Camphor And Taiwan Society In Late Qing Dynasty

After ports were established in Taiwan in late Qing Dynasty, camphor gradually became the major exporting commodity. Large amount of camphor exportation significantly influenced Taiwan society. In plain region society, Sino-British interest contention concerning camphor evolved into a blood-shedding conflict, which is known as"Contest of Camphor"in history. The causes of the incident involved both macrocosmic conflict of interests and microcosmic personal imbroglio. The actions of the parties involved also borne influence on the specific development of the incident.In mountain region communities, in search of more camphor resources and encouraged by the government's"mountain development and aborigines pacifying policy", throngs of Han ethnic group flooded the mountain regions, which caused changes in the Han-aborigines relationship. While the scrambling for living space went on, common interests among them also took shape. Thus a new tendency of amalgamation emerged.This dissertation will analyze in full detail the parties involved in the camphor interests, the relationship between them and the influence they received in the macro-environment of social change.This dissertation consists of four parts, the principal part of which consists of upper half and lower half.Preface covers the incentives and significance of the research, literature review, source of data and writing method.Upper Half: with the"Contest of Camphor"as focus, the research looks into the evolution of Sino-foreign relationships in Taiwan plain region in late Qing Dynasty. It sheds light on the macrocosmic and microcosmic causes of the"Contest of Camphor", activities of the parties involved and the relationships among the parties involved.Chapter One introduces the macrocosmic cause of the"Contest of Camphor", that is, the commercial and religious conflicts accumulated since the establishment of ports.Chapter Two analyzes the activities of parties involved and their relationships from the three dimensions of ministers and premier government, consuls and local officials, foreign generals and local generals. It then comments on the claim that"the war was provoked by compradors and local generals". Chapter Three introduces the reparations of the incident and the Sino-British diplomatic negotiations. In the end, Chinese government made compromises and the consuls and foreign generals that provoked the war were punished by British government.The Lower Half: with the Han-aborigines relationships as the focus, the research investigates the relationships and the influence received by the parties involved in the mountain region in the period of"mountain development and aborigines pacifying policy". It points out that there were both conflicts and amalgamation in the Han-aborigines relationship.Chapter One illustrates how throngs of Han ethnic group flooded the mountain regions, driven by the camphor profits and encouraged by the government's"mountain development and aborigines pacifying policy". The scramble for living space causes heated conflicts.Chapter Two points out that conflict was not the whole story of the Han-aborigines relationship. In the process of contact and mingling, common interests eventually emerged and a new tendency of amalgamation occurred. This is supported by evidences in four aspects.Chapter Three expounds that in the face of the new changes in Han-aborigines relationship, the local government did not pay due attention or carry out full analysis, and failed to take corresponding measures. As a result, the"mountain development and aborigines pacifying policy"become invalid and eventually turned out to be a failure.Conclusion: to sum up, this dissertation points out that both the"Contests of Camphor"soon after the port establishment and the changes of Han-aborigines relationship in the period of"mountain development and aborigines pacifying policy"are the results of the influence of camphor interests. And the failures of"Contests of Camphor"and"mountain development and aborigines pacifying policy"are inevitable due to the incompetent reactions of the government.