Houlong (後龍; lit. “Back Dragon”) is an example of a name with apparent meaning in Chinese, thus its Aboriginal origins is easily forgotten.
Transliterated from the Taokas name Auran into Hoklo Taiwanese using the characters 後壟 (or 壠; au-leng; lit. “Back + Raised-path-in-paddy-field”). This was changed to the present form 後龍 in 1920 under Japanese rule.
The accessible image of “paddy-field paths” located“behind” the village, is often assumed to have provided the true origin of the name.
Text and photos © Jiyue Publications 2011
¬ Exploring Taiwan's history, culture and languages through its place names
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