Index

Exploring the trail is to find traces of indigenous peoples’ lifestyle and memories of the past.

Following the trail is to follow the guidance of the ancestral spirit and to tramp on the paths that have preserved the life of indigenous peoples.

This website collects information on the 25 historic trails that are deeply related to the indigenous peoples of Taiwan since the Qing rule and the Japanese Occupation period. Map and spatial information methods, including GPS and GIS, were used to construct a spatial humanistic database of indigenous historic trails and places of importance along the way, such as neighboring tribal villages, police stations from the Japanese occupation periods, transportation facilities, cultural buildings and so on. This provides a more intuitive and visual digital data presentation that exhibits the historical significance, origin and culture of these indigenous historic trails, which enhances the knowledge of people at home and abroad on the culture of indigenous historic trails.

Trail Summary

Dutch Colonial Rule Period

400 years ago during the age of discovery, the Dutch came and established two paths for trade and other purposes, namely North to South and East to West. According to records, it took ten days to travel from Tainan Anping to Taipei Tamsui Balijiao on the north-south, which later on became the predecessor of the Provincial Highway 1. The other trail that extends from Pingtung Fangliao in the west to Taitung Dawu in the east also became an important path a few hundred years later, which is now called “Jinshuiying Historic Trail”.

Qing Rule Period

During the Qing ruling period, the "Fanjie" (Aboriginal Boundary) was created in order to avoid conflicts between the Han people who lived close to the mountainous area and the indigenous peoples who lived in the mountainous area. Since the Mudan incident, many more trails were built in the north, central and south in order to establish patrol. The Suhua trail in the north, the Batongguan trail in the central, and the Kunlun'ao trail in the south were opened, which laid the foundation for a historic trail network in all parts of Taiwan.

Japanese Occupation Period

During the Japanese Occupation, the rulers gradually narrowed the living space of the indigenous peoples by establishing the "Defence Line of Frontier Gourd. “Police stations” were set up in many indigenous tribes during the Taisho period, and were connected to each other to form "mountain guarded roads" (aka "Lifan Road").

Post-War Period

These trails with great historical background have been abandoned after the war. It was not until the 1970s when many scholars and government units began to conduct investigations, field studies and research that these trails regained people’s attention. Many were even restored and preserved. The development of the historic trails in Taiwan has an inseparable relationship with the indigenous peoples of Taiwan. Through the understanding of these trails, future generations can further understand the history of Taiwan indigenous peoples over the past 400 years.

Indigenous Peoples Historic Trail Distribution

Distribution Map Description

The color blocks on the map of Taiwan indicate the distribution of Taiwan indigenous groups, and their association to the historic trails. The indigenous groups are as follows:

Atayal

Truku

Sediq

Bunun

Amis

Thao

Tsou

Rukai

Paiwan

Saisiyat

Sakizaya

Kanakanavu

Kavalan

Hla’alua

Yami

Pinuyumayan

Atayal

Truku

Atayal

Truku

Sediq

Bunun

Amis

Thao

Rukai

Paiwan

Atayal

Truku

Sediq

Bunun

Amis

Tsou

Paiwan