• Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • About
  • Contact

Cold War

Before, During, and After the Cold War

  • Podcast
  • Red Scare
  • Cuba
  • Iran
  • Urbanization
  • Spy
  • Afghanistan
  • Taiwan
  • Vietnam
  • Timelines

COLD WAR TAIPEI: URBANIZATION PRIOR TO 1945

November 15, 2010 by Lisa Reynolds Wolfe

Taipei Before the Cold War

Taipei’s historical development is particularly important because it eventually dictated the ethnic divisions which have characterized the city during the Cold War era.

While the original occupants of the Taipei basin are thought to be the Ping-pu tribe of Taiwan aborigines, this group eventually shared its territory with Chinese settlers from the mainland of China.

A brief period of Dutch rule from 1642-1662 created a stable environment which lured thousands of Chinese to the island. Over the next two centuries migration from the two mainland provinces closest to Taiwan–Fukien and Kwangtung–continued.

At times, the Ping-pu and the Chinese clashed. For example, development of the cash crop camphor precipitated conflicts between aborigines and Chinese, pushing the former deeper into the mountains.

The central government of China established the Taipei area as a separate prefecture in 1875.

Administrative offices were established in the area called the Inner City which eventually became the core of a modernized Taipei. The Chinese built a wall around this nucleus and surrounded it with a moat. Within the wall, streets were laid out in a strict grid pattern and land was set aside for the construction of the mandatory government buildings as well as a Confucian temple.

In 1885 the central government decided to make Taiwan a separate province with Taipei as its capital. The Inner City was designated as the administrative center and new residential areas were opened southeast of the core.

At this time, many building projects were undertaken, merchants from mainland China and other ‘foreign’ locations were attracted to the city, and the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States established consulates. Foreign interest diminished in 1895 when Taiwan was ceded to Japan under the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. This treaty ended the Sino-Japanese War of 1894.

After the Japanese takeover, immigration from the Chinese mainland was strictly limited to 10,000 seasonal workers per year, and the island underwent a fifty year period of development largely isolated from outside influences.

During the first three decades of foreign rule, Taiwan was seen as an agricultural colony whose job was to supply the Japanese with food, provide a market for the country’s industrial products, and provide additional living space for Japan’s crowded populace.

Most investment went into agricultural development and construction of associated transportation facilities. Modernization resulted in an almost doubling of the amount of arable land.

Eventually Japan was able to import 60 percent of its rice and 90 percent of its sugar from the colony. In fact, by 1938, Taiwan was second only to Cuba in sugar exports.

The Japanese government made concerted efforts to persuade Japanese farmers and fishermen to settle on the island. However, this attempt was largely unsuccessful and more than 95 percent of the active male immigrants from Japan were engaged in nonagricultural activities. Half of them were government officials and professionals, and about one third settled in Taipei city which remained the capital of Taiwan.

Since Japan’s emphasis was on rural Taiwan, urban growth was relatively slow.  Still the Japanese did begin large-scale building projects. These included the construction of new government buildings like the Foreign Ministry Guest House, the Presidential Office Building, the Central Post Office, the Central Railroad Station, the main campus of National Taiwan University and its hospital, and the Old City Hall.

Built in a “colonial” fashion which was inspired by Central European baroque and renaissance styles, all of these buildings remained in use throughout the Cold War period.

Infrastructure projects included a sewage system, flood control, and a highway improvement program which resulted in the destruction of the walls surrounding the Inner City. In fact, during the Japanese period, most of the oldest buildings (along with the walls) were torn down to build defense structures. Steel framed, brick faced buildings replaced the older Chinese style shop buildings which had been destroyed.

Also, almost immediately, Taipei’s boundary expanded to include two old market towns which had been outside the walled city, adding 47,000 residents to the city’s population.

At this time, Taipei became functionally specialized with certain areas of the city designated for specific services. For example, there was an entertainment district with brothels, a tea center, and an embryonic business district.

Now, too, segregated residential patterns became the norm.

Filed Under: Taiwan

About Lisa Reynolds Wolfe

Widely published, Lisa holds a Ph.D. in Politics from New York University and a Master of Science in Policy Analysis and Public Management from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Areas of particular interest and expertise include Cold War Studies, sustainable development, heritage, and the environment.

Follow Us On Twitter

Cold War Studies Follow

A Cold War historian, Lisa holds a Ph.D. in Politics from New York University and a MS in Policy Analysis and Public Management from SUNY Stony Brook.

Avatar
Avatar Cold War Studies @coldwarstudies ·
21h

Check out this article from @nytimes. Because I'm a subscriber, you can read it through this gift link without a subscription. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/opinion/sunday/knitting-fabric-michelle-obama.html?unlocked_article_code=1ew_IOkoQKL6pwCvaRQwqw7kaWYxQwBmX4RM8ZwtFdZYqpOghTnXUxbK7NmSwILpgVkTsehpl3Au4GhqUs1-dQP4onemJRdEVXYlONemCl8eqaGxUhfyGFeV0mwhRgrGJBllB6l7bc09s40JuyYDCn-Pzj_QRnzJRPcBVqRfaOwmRVceyoxIxg3hjSG4aJC0jFK7rVqZ3d-HPGkCAInMKNtJNaRye6_h-msXKJWjY1ipfpuF4gvQQjACg6r618EQKLx4kY3mXwdfk4DYZAbtqtAoHTE9btePy6OljFN7QC_ZDdcEA_0JCp2Cqwlnrht_EQUuLBsVhjEs-doVEvBw0WJ9hFHqwu9kVp9GTguk1Q&smid=tw-share

Reply on Twitter 1619318960922714113 Retweet on Twitter 1619318960922714113 Like on Twitter 1619318960922714113 Twitter 1619318960922714113
Avatar Cold War Studies @coldwarstudies ·
25 Jan

Cold War Nuclear Bunker Lures Tourists Worried About New Threats https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/world/canada/diefenbunker-museum-ottawa.html?smid=tw-share

Reply on Twitter 1618235296033943554 Retweet on Twitter 1618235296033943554 Like on Twitter 1618235296033943554 Twitter 1618235296033943554
Avatar Cold War Studies @coldwarstudies ·
13 Jan

UWS Has Grown More Than Any Manhattan Nabe Since Pandemic: Study https://patch.com/new-york/upper-west-side-nyc/uws-has-grown-more-any-manhattan-nabe-pandemic-study?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=share

Reply on Twitter 1613907759782858752 Retweet on Twitter 1613907759782858752 Like on Twitter 1613907759782858752 Twitter 1613907759782858752
Avatar Cold War Studies @coldwarstudies ·
13 Jan

In Captain America Cold War: Steve and Sam https://www.theworkprint.com/in-captain-america-cold-war-steve-and-sam/123

Reply on Twitter 1613905207896772608 Retweet on Twitter 1613905207896772608 Like on Twitter 1613905207896772608 Twitter 1613905207896772608
Load More

Affiliate Disclosure

Cold War Studies is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn a small commission by advertising and linking to amazon.com. You never pay more if you puchase your Amazon product from one of our links. Thanks for supporting Cold War Studies!

 

How Much Do You Know About the Cold War?

Want to find out how much you really know about the Cold War. Click here to take our quiz. 

 

Most Popular Posts

Cold War Fashion: The Early Years (1950s-1960s)

History of Colonization in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Precursor to Cold War Conflict

Cold War Chile

The Rise of Fast Fashion: Globalization and Waste

The Red Scare

10 Little Known Facts About the Peace Sign

Immigration to the US During the Cold War

The First Red Scare: A Timeline

Korean War Music

Cold War Argentina: The Dirty War

The Cold War: Decolonization and Conflict in the Third World

Check Out Our Red Scare White Paper

Read all about the Red Scare. Just click on the cover below.

Copyright © 2023 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in