| 摘要: | 中文摘要 漢人拓墾的足跡，從竹塹地區，沿著河谷平原，一路往內山前進。施添福在竹塹地區的拓墾史中，將竹塹地區劃分為三個人文發展地理區：漢墾戶拓墾區（簡稱漢墾區）、平埔族保留區（簡稱保留區）和隘墾戶拓墾區（簡稱隘墾區）；樹杞林(竹東鎮舊名)就位在隘墾區內，而軟橋里位在樹杞林隘墾區內靠近內山的位置。 清領時期，內山豐富的資源，產生一股強大的「拉力」，客家墾民面對生存競爭的壓力，形成一股「推力」，面臨環境衝擊之下，軟橋客家先民是如何在此地落地生根，開枝展葉，漸漸形成客家聚落，是本研究探討的重點之ㄧ。位在最靠近內山河谷平原地區的軟橋，具有重要的邊關地位，是漢蕃交易的重要處所，為何在歷史的發展過程當中，軟橋卻漸趨沒落，其發展歷程和新竹沿山聚落發展的過程中有何不同？然而，軟橋客家聚落的發展對竹東和新竹地區有何重要影響？都是研究探討的重點。本研究嘗試從經濟活動、族群互動、交通建設及政治力量等不同面向來作探討，了解軟橋發展的歷史變遷。Footsteps of Han Chinese cultivation spread from Chuchien area, along the river valley plains and proceeded toward the inland mountains. In the cultivation history of the Chuchien area, Shih Tian-fu divided it into three cultural developmental geographic regions: Han cultivation area, Pingpu Tribe reservation, and self-defense guard cultivation area. Shujilin (the former name for Chu-tung Township) is located within the self-defense guard, and Ruanqiao Li is located within the Shujilin self-defense guard area closer to the inland mountains. During the Qing ruling period, the ample resources in this area created a powerful “pull,” and the Hakka cultivators faced pressures of existence and competition, which created a powerful “push.” One of the focuses of this study is, when facing environmental impact, how Ruanqiao Hakka people came to place their roots here and spread out, gradually forming Hakka tribes. Ruanqiao, located nearest to the inland mountain river valley plains has a significant borderland status, and is an important place for Han and aborigine commerce. However, why did Ruanqiao’s importance decrease, and what was different about its historical development in comparison to other tribes in Hsinchu? How did the development of Ruanqiao Hakka tribes influence the Chu-tung and Hsinchu areas? These are all questions to be answered in this paper. This study attempts to explore the aspects of economic activity, ethnic interaction, transportation infrastructure, and political forces to understand the historical changes in the development of Ruanqiao. |
