Rodui and Neipu in Southern Taiwan

Several months ago, I went a village, Neipu內埔. It is near Pingdong, a big city in Southern Taiwan, where some of my friends live. Around that city area is usually known as the place for aboriginal tribes, such as Tsou, Paiwan, and Rukai. Many of my aboriginal friends are also from Pindong. One of the famous places near that city is Sandimen山地門.



There are also large area for Hakka(their own pronunciation) people. Also known as Kejia(Mandarin), but the writing is same as "客家", originated from Guangdong廣東, or more North of China according to the history.





Their population is not more than 20% and have settled all across Taiwan. Some villages are famous place for tourism by their special culture and architectures as well as food.



This is their pedigree. I found it at a Hakka cultural center in RoDui(六堆), also locates nearby Pindong and Neipu. Each card shows one family name, and the seeking the root of their blood. Although there are lots of fascinating things and performances, this room was mostly impressive to me. As I know about their great historical endeavor for "loyalty" and "education," Hakka people's achievements and highly recommended culture can be admired enough. It's one of the precious resources of Taiwan.




One big bookshelf contains many small drawers, and each drawer has each family name, such as 楊, 林, and 酨. The card provide possible history and genesis of family names of Hakka people that speaks their long and hard struggle to settle not only this island but also Guandong and Fuzien, old and far more.

From RoDui(六堆) Hak...

Hakka in Taiwan

Someone asked me about Hakka in Taiwan. He(I guess) became to be interested in history of Hakka when reading a post on my another blog written in Korean language. I wonder the person has understanding of history of Taiwan or ethnic background. But I believe it's good for any foreigner to get to know more about this country.

I depict Hakka people as gypsy to explain easier. Indeed they are talented to artwork, music, poem, and so on. Even though they often has been excluded and shunned historically, they survived here and all around the Asia even Korea, Myanmar as well as Malaysia or Singapore.

They believe their ancestors are from north part of China and gradually has come down to southeastern provinces. Those in Taiwan also had crossed to island of Taiwan through hundreds of years. Their population is now approximately 20 percent.

As I blogged there, I was emotionally and really shocked by their history which recovered by great efforts of Hakka historians and artists. Their history was the history of blood as it was. They were attacked and boycotted whenever they tried to settle down near Han people's place so that another struggle, sometimes bloody combat, flight and wandering was waiting again.

So it's one more part of Taiwan history I've learned. There are much more complicated factors of social conflict in Taiwan as other countries. Among the them, except the relation with China, matter of ethnicity seems to be tough issue today.