NMTH exhibition marks Japanese invasion of Taiwan

2015/05/28

An exhibition marking the 120th anniversary of the Japanese Invasion of Taiwan is running until Dec. 13 at Tainan-based National Museum of Taiwan History.

“Transformations in 1895: 120 Years after the Japanese Conquest of Taiwan” pays tribute to the thousands of locals who died defending their homeland. It also presents the biggest uprising in the history of Taiwan from a macro perspective.

“While history was often written by those who prevailed, details revealed in various forms of documents and records, especially those from nonofficial sources, offer a more comprehensive picture of an event,” a museum official said.

According to the NMTH, the rebellion followed the first Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) in which the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) was defeated and Taiwan and the Penghu islands ceded to Japan.

The exhibition features around 100 artifacts, documents and personal letters related to local resistance leaders, as well as publications on Taiwan produced by the Japanese government after taking over the island in 1895.

Among the displays is a replica of the eye-catching tiger-dominated flag of the Republic of Formosa, which existed from May to October 1895.

The event also offers fresh insight into the insurrection from the perspectives of Taiwan, the Qing dynasty, Japan and the Western world, with a special section showcasing news reports and literary works from the period.

In addition to highlighting the bravery of the rebels, several of the displayed documents reveal that not everyone was opposed to the Japanese takeover.

“For example, some members of the upper class supported Japan’s colonization of Taiwan, while others were concerned that the revolt would prompt imperial forces to attack their neighborhoods,” the official said.

“These conflicting views are certain to challenge preconceptions of exhibition-goers surrounding this event and its impact on shaping the economic, political and social landscape of Taiwan.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=230786&ctNode=413)