Ep. 311 | The History of Taiwan (Part 2)
After leaving you hanging last time, the controversial Shi Lang now enters the story. He will be the military great who brings an end to the Zheng Seafaring Empire. Starting in 1683 Taiwan officially falls under China's sovereignty, with formal annexation coming in 1684. The migrants from Fujian and Guangdong arrived in big numbers during the Dongning Kingdom era. The Qing authorities tried to regulate the flow of people from China to Taiwan but that proved easier said than done. This was a land that was going places.
The familiar story of native people being taken advantage of was always playing out in the background. With so many people coming from the Mainland, they needed someplace to go. These years during the 18th century in Taiwan were times of constant uprisings and rebellions, usually against oppressive taxes and regulations.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Guǎngdōng | 广东 | Province in southern China, Guangzhou is the capital |
| Fujian Province | 福建省 | Coastal province in China located on the opposite side of the Taiwan Strait from Taiwan |
| Míng | 明朝 | The Ming Dynasty, founded by Zhu Yuanzhang. It lasted 1368-1644 |
| Fúxī | 伏羲 | Mythical god-like figure from the 3rd millennium BC, One of the Three Sovereigns |
| Yellow Emperor | 黄帝 | Another mythical figure perhaps based on someone named Xuan Yuan 轩辕 who later became known as the ancestral founder of the Huaxia People |
| Pénghú | 澎湖 | Also popularly known as the Pescadores Islands. This is an archipeligo of 90 islands in the Taiwan Strait covering an area of 141 square km. The largest city is Magong |
| Chén Dì | 陈弟 | 1541-1617, Ming philologist, official and traveler who wrote "A Brief Account of Island Barbarians" |
| Dōng Fān Jì | 东番记 | “An Account of the Eastern Barbarians”, hailed as the first detailed account of Taiwan’s indigenous people, their language, customs, description of their person, their society and all kinds of other interesting observations |
| Zhèng Hé | 郑和 | 1371-1433, Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, admiral and high ranking official. He was famous for his seven voyages to the Western Seas |
| Zhèjiāng | 浙江 | Coast province north of Fujian and South of Jiangsu |
| Qín Shǐhuáng | 秦始皇 | First emperor of China and founder of the Qin Dynasty |
| Tseung Kwan O | 将军澳 | A district in the Southeastern New Territories across Victoria Harbour from Chai Wan |
| Chai Wan | 柴湾 | A district in Eastern Hong Kong Island across the harbour from Tseung Kwan O |
| Mǎgōng | 马公 | today the capital of Pénghú County, located on the main island in the chain |
| Tiānqǐ Emperor | 天启帝 | 16th Ming Emperor who reigned 1620-1627, brother to the final emperor Chongzhen |
| Ānpíng County | 安平县 | A county in Tainan, given its name following the expulsion of thre Dutch from Fort Zeelandia |
| Táinán | 台南 | Located on the southwest coast of Taiwan, this is where the earliest recorded history began with the arrival of the Dutch in 1624. Tainan was where the Dutch built Fort Provintia and Fort Zeelandia |
| Zhèng Zhīlóng | 郑芝龙 | 1604-1661, Chinese admiral, merchant, general, pirate and Qing official. He built a massive pirate syndicate and controlled much of the trade up and down the Fujian coast. Father to Zheng Chenggong (see below) |
| Zhèng Chénggōng | 郑成功 | Also known as Koxinga, 1624-1662, Ming loyalist general who founded the Dongning Kingdom that lasted 1661-1683 |
| Guóxìngyé | 国姓爷 | One of Koxinga's titles given to him by the Ming |
| Jīlóng | 基隆 | Port city in Taiwan's north coast, east of Taipei |
| Dànshuǐ | 淡水 | Also known as Tamshui, today it's a seaside district of New Taipei |
| Sòng | 宋朝 | The Song Dynasty 960-1279 |
| Shíbāzhī | 十八芝 | A pirate organization if eighteen of the largest pirate sailing the South China Sea. Zheng Zhilong gave up leadership of this organization to throw his lot in with the Ming |
| Battle of Liàoluó Bay | 料罗湾之战 | Zhèng Zhīlóng’s come from behind victory over the Dutch at the Battle of Liàoluó Bay 料罗湾之战 in October 1633. This was off the island of Jīnmén. |
| Xiàmén | 厦门 | Major city in southern Fujian, also known as Amoy |
| Southern Ming Emperor Yǒnglì | 永历帝 | The final emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty who reigned 1647-1662. He was executed by Wu Sangui |
| Zhōushān | 舟山 | An archipeligo of islands at the southern mouth of Hangzhou Bay off Ningbo |
| Hóng Máo rén | 红毛人 | The "Red Haired People", i.e. The Dutch |
| Dōngníng Wángguó | 东宁王国 | The Dongning Kingdom 1661-1683 |
| Oboi (Aó Bài) | 鳌拜 | Head of the Regency or 輔政大臣 who ruled for the Kangxi Emperor during his minority |
| Kāngxī | 康熙帝 | The third Qing Emperor. He reigned 1661-1722 |
| Zhèng Jīng | 郑经 | Son of Zheng Chenggong who ruled the Dongning Kingdom from 1662-1681 |
| Shī Láng | 施琅 | 1621-1696, Chinese admiral who served under the Ming and Qing. He is best remembered for his great victory at the Battle of Penghu where he annhilated the forces of the Dongning Kingdom. He was also a great advocate for Taiwan annexation |
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