By D. W .G. Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes News
The Historical Significance of Tainan's Multicultural Roots
Tainan, known as "the birthplace of Taiwan," is commemorating its 400th anniversary by celebrating its rich multicultural heritage. The city's history dates back to 1624 when a fleet from the Dutch East India Company, seeking a trading foothold with China’s Ming dynasty, arrived on a forested island off the Chinese coast. After failing to capture Macau, the Dutch settled on a sandbank and established Fort Zeelandia, naming the area Tayouan, which eventually became Taiwan. They engaged in trade with the Siraya people, whose Austronesian language shares roots with contemporary Malay, Tagalog, and Māori. Some scholars believe the name "Taiwan" itself is derived from the Siraya word "tavo an," meaning "meeting place."
This year, Tainan is celebrating its four century milestone with a series of events under the banner "Tainan, Where You Belong." The festivities, which started in January with the Taiwan Lantern Festival, will continue throughout the year. They aim to showcase the city’s evolution as a melting pot of cultures through concerts, exhibitions, and public celebrations. Fort Zeelandia still stands as a testament to Tainan’s historical significance, with its ruins now a popular tourist attraction intertwined with banyan roots. Nearby, the Kaitai Tianhou temple, the island’s oldest shrine to the sea goddess Mazu, attracts visitors who partake in traditional rituals seeking divine guidance.
Reviving and Celebrating Linguistic Diversity
Tainan's celebration of its 400th anniversary also underscores the city’s commitment to preserving and reviving its linguistic diversity. Historically, Taiwan’s population was a mosaic of Indigenous groups with distinct languages and cultures. The Dutch, during their rule, established the first school in modern day Tainan in 1636, teaching classes in Siraya. This Indigenous language, nearly lost over the centuries, is now experiencing a revival. Efforts led by Uma Talavan, an Indigenous Siraya, and her husband Edgar Macapli have resulted in Siraya being taught in more than 20 schools across Tainan.
The Taiwanese language, a variant of Hokkien brought by settlers from Fujian, China, is also being revitalized. During the martial law period imposed by the Nationalists after 1949, Mandarin was enforced as the national language, marginalizing other languages. Today, initiatives like YouTuber Chiu Ka éng’s channel, which teaches Taiwanese in an engaging format, aim to reverse this trend. The Tainan 400 celebrations highlight these efforts, promoting a vision of a linguistically inclusive society where Taiwanese, Hakka, and Indigenous languages are valued equally. Dr. Tsio̍h Bo̍k bîn, head of the cultural foundation at Tainan’s Confucius Temple, emphasizes the importance of embracing Taiwan’s hybrid cultural identity, encouraging a deeper understanding and appreciation of the island’s diverse heritage.
As Tainan marks its 400th anniversary, the city not only honors its past but also looks to a future that cherishes and nurtures its multicultural and multilingual legacy. Through ongoing celebrations and cultural initiatives, Tainan continues to embody the richness and complexity of Taiwan's history, offering a vibrant example of how diverse identities can coexist and thrive.
