Alishan (阿里山; lit. "Ah-mile Mountain") Township, Chiayi County
During the Qianlong reign period (1735-96), Han Chinese from
Zhuqi (竹崎) and
Meishan (梅山) moved higher up into today’s Alishan, where they came into conflict with the indigenous Tsou (鄒). Forcing the aborigines to move to higher altitudes, the Chinese established villages at Fenqihu (奮起湖), Ruili (瑞里) &c.
It was also during this period that the controversial figure Wu Feng (吳鳳) lived, or rather, the figure whose story was (mis)used by the Japanese and ROC governments of the 20th century. Born in Fujian Province in 1699, he later worked as a
tongshi (通事; “interpreter”) in the Chiayi area. This innocuous-sounding position was actually a powerful and lucrative role, that was often used by Chinese to cheat aborigines out of the profits of their labours.
During the period of Japanese rule (1895-1945), the Wu Feng legend was created in order to “civilise” mountain-dwelling aborigines, in particular, to dissuade them from head-hunting. Subsequently taken up by the ROC government after retrocession and printed in elementary school textbooks, the myth stated that having befriended the Tsou aborigines, Wu tried unsuccessfully to persuade them to stop hunting heads. Finally he told them that the next day they would see a man in a red cloak, that they would cut off his head, but it would be the last head they would ever take. Events turned out as he predicted, but having decapitated the man, they discovered to their horror it was their friend, Wu Feng.
The true facts about Wu’s life (and, most pertinently, death) are not known, with the earliest extant record having been compiled around 80 years later. This does suggest, however, that he was killed by Aborigines, and that they may have regretted doing so as they suffered epidemics and misfortunes thereafter.
In 1946, the area was renamed Wufeng Township (吳鳳鄉).
In 1987, following the end of martial law and the beginning of the democratisation and pluralisation processes, Tsou tribespeople demanded an end to prejudicial attitudes, removal of the “legend” from textbooks suggesting that aborigines needed Chinese civilising influence, and renaming of the township.
In 1989, their wish was granted, and Alishan came into being. Even this is not without controversy. Some people say the name derives from centuries ago when a founding ancestor Abali lived here, but it rather derives from the Tsou word
Jarissang, the final
sang coincidentally sounding similar to Mandarin
shan (山; “mountain”).
Local Chinese still worship Wu Feng; Alishan has a prominent Wu Feng Temple; and most Taiwanese interviewed by this author believe the legend to be historically true.
Text and photos © Jiyue Publications 2011
During the Qianlong reign period (1735-96), Han Chinese from Zhuqi (竹崎) and Meishan (梅山) moved higher up into today’s Alishan, where they came into conflict with the indigenous Tsou (鄒). Forcing the aborigines to move to higher altitudes, the Chinese established villages at Fenqihu (奮起湖), Ruili (瑞里) &c.
It was also during this period that the controversial figure Wu Feng (吳鳳) lived, or rather, the figure whose story was (mis)used by the Japanese and ROC governments of the 20th century. Born in Fujian Province in 1699, he later worked as a tongshi (通事; “interpreter”) in the Chiayi area. This innocuous-sounding position was actually a powerful and lucrative role, that was often used by Chinese to cheat aborigines out of the profits of their labours.
During the period of Japanese rule (1895-1945), the Wu Feng legend was created in order to “civilise” mountain-dwelling aborigines, in particular, to dissuade them from head-hunting. Subsequently taken up by the ROC government after retrocession and printed in elementary school textbooks, the myth stated that having befriended the Tsou aborigines, Wu tried unsuccessfully to persuade them to stop hunting heads. Finally he told them that the next day they would see a man in a red cloak, that they would cut off his head, but it would be the last head they would ever take. Events turned out as he predicted, but having decapitated the man, they discovered to their horror it was their friend, Wu Feng.
The true facts about Wu’s life (and, most pertinently, death) are not known, with the earliest extant record having been compiled around 80 years later. This does suggest, however, that he was killed by Aborigines, and that they may have regretted doing so as they suffered epidemics and misfortunes thereafter.
In 1946, the area was renamed Wufeng Township (吳鳳鄉).
In 1987, following the end of martial law and the beginning of the democratisation and pluralisation processes, Tsou tribespeople demanded an end to prejudicial attitudes, removal of the “legend” from textbooks suggesting that aborigines needed Chinese civilising influence, and renaming of the township.
In 1989, their wish was granted, and Alishan came into being. Even this is not without controversy. Some people say the name derives from centuries ago when a founding ancestor Abali lived here, but it rather derives from the Tsou word Jarissang, the final sang coincidentally sounding similar to Mandarin shan (山; “mountain”).
Local Chinese still worship Wu Feng; Alishan has a prominent Wu Feng Temple; and most Taiwanese interviewed by this author believe the legend to be historically true.
Text and photos © Jiyue Publications 2011
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