In 1964, the same year that Peng Ming-min published the “Declaration of Formosan Self-Salvation,” the exiled Taiwanese intellectual Wang Yu-de, living in Japan, published the book Taiwan: A History of Bitterness in Japanese. This book was not published in Taiwan until many years later, but it had already been translated and circulated privately, as it resonated deeply with many Taiwanese exiles who shared his experience of displacement.
Bitterness and misery, tears and sweat—in those repressive times, such narratives often became the primary framework for understanding Taiwan's history. But, is Taiwan's history solely one of suffering?
As the era of openness unfolded, it became increasingly evident that, while Taiwan’s past is indelibly marked by prolonged hardship, its people also have ventured into new territories, pursued their dreams, fought with courage, and even in darkness, found laughter and hope to hold.
In the second half of the 20th century, Taiwan’s history gradually emerged as a field of academic research. With generations of scholars contributing their insights, the body of work has been impressive—not only in the traditional domains of political and military history, but also in new fields such as social, cultural, and environmental history. Moreover, the discovery of new sources—including archaeological finds, oral histories, archival materials, and visual records—has greatly enriched our understanding of Taiwan's past.
Every era demands a fresh perspective on its past. The question, then, is how to reexamine and reinterpret Taiwan's history through a new lens.
原住民各族的差異極大,若我們還是想試談原住民族視角下的原住民族歷史,可以從何處著手呢?由於篇幅有限,我們無法細論所有民族,以下只舉兩例來說明發展原住民族觀點之原住民族史的可能起點。