Cultural history of Taiwan

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The cultural history of Taiwan can be traced back to prehistoric Stone Age. Later the development of written languages made it easier to maintain traditions of the Taiwanese culture.[1]

The recorded history of Taiwanese culture mainly stemmed from traditional Chinese culture, despite the influences from other foreign powers. Although the culture of modern Taiwan is significantly affected by Japanese and American cultures, the values and traditions of the Taiwanese people are heavily based on Confucianist Han cultures.[2]

A prehistoric monument in Taiwan built about 2800 years ago

The cultures in Taiwan's New Stone Age (began ca. 5000 BCE) were all left by Austronesian people. However, there may be other settlers prior to the arrival of the Austronesian people.

In addition, the plains aborigines influenced the beliefs, music, and names, of places in Taiwan. These aboriginal tribes include Ketagalan, Kavalan, Taokas, and Babuza peoples. However, over the course of three centuries of Han Chinese migrations to Taiwan, the distinctive cultures gradually disappeared, creating an integrated cultural blend.

The 1620s saw a major turning point in Taiwan's cultural history due to the introduction of the Sinckan Manuscripts. The written language was brought to Taiwan by Dutch missionaries. The prehistory of Taiwan was brought to an end as a result.

Table of prehistoric cultures[3]
× denotes nonexistence　　o denotes existence
Culture Development status Sites
Pottery Iron metallurgy Basic agriculture Rice cultivation Yuanshan Site Chihshan Rock Site Botanical Garden Site
Hsientao culture × × × × ○ × ×
Tapenkeng culture ○ × ○ × ○ ○ ○
Yuanshan culture ○ × ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Chihshan Rock culture ○ ○ ○ ○ × ○ ×
Botanical Garden culture × ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Shihsanhang culture ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ × ×

European colonial culture

See also

References

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