¬ Exploring Taiwan's history, culture and languages through its place names
Sunday 16 January 2022
Sandimen Township (三地門鄉), Pingtung County
Sandimen (三地門; lit. "Three Earth Gate") derives from the Paiwan name Timur, whose meaning is not known (even Pingtung's Tjimur Dance Theatre makes no reference to this in their introduction). This was adapted by Hoklo-speaking immigrant Han-Chinese as 山豬毛 (Hoklo: Soaⁿ-ti-mng; "Mountain Boar Hair / Bristle") and 山地門 (Hoklo: Soaⁿ-te-mng; "Mountain Earth Gate") [MC: persumably by adding the word 山 "mountain(ous)", which the area certainly is, to a transliteration of Timur].
This latter was used during the Period of Japanese Rule, albeit pronounced Sanchimon, but following retrocession to ROC rule in 1945, the first and last characters were changed to 三地盟 (Mdn. Sandimeng; "Three Earth Allaince", and then to just 三地 (Mdn. Sandi; "Three Earths") in 1947.
Finally, [MC: following increased democracy and autonomy for local people], in 1992 the township's gained its current name of 三地門.
Copyright Jiyue Publications 2022
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