From Takow to Kaohsiung

Xiuguluan River (秀姑巒溪), Hualien

Xiuguluan represents a Hoklo transliteration of Amis “Ci’poran” meaning “at the mouth of the river”, which originally referred to a small island at the mouth of Xiuguluan River. Today this is known as 獅球嶼 (Shiqiuyu ; “Lion Ball Islet”) but also, in recent times to acknowledge the Amis history, as 奚卜蘭島 (Xibulan Island).

> ...... Xiuguluan River estuary showing Shiquiyu island for which it is named (photo Wikipedia)

In earlier times, this transliteration process extended to the river itself, and included such Chinese constructions as 芝波蘭 (Mdn. Zhibolan), 泗波闌 (Mdn. Sibolan), 薛波闌 (Mdn. Xuebolan); 芝舞闌 (Mdn. Zhiwulan), 繡孤鸞 (Mdn. Xiuguluan), 秀孤鸞 (Mdn. Xiuguluan), 秀姑蘭 (Mdn. Xiuguluan; Hoklo: Siu-ko͘-loan), with this last becoming the accepted standard form.

[MC: Presumably Hoklo pronunciations are more relevant; 芝舞闌, for example, would be pronounced something like Chi-bu-lan and so would have been much closer to “Ci’poran” than Mandarin’s Zhiwulan. The switch to the "g" sound of 姑 etc. is harder to understand.]

> ........................................ (photo Wikipedia)

Later, this name was also extended into the Central Mountain Range where Mt. Xiuguluan (秀姑巒山) is used for what is Taiwan’s 3rd highest mountain.



Main source: Wikipedia

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