<strong>May 16 to May 22</strong>
Lin Wen-cha (林文察) and his “Taiwanese braves” (台灣勇) arrived in Fujian Province’s Jianyang District (建陽) on May 19, 1859, eager for their first action outside of Taiwan.
The target was local bandit Guo Wanzong (郭萬淙), one of several ruffians who had taken advantage of ongoing Taiping Rebellion to establish strongholds in the area.
A strongman leader of the notable Wufeng Lin Family (霧峰林家), Lin had impressed Qing Dynasty rulers five years earlier by helping expel the remnants of Small Knife Society (小刀會) rebels from Keelung.
Lin’s forces routed Guo’s gang in just 11 days, earning a formal
Taiwan in Time: A farcical peace
A historical novel published last year helps dispel the narrative that there was no unrest on Penghu following the 228 Incident
By Han Cheung / Staff reporter
Feb. 22 to Feb. 28
For 73 years, an imposing gateway leading to the eastern shore of Makung (馬公) praised the people of Penghu for remaining peaceful during the 228 Incident
According to a plaque on the structure, when Taiwan’s population rose up against the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) on Feb. 28, 1947, “only Penghu remained calm.”
Sheng Yi-che published a historical novel last year about the unrest on Penghu following the 228 Incident.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times