[Yesterday’s
post mentioned that Saulang (sinicized as 蕭壠 Siauleng, today's 佳里 Jiali) was one of four main Siraya Plains Aboriginal communities, all in today’s Tainan. The other three were Mattau (荳社; today's 麻豆 Madou; see
here), Sinckan (新港, today's 新市 Xinshi and Bakaloan (目加溜灣; today’s 善化 Shanhua).]
Xinshi (新市; lit. “new city/market”) was formerly 新港 (Hoklo:
Sinkang; lit. “new port”). Due to the apparent descriptive nature of this name (Taiwan has had several "new ports", see
Xingang), it is sometimes assumed to be original, but actually represents a sinicisation (transliteration) of
Sinckan, the
Sirayan (西拉雅) Plains Aboriginal name.
This was the first target of Dutch colonial (1624-61) "civilizing" and Christian proselytizing, so along with
Favorlang further north, the Sirayan language--known as Sinckan--was the main means of communication between Aborigines and Ducth.
A Sinckan Gospel of St. Matthew was translated and many “Sinckan Manuscripts” (Sirayan/Chinese land contracts) are still in existence.
Due to its important location, under Zheng (鄭; 1662-83) and Qing (清; 1683-1895) rule the village grew into a thriving market town (市; Mdn.:
shi), so became known as 新市仔 (Hoklo:
sin-chhi-a; “new market”). In 1920 under Japanese rule, 新市 became the town’s official name.
Hsinshih (新市) alternative romanisation of
Xinshi.
Sinshi (新市) alternative romanisation of
Xinshi.
Xingang (新港; lit. "new port) refers to:
a) old name for
Xinshi (新市) District, Tainan
b) Xingang Township, Chiayi County
c) [to be continued]
Shanhua (善化; lit. “better transform”) was formerly
Bakaloan (目加溜灣), one of four main
Sirayan (西拉雅) Plains Aboriginal communities prior to 17th-century foreign immigration.
Dutch colonists were attacked when collecting bamboo here in 1625, but ultimately subdued the area in 1635. Calling it
Tevoran, they set up schools and churches, and encouraged Han Chinese immigration to grow rice and sugarcane.
Under Zheng-Ming rule (鄭, 1662-83), a military-farming community (屯田; see
tun-tian) established here was called 善化 (Hoklo:
sianhoa).
In the succeeding Qing dynasty (1683-1895), the area was called both 善化 but also 灣裡 (Hoklo:
oanli; lit. “bay inside”), due to its location “within” a “bend” (similarly written and pronounced word: 彎; Hoklo:
oan) in the
Zengwen River (曾文溪).
Japanese re-organization of local government reverted to use of 善化 (Japanese:
zenka), and 善化 (Mdn.
shanhua) has continued in use under ROC rule since retrocession in 1945.
Text © Jiyue Publications 2011, 2021
Interesting map (apologies for awful photogrtaph) of Taiwan in/by Japanese but before their acquisition of the islands in 1895.
Xinshi (新市; lit. “new city/market”) was formerly 新港 (Hoklo: Sinkang; lit. “new port”). Due to the apparent descriptive nature of this name (Taiwan has had several "new ports", see Xingang), it is sometimes assumed to be original, but actually represents a sinicisation (transliteration) of Sinckan, the Sirayan (西拉雅) Plains Aboriginal name.
This was the first target of Dutch colonial (1624-61) "civilizing" and Christian proselytizing, so along with Favorlang further north, the Sirayan language--known as Sinckan--was the main means of communication between Aborigines and Ducth. 
A Sinckan Gospel of St. Matthew was translated and many “Sinckan Manuscripts” (Sirayan/Chinese land contracts) are still in existence. 
So why Japan’s name change from 蕭壠 to 佳里? Consistent Japanese practice (similar to Takow to Kaohsiung and many others) would suggest the use of different characters whose Japanese pronunciation matched the Hoklo Taiwanese pronunciation of the original, i.e. Siauleng. But 佳里 is pronounced kari in Japanese. 