From Takow to Kaohsiung

Banqiao (板橋) District, New Taipei City

Banqiao (板橋; lit. “Plank Bridge”) was originally known to the local Luilang (雷朗族) aborigines as [something like] Peitsie, which was transliterated by early immigrants as 擺接社 (Hoklo: Pai-chiap; Mdn. Bai-jie; lit. “Place-Catch Community”).

The growing Han-Chinese community in this area was served by Lam-a-kang (湳仔港; Mdn. Nan-zai-gang) Harbor, located near where Lam-a Creak (later 湳仔溝 Lam-a Ditch as it was used for irrigation; today also called 湳雅, Lanya) flowed into Dahan River.

After a wooden foot bridge was built across the creek about 1km south of the harbor (just to the west of today’s Lin Ben Yuan Family Mansion and Garden 林本源園邸), the area became known as 枋橋頭 (Hoklo: Pang-kio-thau; Mdn. Fang-qiao-tou; lit. “Timber Bridgehead”).

This was Japanified in 1920 to 板橋 (“Plank Bridge”; Jpn. Itabashi; Hoklo: Pang-kio; Mdn. Banqiao), by which it is still known.



Copyright Jiyue Publications 2022