Chiayi (嘉義; lit. “praising righteousness”) was, before Han Chinese and Dutch immigration of the 17th century, home to Tsou (鄒) aborigines and Hoanya (洪雅族) plains aborigines. The Hoanya name Tsirosen was transliterated into Chinese as 諸羅山 (Hoklo: chu-lô-san; lit. “all net mountain”).This name appeared in Dutch documents (1624-61) using various romanizations, was adopted in Chinese form during Zheng family rule (鄭; 1661-1683), and dropping 山 (san; “mountain”), as Zhuluo County (諸羅縣), was a major division in the early Qing dynasty’s “one capital, three counties” (一府三縣) administration of Taiwan.
In 1786, Lin Shuang-wen (林爽文) led a rebellion by members of the secret Tiandi Hui (天地會; “Heaven and Earth Society”), which represented the interests of immigrants from Fujian’s Zhangzhou (漳州) Prefecture. * They quickly took control of Changhua (彰化) in early 1787, followed by Zhuluo eight days later.
Members of the southern branch of the society meanwhile attacked Taiwan-fu (Tainan), the Qing capital, but were repulsed by government forces, aided by Quanzhou (泉州) men, and they settled for capture of the southern city of Fengshan (Kaohsiung). With Taiwan-fu and Danshui (Taipei) the only significant cities not taken, Lin proclaimed himself ruler.
This was premature, however, and Qing forces recaptured Zhuluo in March 1787, and then defended it for many months with the help of its inhabitants, again Quanzhou-speakers. Lin was captured and executed in early 1788, and Zhuluo’s “loyal and righteous” (忠義) citizens were rewarded with a name change to 嘉義 (Jiayi**; lit. “Commendable righteousness”).
*(This subgroup speaking its own dialect of Southern Min (閩南語) was in frequent conflict with members of the other main Fujianese community, who hailed from Quanzhou Prefecture. For more on this issue, see Wanhua/Dadaocheng [not yet posted])
** 嘉義 romanization is Jiayi in Hanyu Pinyin, but (like Taipei, Kaohsiung, Hsinchu &c.) the old spelling of Chiayi is still used.
Text and photos © Jiyue Publications
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