Abstract：
When the Qing Empire took control of Taiwan in 1683 and then established administrative regions in western Taiwan, the boundaries, especially those near the mountain areas in the east, were not clearly demarcated. Disorder and turmoil of border regions in subsequent decades forced Qing officials to pay attention to border security. Using official records of the eighteenth century, this article examines border management strategies, enforcement policies, and technologies adopted by the Qing Empire for maintaining border security. Moreover, this article focuses on the emergence of “Ai” (隘, local defensive fort), as a case study, in the context of the evolution of Qing Taiwan border policy in the eighteenth century and argues that the Ai system was gradually established after 1754. In the majority of cases, Ai, as frontier defense stations, were guarded by plains aborigines of different villages and had been expanding along the border near the mountain areas for some decades. The Ai system had assumed an important role in Qing border administration in the second half of the eighteenth century, but its effectiveness was still questioned by modern scholars.

Keywords：Ai System, Frontier Defense Station, Frontier Policy, Borders, Plains

Abstract：
This study explores the boundary drawings and arrangements of ethnic land tenure along the frontier area to explicate the ethnic-spatial deployment by the state power in Qing Taiwan circa1745-1790 (Qianlong era). It was the state’s intention since 1745 to initiate a three-tier ethnic-spatial regime, through creating a buffer zone at the foothill boundary separating head-hunting mountain aborigines and coastal-plain Chinese settlers with plain aborigines sandwiched in between. The aim was to quarantine Chinese reclamation of aboriginal land and preempt security harass beyond the borderline. To achieve this aim, a plain aborigine border guard (ai fan) system was implemented concomitantly, with the reallocation of plain aborigine land rights to the buffer zone for segmentation as well as providing rations to border sentry posts. However, the state’s effort to counter cross-border reclamation and thus prevent Chinese encroachers from developing into unruly force proved in vain. Even worse, it backfired, as shown in the Lin Shuang-wen revolt (1786-1788). With the aborted purple borderline of 1784 as the benchmark, a comparison of the pre- and post-1784 boundary redrawings, blue borderline of 1760 and green borderline of 1790 respectively, as well as concomitant reallocations and rearrangements of aborigine land rights indicates a transformation of the three-tier ethnic-spatial regime, as witnessed in the shift of governance rationality from quarantine to active alliance with plain aborigines through fostering its militia forces (tun fan).

Keywords：State Power, Ethnic Group, Space, Governance

Abstract：
This study explores the interaction among Han people, Shufan (i.e., Reilang she) and Shenfan (i.e., Malaifan, also called Mstranan during the Japanese colonial period and named Atalya today) around Wulixue River (i.e., Jingmei River) and the upstream of Xiulang River (i.e., Xindian River). Utilizing historical data, land contracts, maps and field work, this study analyzes how immigrants settled in the new environment and the relations between Hans, Shufan and Shenfan in borderland Taiwan. The nature of Shan shui yin is also examined. While focusing on the function of “Ai” (military community, she ai fang fan), this paper describes how “Aiken” (land reclamation by military community) offered a legitimate excuse for Hans and Shufan outside the boundary to move into and exploit the territory of Shenfan. This study also shows that immigrants paid tax, Shan shui yin, to both Shenfan and Shufan who owned the hillside land and shared its use with new settlers until early Japanese rule. Compared with An fu fan zu (i.e., Fan shi zu) paid by immigrants in the mountain areas of central and southern Taiwan including Alishan fan zu (10% of total harvest), Kang wu zu (5% of total harvest), Fu fan zu (5-10% of total harvest), and the rate of Shan shui yin was relatively low. This study challenges the prevailing conception that Shan shui yin was the same as Fan da zu, rental payment from migrant tenants to native landlords for use of land. Neither was Shan shui yin equivalent to Fan shi zu, a recompense paid by immigrants to natives for maintaining a stable social relationship. Furthermore, land reclamation approaches adopted by immigrants in the north and south of Zhuoshui River varied mainly because of socio-cultural differences among aboriginal tribes.

Keywords：Tu-niu Boundary, Reilang she, Mstranan, Shan shui yin, Ai, Ethnic Relationship

Abstract：
Known also as yangying (foreign silver coin) or fangying (barbarian silver coin), western silver coins circulating in Taiwan from the 17th to 19th century were of many different types and distributed in large quantity. However, little research had been done on silver coins from archaeological remains. This study on western silver coins unearthed in Southern Taiwan covered recent excavations, field studies as well as the collection of Tainan government. The artifacts examined included Dutch silver stuivers, Spanish silver reals; Mexican silver 8 reals (eagle silver) and Japanese silver yen. This paper presents the details as well as the comparative analytical studies of the silver coins listed above in terms of their specific decoration, motif, inscription, date of production and value. The compositions of these silver coins were determined using scientific approaches. Cross-examination among technical findings, archaeological evidences and historical records was conducted to shed light on the cultural and historic context of western silver coins circulating in Taiwan during Ming and Qing dynasties.

Keywords：Western Silver Coin, Yangying (Foreign Silver Coin), Fangying (Barbarian Silver Coin), Archaeology of Historical Period, Antiquarian Study

Abstract：
Reviewing the essays delivered at the “2012-2013 Conference on Taiwan History Research,” jointly organized by the Institute of Taiwan History, Academia Sinica, National Museum of Taiwan History, the Graduate Institutes of Taiwan History of both National Taiwan Normal University and National Chengchi University, this article classifies the Taiwan history research findings of 2012-2013 into three main categories, namely general works, social culture and arts. The article includes not only important dissertation comments, overall analysis and future outlook, but also a speech made by Professor Hsu Hsueh-Chi on Taiwan history research over the past decade. Analysis of the trends of Taiwan history research in 2012-2013 revealed the following. Regarding the number of studies on different historical periods, the majority of research works have been on the post-war years, followed by the Japanese colonial era, the Qing Dynasty and earlier times under the Dutch and the Spanish. Historical materials have become more diversified and there have been important breakthroughs in their applications. That is, apart from public documents and files, diaries, travel notes, collected literary works, images, school histories, monuments, and arts have now become the source of historical materials. Digital databases and online research have also provided easier access to relevant information. In terms of research themes, cultural history has made great advances and initiated various interesting topics. With regard to research methodology, techniques from different disciplines including geographical information systems (GIS), science technology and society (STS), anthropology, cultural studies, and building restoration have been integrated into historical research. As for research perspectives and points of view, both micro and macro perspectives, displacement of the narrative body, and contrasting views have been adopted. The decade from 2004 to 2013 has seen significant development in Taiwan historical research with expansion in research perspective, extension in research breadth, diversification in topics, as well as an increase in cross-border and transnational studies. However, there are still some hidden concerns. First, academic research came under political interference. Second, applicants for postgraduate studies in historical research were on the decline, also affecting the quality of students. Third, research topics have become very specialized, sometimes too narrow and even trivial. Intense competition and erosion from other social science disciplines also have a negative impact on historical research. Despite all these challenges, efforts in promoting dialogues and cooperation among various disciplines will still infuse hope into the future of Taiwan historical research.

Keywords：Taiwan History, Review of Studies, Trend of Research , Historical Materials, Socio-cultural History, History of Arts