This episode we look at the Eight Banner system that made the Jurchen people under Nurhaci such a devastating military force. We note how policies began changing due to necessity, as Nurhaci sought to consolidate the lands and people under his control, as well as continue the empire’s expansion. We end with a pivotal moment for the Jin Dynasty, the Battle of Ningyuan.
Nurhaci (ᠨᡠᡵᡤᠠᠴᡳ) is a name from the now critically endangered Tangusic language of Manchuria which possibly means “skin of the great boar” or “person brave like a wild boar”. History knowns him as Khan of the Great Jin (努爾哈赤), the precursor to the Qing Dynasty of China. Nurhaci’s story and those of the Jin and Qing Dynasties forever change China’s history and with it the lives of Zheng Zhilong, his son Zheng Chenggong and Taiwan.
Zheng Zhilong (merchant, translator, pirate, naval tactician and Admiral of the Chinese fleet) has a key role in the history surrounding Taiwan. No less important – in fact, arguably more important – is the role that his son, Zheng Chenggong, would play. To understand the role he played, it is important that we look at his childhood, his family dynamic and the world in which he was growing up.
If one follows this link to the Wikipedia page on events of the 17th Century, one could be surprised by the number of entries that relate to war.
This is the second half of my interview with Marci in which we talk about her experiences as a student in Taiwan. We discuss differences in education and look at various aspects of Taiwanese society.
LINKS
Scholarship info – ICDF
Scholarship info – MOFA
Info on various scholarships, link 1 and link 2
Taiwanese Universities List
LINKS
Scholarship info – ICDF
Scholarship info – MOFA
Info on various scholarships, link 1 and link 2
Taiwanese Universities List
Erin Meyer’s book The Culture Map
(The book I mentioned in the interview whose name I couldn’t think of).
I had an interview with a lovely young lady from Belize who is currently studying and working part-time in Taiwan. As our conversation focused more on Belize for the first half and Taiwan for the second, I decided to split the interview into two parts. This is the first part in which I learnt a lot about Belize and its complicated, mixed culture.
Taiwan’s International Co-operation and Development Fund (ICDF)
Mutually beneficial endeavours such as this exist between Taiwan and the few countries that recognise its status as an independent country.
I realise that my history episodes have been few and far between of late. The reason behind that is I am in the process of moving home (and country), though I’m happy to report that said process is drawing to a close. Once I have settled and located in which box I have stored my books on Taiwanese history, the episodes will begin flowing again with hopefully more regularity.
I’m really looking forward to the next section, as we are rapidly approaching the figure of Koxinga who I wish to do justice to in my series. He is still held in high esteem by the Chinese, Japanese and Taiwanese alike.
I do have another tangent episode set to come out within the next week.
I am joined by Matt from Master Football Academy Taiwan located in Beitou, northern Taipei, to talk about football, as this sport slowly gains popularity in Taiwan. Our talk focused on children’s football (Matt’s area of expertise), including his team’s recent success in the JSSL tournament in Singapore, as well as discussing general aspects of Taiwanese culture.
LINKS
The Kid Sports website (which includes MFA Taiwan)
In our discussion we briefly mentioned the NT$500 bill and the fact that the obverse (front) of the note has an image of children playing baseball. Placing that image on the bill is a celebration that Taiwan has been the champions of the Little League World Series seventeen times (their first victory being in 1969 and their most recent victory being in 1996).
Little League World Series records
News article discussing the social significance of baseball in Taiwan
After a quick recap of the Spanish and Dutch influence in Taiwan (as well as taking a broader look to encompass the ongoing Eighty Years War), we look at how changes weakened the Spanish position in Taiwan. The Dutch would take advantage of this to try push the Spanish off Taiwan and claim control over the whole island for themselves. This culminated in the battle for San Salvador, the Spanish fortress in Keelung (Jilung).
I invite you to indulge me by coming on a journey, imagining yourself in the story that I wish to tell; a story about a travelling surfer.
We are joined by Iain Garner of the Taiwanese-based games publisher Neon Doctrine. He shares with us his insights into the world of game development and Taiwan’s unique position in this industry. He also gives descriptions of just a few of the many games that Neon Doctrine has published. These include:
Legend of Tianding – ‘Robin Hood’ during the Japanese colonial occupation of Taiwan
Yuppie Psycho – a new employee in a corporate hellscape who’s discovered his job title is witch-hunter
The Library of Babel – stealth platformer, full of intrigue and mystery
My Lovely Wife (and My Lovely Daughter) – dark story about how far you’d go for those you love
Simulacrac – found phone horror games
LINKS
Neon Doctrine’s website
Neon Doctrine’s list of published games on Steam
My Lovely Empress (Released 21st Aug. 2024)
Death Trick: Double Blind (full game, released March 2024)
The Legend of Tianding (on Steam)
Liao Tianding’s Wikipedia page
MORE LINKS
-Other Game Developers
SIGONO
Toge
-Games
A Space for the Unbound (Toge)
Dungeon Munchies (maJAJa)
Spiritfarer (Thunder Lotus Games)
-Game Shows
Taipei Game Developers Forum
Summer Game Show
-Rami Ismail
Tweet about games being miracles
Full article on the subject of milestones
Taiwan Through Time 