¬ Exploring Taiwan's history, culture and languages through its place names
Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Qionglin (芎林) Township, Hsinchu County
Qionglin (芎林; Hakka: Lim-hiong; lit. "Crepe-myrtle Wood") was orininally called 九芎林 (Mdn. Jiu-qiong-lin) and named after the woods (林) of Taiwan crepe myrtle trees (九芎; Lagerstroemia subcostata) that grew locally.
In 1920 the name was shortened to its present form by removing the 九 (Mdn. jiu; "nine"). This was presumably to make it a two-character name, but it has also been suggested that 九芎 wasn't chosen because it sound similar to 久窮 (Mdn. jiu qiong) meaning "long-term poverty".
Copyright Jiyue Publications 2022
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