announces special amnesty for dissidents engaged in the “Formosa Magazine Event” (Měilìdǎo Shìjiàn 美麗島事件) or Gāoxióng 高雄 Riot of 1979.

1990 (= Mínguó 民國 79)

Tens of thousands of students engage in sit-ins and hunger strikes, to demand dissolution of the National Assembly (Guómín Dàhuì 國民大會), direct presidential elections, and other democratic reforms.

1991 (= Mínguó 民國 80)

The “Period of National Mobilization for the Suppression of the [Communist] Rebellion” (Dòngyuán Kānluàn Shíqī 動員戡亂時期) ends, or more exactly the use of the expression is discontinued.

1992 (= Mínguó 民國 81)

South Korea severs diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

1992 (= Mínguó 民國 81)

The government publishes the “228 Incident White Paper” as an official accounting of the event, of which public discussion had been prohibited during the period of martial law.

1992.11 (= Mínguó 民國 81)

The “1992 Consensus” between semi-official representatives of the PRC and ROC declares that there is only one China, of which Taiwan is a part, that Taiwan is not an independent state, and that each of the two governments believes itself to be the sole legitimate government of all of China.

1993 (= Mínguó 民國 82)

A Chinese passenger jet is hijacked and flown to Taiwan.

1993 (= Mínguó 民國 82)

Gū Zhènfǔ 辜振甫 (“Koo Chen-fu”) of the ROC Straits Exchange Foundation (Hǎijīhuì 海基會) and Wāng Dàohán 汪道涵 of China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (Zhōngguó Hǎixiéhuì 中國海協會) hold face-to-face talks in Singapore.

1993 (= Mínguó 民國 82)

The center-right New Party (Xīn Dǎng 新黨) is established by former KMT members concerned that the mainline KMT was not remaining strongly enough committed to its stated goal of retaking the mainland.

1993 (= Mínguó 民國 82)

The Legislative Yuan passes the Cable Television Law.

1994 (= Mínguó 民國 83)

To avoid offending China, the United States denies President Lǐ Dēnghuī 李登輝 (“Lee Teng-hui”) a visa during an air stopover in Honolulu en route tack to Taiwan from South Africa and is forced to spend the night in his airplane.

1994 (= Mínguó 民國 83)

United States imposes trade sanctions against Taiwan under the “Pelly Amendment” (Péilì Xiūzhèng’àn 培利修正案) for trafficking in rhinoceros horn and tiger bones.

1994.0410 (= Mínguó 民國 83)

Tens of thousands take to the streets on April 10 to demand educational reforms.

1994.0529 (= Mínguó 民國 83)

Over thirty thousand people march in anti-nuclear demonstration.

1995 (= Mínguó 民國 84)

The National Health Insurance (Quánmín Jiànbǎo 全民健保) program begins.

1995.0609 (= Mínguó 民國 84)

President Lǐ Dēnghuī 李登輝 (“Lee Teng-hui”) visits his alma mater Cornell University in the U.S. despite objections from China, which terminates all cross-strait talks. (The State Department reluctantly granted Lǐ a visa after Congressional resolutions in his favor that passed the House 396 to 0 and the Senate 91 to 1.)

1995.0721 (= Mínguó 民國 84)

China begins missle testing a provocative 130 kilometers off the northeast coast of Taiwan. A series of three tests will continue until March of 1996.

1996 (= Mínguó 民國 85 )

The first phase of the Táiběi Metro opens for service after two decades of planning and construction. (Built partly below the water table, the metro is hailed as a major engineering achievement, but it is also criticized for cost-overruns, constructions, and corruption.)

1996 (= Mínguó 民國 85 )

Lǐ Dēnghuī 李登輝 (“Lee Teng-hui”) and Lián Zhàn 連戰 (“ Lian Chan”) of the KMT party become the first directly elected President and Vice-President in Taiwan’s (or China’s) history.

1996 (= Mínguó 民國 85 )

South African President Nelson Mandela announces that diplomatic relations between his country and Taiwan will be severed at the end of 1997 followed by establishing relations with China in January 1998.

1996 (= Mínguó 民國 85 )

The Farmers Cooperative (Nónghuì 農會) of Línkǒu Xiāng 林口鄉 in Táiběi Xiàn 臺北縣 is defrauded of over NT$400 million The incident sets off a run on local banks and credit cooperatives around the nation.

1996 (= Mínguó 民國 85 )

The National Development Conference results in a number of major resolutions concerning the Constitution, including a controversial decision to “freeze” the Taiwan Provincial Government. This decision receives fierce opposition from the Provincial Government and the Provincial Assembly, but pragmatically makes the ROC government more streamlined (and probably less corrupt).

1996.0721 (= Mínguó 民國 85 )

China undertakes a third round of missile testing to take place just off shore from Jīlóng 基隆 in northern Taiwan and Gāoxióng 高雄 in the south. The United States sends two aircraft carriers into the Taiwan Strait to symbolize its commitment to defending Taiwan against attack.

1997 (= Mínguó 民國 86)

Hong Kong “returns to China” (huíguī Zhōngguó 回歸中國) from Britain (known as the “handover” in Hong Kong English), and China uses the opportunity to promote the “one country, two systems” proposed in 1981 for addressing its relations with Taiwan. Once again the idea is publicly denounced in Taiwan, although privately considered a possible solution to the displomatic standoff.

1997 (= Mínguó 民國 86)

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (Mínjìn Dǎng 民進黨) wins a majority of the year-end mayoral and county magistrate elections (with the exception of Táiběi 臺北 and Gāoxióng 高雄 Cities).

1997.0504 (= Mínguó 民國 86)

The President calls a high-level security meeting to denounce the failure of the government to solve three major murders (Bái Xiǎoyàn 白曉燕 (the daughter of Actress Bái Bīngbīng 白冰冰), Táoyuán Xiàn 桃園縣 governor Liú Bāngyǒu 劉邦友, and women’s rights activist Péng Wǎnrú 彭婉如). The President apologizes to the nation but social groups organize massive demonstrations on May 4th to protest the decline of social order. (May 4 is associated with protest in China/Taiwan, so the date is not coincidental.)

1998 (= Mínguó 民國 87)

A passenger jet belonging to Taiwan’s China Airlines crashes in Táoyuán 桃園 killing all 260 passengers, turning air safety into a major issue in Taiwan.

1998 (= Mínguó 民國 87)

Government initiates alternating 5 and 6 day work-weeks, giving people more time for recreation.

1998 (= Mínguó 民國 87)

The Executive Yuan (Xíngzhèng Yuàn 行政院) lifts the ban on sales of agricultural land. (See 1953.)

1998 (= Mínguó 民國 87)

The legislative, Táiběi and Gāoxióng 高雄 mayoral, and city/county council elections are held, with the KMT retaining a majority.

1999 (= Mínguó 民國 88)

According to WTO regulations, wine taxes must be raised. Rice wine hoarding results in a serious shortage.

1999 (= Mínguó 民國 88)

Lǐ Dēnghuī 李登輝 (“Lee Teng-hui”) raises the idea of “special state to state” (Tèshū Guó yǔ Guó 特殊國與國) relations across the Taiwan Strait during an interview with Deutsche Welle. The phrase is immediately rejected by PRC authorities.

1999 (= Mínguó 民國 88)

Taiwan is hit by the deadliest earthquake in more than 60 years with an epicenter in Nántóu Xiàn 南投縣). The 7.3 magnitude quake claims more than 2,000 lives and more than 8,000 buildings collapse. The Buddhist Cíjì 慈濟 (“Tzu-Chi”) charitable foundation attracts worldwide attention for impressively prompt relief work.

1999 (= Mínguó 民國 88)

The Ministry of Education and the Joint College Entrance Committee decide that, effective 2002, the Multi-route Promotion Program for College-Bound Seniors (Duōyuán Rùxué de Fāng’àn 多元入學的方案) will be adopted to replace the widely dreaded entrance examination system, sometimes known in English by its abbreviated Chinese name Liánkǎo 聯考. (See 1977.)

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The Republic of China (1912-), Mínguó 民國 Period (2000s)

2000 (= Mínguó 民國 89)

Democratic Progressive Party candidate Chén Shuǐbiǎn 陳水扁 (“Chen Shui-bian”) is elected president, an office held by the KMT ever since the 1911 Chinese revolution. (Background: The People First Party (Qīnmín Dǎng 親民黨) was established as a KMT breakaway group under the leadership of Sòng Chǔyú 宋楚瑜 (“James Soong”). His defection split the KMT, allowing a narrow victory by the DPP.)

2000 (= Mínguó 民國 89)

The Executive Yuan (Xíngzhèng Yuàn 行政院) announces that the construction of the Forth Nuclear Power Plant will be halted. (It was resumed in 2001.)

2000 (= Mínguó 民國 89)

The National Assembly approves an amendment to reduce its own powers and functions.

2002.0101 (= Mínguó 民國 91)

Taiwan is admitted to the World Trade Organization under the slightly silly name “Chinese Taipei,” essentially the only name under which the PRC will permit Taiwan to participate in international organizations. One condition required private and international competition with some of the long-established government monopoly bureaux. (See 1901.) Tobacco & Wine Monopoly Bureau was renamed Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation (although I notice that some of its internationally distributed products continue to carry the Chinese-only text "government monopoly bureau" [gōngmàijú 公賣局]).

2004 (= Mínguó 民國 93)

The DPP and allied “Pan Green Coalition” politicians fail to maintain their majority in the Legistlative Yuan.

2004 (= Mínguó 民國 93)

President Chén Shuǐbiǎn 陳水扁 (“Chen Shui-bian”) proposes replacing the word “China” with the word “Taiwan” in all state owned enterprises. Some changes are made, but some encounter unforeseen entanglements with international law. China Airlines, for example, discovers it would stand to lose landing rights if it had to renegotiate codeshare agreements and other contracts in order to change its name.

2008 (= Mínguó 民國 97)

The KMT defeats the DPP in elections. KMT candidate Mǎ Yīngjiǔ 馬英九 (“Ma Ying-jeou”) becomes president after a campaign promising to seek accommodation rather than confrontation with China.

2008 (= Mínguó 民國 97)

Former President Chén Shuǐbiǎn is arrested on bribery and corruption charges within hours of losing his legal immunity as president, is convicted, and, with his wife, has remained in prison ever since.

2008.1215 (= Mínguó 民國 97)

ROC and PRC establishes postal, airline, and commercial trade links between Taiwan and mainland cities, roughly according to the proposal mooted in 1979 under the title “Three Links” (sān tōng 三通).

2011.1010 (= Mínguó 民國 100)

Taiwan commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Revolution of 1911 (also called the Xīnhài 辛亥 Revolution, named after the name of the year in the series of sixty year names), during the period when Taiwan was part of Japan.

2012.0114 (= Mínguó 民國 101)

The KMT again defeats the DPP in elections, despite the “pan-blue” vote being split by the candidacy of Sòng Chǔyú 宋楚瑜 (“James Soong”). The KMT’s Mǎ Yīngjiǔ 馬英九 (“Ma Ying-jeou”) remains president. The DPP candidate, Cài Yīngwén ( 蔡英文 “Tsai Ing-wen”), resigns as head of her party.

2012.0613 (= Mínguó 民國 101)

Students in UCSD's first-ever class on the anthropology of Taiwanese society, "The Chinese Heritage in Taiwan," turn in their final examinations, exhibiting astonishing insight into life in Taiwan.

Principal Sources:

This table depends heavily materials provided in the following sources but has been expanded and adapted as I have come across or thought about additional material over several years.

HARA Furasuke 原房助 (ed)

1932 臺灣大年表. Third edition (1895-1931). Taihoku (Taipei): 臺灣經世新報社.

TÁNG Mànzhēn 唐慢珍 & WÁNG Yǔ 王宇 (eds.)

1990 台湾事典。 Tiānjīn: 南开大学出版社。

WINTLE, Justin

2002 The Rough Guide history of China. London: Rough Guides.

WÚ Mìchá 吳密察 (ed) et al.

2001 臺灣歷史年表。 Taipei: 遠流臺灣館。

2005a 臺灣史十講。 (Mini-Encyclopedia of Taiwan history.) Bilingual. Taipei: 新自然主義出版社。 (Third Nature Publishing Company.)

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