A historical article about the life and modernization achievements of Liu Mingchuan, the first governor of Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty. It covers his early experiences in the Huai Army, the story of obtaining the national treasure 'Guo Ji Zi Bai Pan,' his contributions to the Sino-French War in Taiwan, and the various reforms he led after Taiwan became a province, particularly the construction of the Taiwan Railway.
In Taiwan's thousand-year recorded history, although from the Yuan Dynasty through the Ming Dynasty, Japanese wokou pirates along the coast committed murder and robbery, causing Chinese authorities to tighten maritime policy and leading Taiwan through a dark period. However, in Taiwan's long and venerable history, if we discuss who contributed most to Taiwan's development, it must be attributed to Liu Mingchuan of the Qing Dynasty, whose achievements span transportation, agriculture, schools, aboriginal pacification, finance, and county planning, earning him the title of Father of Taiwan's Modernization.
Reflects on the contributions of Liu Mingchuan, the first governor of Taiwan Province, to the island's infrastructure and modernization during the late Qing Dynasty.
The article records the history of Japan's invasion of Taiwan Province in 1874 using the 'Mudan Incident' as an excuse, where Ryukyuans were killed by indigenous people in Langqiao (now Manzhou Township, Pingtung). Japan first titled the King of Ryukyu to force a relationship as an excuse for invasion and sent spies for intelligence reconnaissance. Although the Japanese army suffered heavy losses due to indigenous resistance and environmental factors, they eventually forced the Qing court to pay 500,000 taels through diplomatic negotiations and acknowledge the legitimacy of Japan's military action, causing China to lose its suzerainty over Ryukyu.