Aboriginal Cultures

This exhibit features the historical distribu- tion, everyday utensils and clothing of the nine main aboriginal tribes of Taiwan: the Ami, the Atayal, the Paiwan, the Bunun, the Puyuma, the Rukai, the Tsou, the Saisiat and the Yami. It provides an introduction to the traditional way of life of the Taiwan aborigines.

Prehistoric Period

This exhibit shows the distribution of prehistoric culture sites in Taiwan and articles of stone, pottery, bone and horn, together with stone slab coffins, recovered from them. All of these materials show the strong cultural influence of mainland China, indicating that the cultural origins of Taiwan's ancient in- habitants are rooted in the mainland. These cultural traces also show that Taiwan already possessed a fairly advanced culture several thousand years ago.

The Sung, Yuan and Ming Dynasties and the Dutch and Spanish Occupation Period

This exhibit displays records and literature of the Sung, Yuan, Ming and other periods concerning Taiwan, together with historical materials about the migration of mainland set- tlers to Taiwan. These demonstrate the in- timate connections between Taiwan and the mainland and that all the Chinese in Taiwan came from the mainland, only differing in the period and sequence of their immigration. Also on display are documents concerning the occupation of Taiwan by the Dutch and Spanish in the late Ming period, historical materials about indigenous resistance to, Dutch and Spanish rule, and exhibits relating to colonial buildings in Taiwan such as Fort Provintia (Ch'ih K'an Lou) built by the Dutch at Tainan, and Fort San Domingo (Hung Mao Ch'eng) built by the Spanish at Tamsui.

The Period of the Cheng's Late Ming Dynasty

In the late Ming period Cheng Ch'eng- kung (Koxinga) expelled the Dutch from Taiwan and claimed it for himself. He laun- ched an active programme of extending the area of land under cultivation and built Taiwan up into a base for resistance against the Ch'ing dynasty and restoration of the Ming dynasty, exerting a marked influence on the isiand's development. On display are historical evidence of Cheng Ch'eng-kung's steadfast loyalty to the cause of opposing the Ch'ing and restoring the Ming, the process whereby he recovered Taiwan from the Dutch, and his economic development of the island. This allows us to appreciate his patriotic motives and his unbending na- tionalist consciousness. It is a magnificent chapter in the history of the Chinese develop- ment of Taiwan.

The Ch'ing Dynasty Period

Opening up and development of the whole island of Taiwan was completed in the Ch'ing period. The Ch'ing dynasty saw the exten- sion to Taiwan of a number of administrative measures including the imperial examination system, the education system, the land system and the system of administrative regions, and three major water conservancy projects were carried out during the period. This exhibit also introduces a number of im- portant figures who contributed to Taiwan's development, including Shen Pao-che, Liu Ming-ch'uan and Ting Jih-ch'ang, together with historical materials on military campaigns to defend Taiwan against British, French and Japanese aggression. This allows us to understand the contribution to Taiwan's modernization made under the Ch'ing, and to appreciate the steadfast loyalty and patriotism of the Chinese.

The Japanese Occupation Period

Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895 follow. ing the Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese authorities in Taiwan practised unbridled col- onialist development and extortion, and pro- moted a movement to turn the people of Taiwan into loyal subjects of the Japanese emperor, putting to death any Chinese who resisted. Under the leadership of patriots such as Liu Yung-fu, Lin Shao-mao and Yu Ch'ing-o, Taiwan compatriots carried out a series of heroic anti-Japanese incidents. This history of resistance against the Japanese, spotted with blood and tears, brings home the agony of losing one's home country to a foreign power. As such, it serves to en- courage the spirit of patriotism and love of one's country, and the desire to protect and conserve one's own homeland.

The 24 Weather Markers

In the Chinese calendar, the shortest day of the year is the Winter Solstice and the year 24 Weather Markers, Start of Spring., Rain and Water, Waking the Hibernators, The Spring Divide, Clear Luminosity, Grains and Rains, Start of Summer, Small Fullness, Awn- ed Crops, Summer Solstice, Small Heat, Great Heat, Start of Autumn, Stop of the Heat, White Dew, The Autumn Divide, Cold Dew, Descent of the Frost, Start of Winter, Small Snow, Great Snow, Winter Solstice, Small Col- dness, Great Coldness. These terms refer to climatic phenomena or to agricultural growth, and in the Yellow River region they approx- imate to the progress of the seasons through the year. The ancient Chinese regulated their farming cycle and folk festivals according to these solar terms.

Folk Festivals

The seasonal folk festivals of Taiwan have their roots in Fukien and Kuangtung. These are distributed throughout the lunar calendar in a natural and appropriate way, constituting the rhythm of agrarian society. Such festivals include many commemorations of local gods and folk deities, and customary seasonal celebrations are an important element too. Our exhibit of text and pictures, models and multi-media briefings shows how, as each festival comes round, various activities related to folk religion and popular customs take place, together with prayer rituals such as ancestor worship, worship of deities and wor- ship of the Buddha. These annual customs are handed down generation after genera- tion, and despite changes of dynasty have remained intact down the centuries until today.

Traditional Cultural Artifacts

To illustrate various aspects of life in the past, including clothing, food, domestic life, travel, education and recreation, this display of traditional cultural artifacts is arranged in six main units: the main hall, the study, the bedroom, the dining room, the kitchen, and agricultural implements. Exhibits shown in- clude exquisitely carved altar tables, desks, offertory tables and palace chairs, an opulent "hundred-year" marriage bed of the finest materials, and early dressing tables, wash- stands, wardrobes and high-backed chairs. In addition to illustrating the mode of life followed by our ancestors, this display also allows us, through comparison with traditional times, to better appreciate the prosperity and progress we enjoy today and the count our blessings. Also on display are gazetteers and documents about Taiwan and surname genealogies of Taiwan area residents, which are available for public viewing and academic research.