| dc.description.abstract | The study of the socio-economic development in Yangmei region before Pacific War
Abstract
This paper begins with the introduction of the geographical landscape of Yangmei. The terrain character of Yangmei region is mesas in the outskirts of a graben(Yangmei basin). The creeks diverted from the mesas after the confluence in the Hsueimei Village is known as Shetzu Creek. Shetzu Creek, the major river in the region, flows from the northwest, through Hsinwu Town, and into the Taiwan Strait. The region belongs to a typical monsoon climate zone in northern Taiwan, i.e. it has high temperatures and typhoons in summer, wet and rainy in winter.
Regarding humanities and cultures, the Qing Dynasty rules Taiwan for 212 years. However, Han Chinese only appeared as the first farming settlers of the region officially in the year of the Emperor Qianlong(1785). Starting from the year, a large number of Hakka Han Chinese immigrants entered and cultivated Yangmei. With water irrigation system and farming techniques from their hometowns, they gradually developed Yangmei agricultural lifestyle in Qing Dynasty emphasized on (1) the evolution of Han Chinese cultivation, (2) the zoning of farming lands and (3) with the construction of irrigation facilities, how the productivity of farming lands improved, and resulted in socio-economic growth of Yangmei.
The folk beliefs brought from their hometowns in China, such as the tales of Great Emperor of Three Universes, Mazu, Local Earth God and the later evolved Hakka Yimim belief, were the spiritual sustenance of the region in Qing Dynasty. Along with the cultivation of small areas were the rise of folk beliefs and the establishment of the village temples. This study discussed the interactions and relationships among the formation and the scope of the temple ritual circle in Yangmei region, the regional situation of farming land cultivation the village temples and the families of local leaders.
During Japanese colonial time, the Japanese government took a different ruling style from the Qing Dynasty. Taiwan became a colony of Imperial Japan. The economic patterns were changing, and Yangmei was no exception. Japanese introduced modern science, techniques and water irrigation facilities. Hence, various agricultural productions greatly increased. However, followed by Japan’s aggressive foreign policies and the break-out of Pacific War, the temples and beliefs in Yangmei region were impacted because the activities of Japanization intensified and the associated “Temple Consolidation”. The local traditional beliefs and temples were destroyed and were only restored after the end of the war.
Keywords: Yangmei region, Shetzu River, The Great Emperor of Three Universes, Yimim belief, Temple Consolidation
| en_US |