Taiwan Ministry
opportunities to share God’s truth
History, Culture, and Land
The History
Brief Time Line
- 1206—Taiwan came under Chinese rule during the Yuan dynasty.
- 1544—The Portuguese “discovered” Taiwan and called it Ilha Formosa, the beautiful island.
- 1624—The Dutch invaded Taiwan; southern Taiwan was under their rule for 37 years.
- 1626—The Spanish invaded and occupied northern Taiwan.
- 1642—The Spanish driven out by the Dutch.
- 1661—The last general of the Ming Dynasty led a successful invasion in Taiwan, and the Taiwanese era began.
- 1683—Western Taiwan was annexed to the Chinese Empire. (Ch’ing Dynasty)
- 1884—The French occupied northern Taiwan for 3 months during the Sino-French War.
- 1894–95—Japan and China went to war. China lost and ceded Taiwan to Japan, which remained under Japanese rule until the end of WWII in 1945, when it returned to Chinese rule.
- 1949—After China was defeated by communists, Chiang Kai-shek and more than one million people fled to Taiwan. He ruled Taiwan until his death in 1975.
- 1986—The Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was established.
- 1996—Lee Teng-hui was elected the president of Taiwan in the first direct presidential election.
The Culture & People
The nation of Taiwan has a rich heritage of traditional Chinese culture and a lively blend of modern Chinese and western cultures. Three dialects are spoken in Taiwan: Hakka, Taiwanese, and Mandarin. Roughly half the populace asserts a religion, the principal religions being Taoism and Buddhism.
Traditional values pertaining to relationships and proper behavior are still held in high esteem. Taiwanese people tend to be somewhat reserved and interact with politeness. Giving gifts is a part of everyday interaction within the culture.
Most people wear western clothing, although traditional Chinese clothing is worn at special celebrations. Major Taiwan holidays include the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Chinese New Year, and the Feast of Lanterns. People in urban areas also celebrate Christmas.
The Land & Climate
Taiwan is located in eastern Asia, just off the southeastern coast of China between Japan and the Philippines. It is 225 miles long and 80 miles wide, with approximately 970 miles of coastline. The eastern two-thirds of the country is primarily covered with rugged mountains, and most of the population lives on the flat to gently rolling plains in the west.
The climate in Taiwan is tropical, and there is a rainy season during the southwest monsoon (June to August). Cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year. February is the coolest month, with an average high of 66° and low of 53°. July is the warmest month, with an average high of 92° and low of 75°.