 | Traveling in Time
Special Exhibition ．Time: 2014.02.07~06.29 10:00-17:00 ．Venue: National Library of Public Information
(國立公共資訊圖書館) No.100 Wuquan S. Rd. South Dist. Taichung City 40246 Taiwan. ．Tel: 886-4-2262-5100 | Due to its unique Geographic location‚ Taiwan has been a travelers’ destination over the past few centuries. Travelers came for different purposes at various points in time. Some travelers decided to settle down‚ while others made only a short stop-over before setting off on a new journey. The “Traveling in Time” special exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of the Institute of Taiwan History (ITH). In this exhibition‚ you are invited to follow the footsteps of eight historical personalities via our theme tours‚ traveling back to four different time periods from 1860s to 1960s. 1. From 1860s to 1880s  |  | | Baozhen Shen (沈葆楨) | “The genre paintings of Taiwanese indigenous people”: painted by Shen’s staff in the 1870s. They depicted scenes of goods being exchanged between the Hans and the indigenous people. | | | | Taiwan was long neglected by the Qing Empire. As a consequence of the Treaty of Tientsin and the Convention of Peking‚ Taiwan was forced to open its ports to foreign trade in 1860. However‚ it was not until the 1874 “Mutan Incident” (牡丹社事件)‚ which led to Japanese possessory claims‚ that the Qing government began to change its laissez-faire attitude towards Taiwan. Baozhen Shen (沈葆楨‚ 1820-1879) was assigned to handle the incident and layout the island’s infrastructure.  | | This letter was written by the son of Zhihu Xu. He expressed his longing for home to his mother. | | | After the Sino-Japanese War‚ Taiwan was ceded to Japan in the 1895 Tread of Shimonoseki by the Qing government. Like many others‚ the Zhihu Xu’s family from Lukang (鹿港許志湖家族) had to choose where to settle during the transition of power from Qing to the Japanese regime–-in their ancestors’ home in China or in their current home in Taiwan. 2. From 1890s to 1910s During the early Japanese-ruled period‚ Shinpei Goto (後滕新平)‚ an administrator of Taiwan (1898-1906)‚ conduced a large-scale survey on basic infrastructure in Taiwan‚ particularly on the transportation network. Under the colonial policies of Japan‚ rice and sugar became major productive crops. Taiwan thus witnessed its economy progress gradually‚ while its society underwent a radical change.  |  | | Guoliang Chen (陳國樑) | This is a correspondence letter from Chianyuan Pharmacy (乾元大藥行) in Taipei to the Tai-Eki Trading Company. | | | | Under this background‚ Guoliang Chen (陳國樑‚ 1840-1908) and his son launched the Tai-Eki Trading Company (泰益號) in Nagasaki‚ Japan‚ and established a booming business in East Asia. The family business ceased operations upon the outbreak of World War II.  |  | | Tokusaburou Miyoshi | A Coaster of Gion Tsujiri-Saryo Tsujiri
(Photographer: othree) |  |  | | The façade of the Tsujili Tea Shop during the Showa era in Taipei. | The location now is Starbucks’ Chongqing store.
(Photographer: miniQQ ) | | | | Tokusaburou Miyoshi (三好德三郎) was from Uji‚ Japan. In 1899‚ he settled in Taiwan and had since owned the Tsujili Tea Shop in Taipei for 40 years. His descendants have continued the business in Kyoto (named Gion Tsujiri-Saryo Tsujiri today) after returning to Japan at the end of WW II. 3. From 1920s to 1930s In the aftermath of the First World War‚ demands for democracy‚ freedom‚ and people’s rights to self-determination pervaded globally. Social reform movements took place in Japan‚ Korea‚ China‚ and India. This brought enormous impact to Taiwanese students in Japan. Students and intellectuals campaigning for freedom and equality inside and outside of Taiwan became the main leaders for social reforms.  |  | | Xiantang Lin (林獻堂) | The page describes Lin’s trip to Paris on November 14th 1927 taken from his diary. | | | | Under such influence‚ Xiantang Lin (林獻堂‚ 1881-1956) considered the future of Taiwan and was actively engaged in cultural enlightenment activities and in nationalist movements against Japanese colonial rules.  |  | | Chengpo Chen (陳澄波) | ”The Street of Chiayi” (嘉義街景) was drawn in 1934 after Chen returned to Taiwan from Shanghai. | | | | Chengpo Chen (陳澄波‚ 1895-1947) from Jiayi City was the first Taiwanese oil painter to be recognized by an official Japanese exhibition during the Japanese era. After graduating from school‚ he taught in Shanghai‚ and when “the January 28 Incident” broke out in 1932‚ he returned to Taiwan. He fell victim to “the 228 Incident” in 1947.  |  | | Cimei Gao (高慈美) | Gao received flowers after her performance in a music circuit around Taiwan in 1934. | | | | Piano was Cimei Gao’s (高慈美‚ 1914-2004) primary major at the Imperial Music School in Tokyo. During her school years‚ she joined a music circuit (鄉土音樂訪問團)‚ which was organized by the Taiwanese Society in Tokyo‚ touring around Taiwan. After an earthquake struck central Taiwan‚ she attended the charity tour “Earthquake Disaster Relief Concert” (震災義捐音樂會) to comfort the traumatized souls. 4. From 1940s to 1960s In the post war years‚ food shortages‚ inflation‚ and inappropriate policies all led to the outbreak of “the 228 Incident” in 1947. Martial law was soon imposed after the Nationalist Government retreated to Taiwan in 1949. Taiwan entered the so-called “White Terror” era lasting 38 long years. It was not lifted until 1987.  |  | | Zhaojia Yang (楊肇嘉) | Yang visited Meinong Junior High School (美濃中學) in 1952. | | | | Zhaojia Yang (楊肇嘉‚ 1892-1976) actively engaged in campaigns to form a Taiwanese Parliament and for self-government until Japan entered WW II in 1937. As the campaign for reforms were forced to cease‚ Yang went off to Shanghai and started a trading business. After the war‚ he returned to Taiwan‚ serving as the Director of Civil Affairs Department under the Taiwan Provincial Government. The records of these travelers allow us all to explore the memories of this beautiful land throughout time. Everyone is welcome to join us in sharing these historical documents and becoming part of the team in decoding the history of Taiwan. | 
The Lastest News
News Review
About Us
Digital Taiwan
)
