Tainan, a city with rich historical origins and cultural heritage, is known as the cradle of Taiwanese culture. From the Dutch and Ming Zheng periods to the Japanese colonial era, each period has left a unique mark on this land, shaping Tainan’s diverse and rich cultural landscape. Walking in the streets and alleys of Tainan, you can see ancient monuments, temples and historical buildings everywhere, which not only tell stories of the past, but also connect modern life with traditional spirit.
In this post, we will take you to explore Tainan’s history and culture in depth, from ancient buildings to traditional festivals, from the inheritance of food to the innovation of art, experience together the elements that make Tainan unique and feel the unique charm of this city.
Today, I will take you to learn about Tainan’s history starting from the Dutch colonial period. Tainan has gone through several important periods, namely the Dutch colonial period, the Ming Zheng period, the Qing period, the Republic of Taiwan period, the Japanese colonial period and the present.
【History of Tainan – Dutch Rule Period】
Many Tainanese may have ancestors of Dutch descent, mainly because Tainan was once ruled by the Dutch for a period of time.
In 1624, the Dutch, who had occupied Penghu, signed a contract with the Ming army, abandoning their operations in Penghu and landing in southern Taiwan, where they formally established a trading town. They first built a trading house and expanded its scale to become a Western-style waterfront fortress. This was the “Fort Zeelandia” (now Fort Anping) on a Kunshen sandbar on the west bank of the Taihe River, which served as the ruling center in Taiwan.
Representative Historic Site: Anping Fort
【History of Tainan – Ming Zheng Period】
In April 1661, under the guidance of He Bin, a Han Chinese interpreter to the Dutch, Zheng Chenggong passed through the Luermen Port, crossed the Taijiang Inland Sea, and first captured Fort Provintia.
After the Dutch surrendered, Zheng Chenggong changed Fort Zeelandia to “Anping Town” as the Zheng family residence; Fort Provintia, which had been renamed Dongdu Chengtian Prefecture, served as the highest administrative body on the island. However, less than half a year later, Zheng Chenggong died of illness. Shortly after Crown Prince Zheng Jing ascended the throne, he abolished the Eastern Capital in 1664. After it was abolished in Mingjing, Chihkan Tower became a place for storing gunpowder.
Representative monument: Yanping Prince Temple
【History of Tainan – Qing Dynasty】
In 1684, the Qing Dynasty conquered Taiwan and the Ming Dynasty was destroyed. Later, the Taiwan Prefecture was established in Tainan. Before the first governor Liu Mingchuan moved the provincial capital to Taipei, Tainan was the capital of Taiwan. Many trade businesses were conducted in Tainan, making it the most prosperous city in Taiwan. The saying “One Prefecture, two Lu, three Monga” has been passed down since then.
Since the late Qing Dynasty, due to frequent strong winds and rains, a large amount of river sand was poured into the Taijiang Inland Sea, and the harbor began to become a sandy beach, causing Tainan’s topography to change, the port to disappear, and Tainan gradually lost its maritime status.
In 1864, the construction of Anping Customs was completed and the port was officially opened. British merchants established Tak Kee and Hutchison Whampoa in Anping. The following year, two more ports, Jilong and Takao, were opened, which were known as the main and secondary ports. The Deji Foreign Company is now one of the must-see attractions for tourists visiting Anping, Tainan.
In 1874, Japan invaded Taiwan under the pretext that Ryukyu fishermen who drifted to Manzhou Township, Pingtung were killed by local aborigines (known as the Mudan Incident in history). The Qing government therefore actively strengthened its defense and requested the construction of a fort in order to consolidate Anping’s coastal defense and protect Taiwan’s capital. Eternal Golden Fort was built using Fort Zeelandia bricks and Western red bricks. It is not only the first modern Western-style artillery fort in Taiwan, but is also equipped with five British-made Armstrong 18-ton muzzle-loading cannons, which are very powerful.
Representative monument: Eternal Golden City
【History of Tainan – The Republic of China Period】
In April 1895, the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed, ceding Taiwan and Penghu to Japan. In May, Taiwan Governor Tang Jingsong issued the “Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Taiwan”, and the republican Republic of Taiwan was established in Taipei.
【History of Tainan – Japanese Colonial Period】
This period had a profound impact on Tainan’s culture. When walking in Tainan’s city center, you can see many buildings from the Japanese colonial era. Many of Tainan’s cafes and restaurants also use this special cultural trajectory to extend their style.
After the Japanese occupation of Taiwan began, under Japanese rule, the railway between Tainan and Takao was opened on November 29, 1900, and a station was established. Public institutions such as the Tainan Office and the Tainan District Court were established one after another. Later, the urban area reform, the opening of the Tainan New Canal, and the reconstruction of Tainan Post Station gradually gave Tainan the prototype of a modern city.
Tainan was the second largest city after Taipei until the 1930s. However, as the maritime advantages that once supported its prosperity are no longer available, its position as an industrial and commercial hub in southern Taiwan has gradually been replaced by the emerging city of Kaohsiung, which has an excellent port. In 1940, due to the merger of Kaohsiung City and neighboring areas, the area and population increased greatly, and Tainan City became the third largest city in terms of population.
Representative monuments: Taiwan Literature Museum (Tainan Prefecture Hall), Tainan Railway Station, Governor’s Residence, Tainan Hayashi Department Store
【Tainan’s History – Present Day】
Japan was defeated in 1945. The Nationalist government took over Taiwan, and the Tainan Prefecture Takeover Committee was officially established on November 9 of that year to take over Tainan Prefecture, and immediately began related operations. Because Tainan has been influenced by a lot of history, you can see many historical sites everywhere in Tainan, and it is also known as the “Cultural Ancient Capital”.
Starting in 2000, the Tainan City Government began to gradually transform itself into a tourist destination and actively developed many reconstruction projects. Many historical sites from the Japanese colonial era in the city center have been transformed into a new generation of tourist attractions. For example, the most famous Art Museum No. 1 was previously converted from the “Tainan Police Station”. The Tainan City District Court (Judicial Museum) and the former Tainan Prefecture Government also used the same method to give new life to old souls.
Extended Reading
- 【Tainan 400】Tainan Lantern Festival Activities Summary
- 【2023 Tainan Bib Gourmand Food Recommendation】Let’s taste Tainan food together!
- 2023 Tainan Three Days and Two Nights Itinerary Recommendation | Introduction to Tainan’s Special Attractions
- 【Tainan Attractions 2024】Recommended attractions in Tainan & 10 one-day trip planning strategies for the city and suburbs
- Take you to play [Tainan Attractions] Recommend 50 new attractions and maps, 10 Tainan one-day tour routes
[elementor-template id=”3510
