TAIWANESE HAKKA: HISTORY OF HAKKA IN TAIWAN
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Content
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT HAKKA
1. WHAT IS HAKKA
2. ORIGIN OF HAKKA
2.3 MODERN BIOLOGICAL STUDIES
3. CULTURE AND LANGUAGE OF HAKKA IN TAIWAN
4. HISTORY OF HAKKA IN TAIWAN
Immigration History
HAKKA IN TAIWAN
The population of Hakka in Taiwan is about 3 millions. The
population studies in the early 20th century during Japan colonial era to
more recent one two decades ago, showed the 13-15 % of population in Taiwan
are Hakka. The percentage of Hakka may vary significantly according to the
definition of Hakka. If it is based on the paternal origin, it may be more.
If it is based on the ability to speak Hakka, the only character that may
differentiate Hakka from other Taiwanese, the percentage probably will
be much lower.
Immigration History
1) Before 1622, the year Holland left Taiwan:
Who are the first Hakka immigrants to Taiwan?
Fishermen, merchants and/or pirates are the most likely the first
groups visited Taiwan. In the Chinese literature, Hon people settled in
Phang-fu (Peng-hu, Pescadores, the island between Taiwan and China mainland,
a county of Taiwan) islands many years ago (the earliest record in 1167).
Hon people settled in Taiwan island probably hundreds years later. The
Chinese literature about the commercial activities with Taiwan started
in late 16th century. Involvement of Hakka or not in the above activities
was not mentioned in these literature ( the term Hakka probably did not
exist at that time).
In the late 16 century, pirate groups might start to use Taiwan
as their operating headquarters. Lim Tho-khien (林 道 乾） and Lim Fung
（ 林 鳳）were leaders of two separate groups. They and their followers
came from Chheu-chu. Some of them might be Hakka. However, none of these
two groups eventually settled in Taiwan. One pirate leader, Ngien Sii-ki
(顏 思 齊) settled in central Taiwan in 1624. Tshang Chi-liung (鄭 芝
龍）became the group leader after Ngien's death in 1625. Tshang is the
father of the famous Tshang Siin-kung (Cheng Ch'eng-kung, Coxiny 鄭 成 功).
Ngien, Tshang and their followers came from southern Fuk-kien. There was no
definite record about Hakka immigration to Taiwan during this era either.
About the same period, Holland occupied Phang-fu islands in 1622
and later retreated to southern Taiwan in 1624. Spain also occupied
northern Taiwan between 1626-1642. Immigration from China increased
considerably during the era occupied by Holland. Holland colonial government
needed manpower and encouraged Hon people moving to Taiwan. There might be
some Hakka migrated to Taiwan during early 17 century. Don't know anyone
really try to investigate the literature from Holland, whether there is any
record of Hakka immigration to Taiwan or not during the occupation by Holland.
First Hakka dictionary as Hakka-Dutch dictionary is published in 1897
(more than 100 years ago). Hakka probably migrated to Indonesia during that
period too. They should be quite familiar with Hakka.
2) Tshang's era:
Tshang Chi-liung later left Taiwan and established his base in
southern Fuk-kien and became officer in Ming Dynasty. Tshang Siin-kung
later inherited his father's army after his father surrendered to Manchurian
(Chhing Dynasty). After he lost his battle to Chhing's army, Tshang Siin-
kung decided in 1661 to relocate the headquarters to Taiwan to recuperate.
Holland surrendered and left Taiwan in 1662 after 38 years' occupation of
Taiwan.
In order to isolate Tshang's group, Chhing's government, prohibited
people to live within 30 miles off seashore. This policy actually became a
good opportunity for Tshang's government. He tried hard to recruit those
homeless people in Fuk-kien and Kwangtung to Taiwan. According the some
literature, close to about 100,000 people have moved to Taiwan during the
period of Tshang's regime in Taiwan. There must be some Hakka among those
immigrated to Taiwan because the book did say Tshang's government went
to Tshau-tsiu and Hui-tsiu of Kwangtung to recruit immigrants.
Tshang Siin-kung died in 1662 and his son Tshang Kin (鄭 經 ) and
later his grandson succeeded him. In 1683, Chhing government sent Tshang's
former general Sii Long (I 琅) to eradicate Tshang's regime. Tshang
surrendered and Tshang's era in Taiwan finished after 23 years' occupation
in Taiwan. Tshang's regime of 21 years is an important era of Taiwan's
history. The history of Taiwan certainly will not be the same if Tshang
did not invade Taiwan. His son Tshang Kin should also be mentioned for
his program to settle in Taiwan.
3) Sii Long and the Policy Unfriendly to Hakka
Sii Long is a very important figure in Taiwan's history and his
policy of immigration also affected Hakka in Taiwan.
Sii Long was a general under Tshang. He surrendered to Chhing
government after Tshang Siin-kung killed Sii's father and brother
after a dispute. Chhing government promoted him and he later became the
commander-in-chief of navy to invade Taiwan.
After conquer the Taiwan, Chhing government first decided to abandon
Taiwan because it is worthless to keep this "barbarian island". Sii Long
wrote an long essay to Chhing's emperor the importance to keep Taiwan.
Taiwan became a part of Fuk-kien province in 1684. He set up the infamous
immigration three rules. 1) Strict application and permission for sailing
to Taiwan 2) No spouse or family members allowed to Taiwan nor were they
allowed to marry in Taiwan 3) People from Kwangtung is not permitted to
apply to sail to Taiwan. Sii Long did not like Hakka or people in
Kwangtung probably because pirate from Kwangtung gave him a lot of trouble
before.
Partly because of third rule, Hakka's population in Taiwan was much
less than Hoklo's population.
Chhing's era
The Chhing's government did not pay too much attention to Taiwan.
Taiwan became an independent province in 1885, more than 200 years later.
In the first 190 years of Chhing's rule, Chhing not only did not
encourage the immigration but actually set up difficult rules to discourage
the people to immigrate to Taiwan.
{to be continued} update on 1/29/98 Albert Chu