| dc.description.abstract | When it comes to the betelnut, everyone thinks about the indigenous people and usually gains a negative impression of it. However, it is undeniable that the betelnut has become part of Taiwanese culture. Even though the betelnut-chewing population in Taiwan is increasing, most people discriminate against the indigenous people in particular. Checking out the historical records, we can tell the betelnut has been closely connected to people’s lives from the ancient time, especially in Qing Dynasty. Therefore, this paper will discuss the relationship between the betelnut and the Taiwanese indigenous people in the Qing Dynasty, so as to help us further understand why the indigenous people like to chew betelnuts, as well as to provide a new angle to explain why the betelnut still plays a very important role in today’s society.
This paper probes how the betelnut connected the Taiwanese indigenous people in the Qing Dynasty in a way of collecting and analyzing the historical documents. The first chapter describes the betelnut history, including the background, growing environment, how to chew betelnuts, and ways to bring tools for cutting betelnuts.
The second chapter introduces the historical connections between the betelnut and the Taiwanese indigenous people, the betelnut legends past in the indigenous society and their implications, as well as the unique indigenous life style and culture influenced by the betelnut.
The third chapter reveals the rituals and customs of the indigenous culture, with a view to realize why the betelnut serves a sacred and irreplaceable offering in the indigenous society. Through the discussion in the chapter 2 and chapter 3, readers get more understanding about the implications of the betelnut in the indigenous society.
The fourth chapter indicates the hustle and bustle in the betelnut markets in the Qing Dynasty to show how popular the betelnut was. Moreover, with the Han immigrants moving to Taiwan, there existed an economic gap between the rich and the poor. The betelnut gradually became a popular and high-priced commodity. In response, the betelnut trees were grown in most part of the southern Taiwan, which not only encouraged the Qing government to impose a levy on the betelnut, but also dramatically changed the role of the betelnut in the history. | en_US |