Pre-Colonial Geographical Knowledge on Formosa: Preliminary Study Based on Japanese Cited Materials

Er-Jian Yeh

《地理研究》 51期 (2009/11) Pp. 45-65

https://doi.org/10.6234/JGR.2009.51.03

並列摘要

The purpose of this article is to feature the Western conceptions on Taiwanese environment, as it had the profound influence over the initial Japanese impressions of this island. It is wise to explore the Western literature which the Japanese intellectuals and officials inherited and based, although the Japanese knowledge was also constituted by themselves through undertaking a series of fieldwork explorations and surveys.
To demonstrate this, my research traces successively the formation and operation of western knowledge-producing networks, with reference to the geographical or environmental perceptions. It is divided into three parts, including the Treaty Ports and the Influx of Westerners, Travelling Topology Modelled by Native Networks, and Restricted Spatial Extent and Lateral Geographical Images. It firstly explains that the influx of Europeans in the latter decades of nineteenth century, mainly the Briton, initiated the development of modern geographical knowledge relating to Taiwan. Second, this article examines the personnel of participating individuals and teams involved. It investigates the methodologies used by these pioneers and enthusiasts for perceiving and representing Taiwanese environments as well. Finally, it features the formatting knowledge produced by these official or leisure tours.
An examination of the materials shows that the spatial extent of these Westerners' cruise was highly restricted to the west part of the island, specifically the hills and plains. It also shows that their interests focus mainly on physical characteristics, aboriginal inhabitants, and industrial landscapes. However, the lateral and partial geographical knowledge constructed by Europeans eventually prevailed before the commencement of Japanese administration.

並列關鍵字

geographical knowledge ； the British ； fieldtrip ； network ； restricted spatial extent

參考文獻

Allen, Herbert J.(1877).Notes of a Journey Through Formosa from Tamsui to Taiwanfu.Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London.21(4),258-266.

Band, Edward(1948).Working His Purpose Out: The History of the English Presbyterian Mission 1847-1947.London:Presbyterian Church of England.

Band, Edward(1972).Working His Purpose Out: The History of the English Presbyterian Mission 1847-1947.Taipei:Chheng Wen Publishing Company.

Bax, Bonham Ward(1875).The Eastern Seas: Being A Narrative of the Voyage of H. M. S. "Dwarf" in China, Japan and Formosa.London:John Murray.

Beazeley, M.(1885).Notes of an Overland Journey Through the Southern Part of Formosa, from Takow to the South Cape, in 1875, with an Introductory Sketch of the Island.Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography.7(1),1-23.