The island during the Ching Dynasty

  Before Shy-Lung endeavored and successfully changed the Ching Emperor, Kun-Hsi, his view on Taiwan, the Emperor thought of Taiwan as a very small and insignificant island; whether it is Ching’s territory or not, it does not matter at all.  On the other hand, Ching officers also limited people to come to Taiwan. Hence it became extremely difficult for mainlanders to smuggle to the island; they not only had to face dangers in the sea, but also chasings by the officers on the island.  The indigenous people’s lifestyle was also challenged; during the time, they were facing attacks and oppressions from the immigrants as well as the Ching government officers. The latter thought of the natives as barbarous, uncivilized and dangerous people; “Unless the indigenous people are wiped out from the face of the island, Taiwan will not be a safe place to live,” said a local officer. As a result, the natives were forced to move to the hills, the mountains, higher and higher; thus they have also been known as “the mountain people”.