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Click to hear the National Anthem of ROC [Basic Background] [Geograpy & Climate] [Politics] [Anti-Independence] [Society] [Religion & Customs] [Language] [Life in Taipei]

ROC's current Territory (other off shore islands not included)

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Introduction

This page is intended to provide some useful information for those who do not know about Taiwan or eager to know about Taiwan. In either case, I hope this page would give you some ideas about Taiwan as a resident in the Global Village. If you have any additional ideas or information that you would like to share with me, or would make some suggestion toward my home page as a whole, please email to me at kohnman@oocities.com . Thank you.

Basic Background

To start off, I will tell some of the basic information about Taiwan. Taiwan is an island located about 100 miles off the coast of China. It was originally a province of China. However, in 1949, the communists seized Mainland China forcing the nationalists to retreat to Taiwan. From then on, Taiwan is also known as Free China. The leaders of Republic of China, (Free China) hoped someday that the communists will be driven out of China. Therefore, they start to build Taiwan as a military base for such purpose. However, their dreams were never accomplished, instead, their efforts turned Taiwan into a economic powerful country. This is also known as the Taiwan Miracle.
There is another interesting information about Taiwan's name. Despite Free China, Taiwan also has two other names, "Taiwan" (the one we call it) and "Formosa". Let's talk about "Taiwan" first. "Taiwan" means "terraced bay" to the mountain tribal people who originally lives in Taiwan. When the immigrants from China migrated to this island 3 hundreds years ago, they kept hearing the tribal people calling (the place where the Chinese landed) "Taiwan". Therefore, they assumed that the island is "Taiwan". Formosa, on the other hand, was called by the Portuguese sailors in the 1600s. It means "beautiful island". Therefore, there are still people referring Taiwan as Formosa when they try to beautimize Taiwan today.

Geography and Climate

Taiwan is a sub-tropical country that the warm climate is generally found most of the year. The Tropic of Cancer passes through Taiwan in the southern part. Therefore, snow is unusual to most the Taiwanese here. Suprisingly, there are some places up in the high mountains that do get cold eough to snow. Because the land is hot and humid, it is the best for growing rice and other farm products. The farmers in north can grow two crops of rice a year while three crops a year in the south. There are mostly mountains in the north part of Taiwan while plate farm land in the south.
Sometimes Taiwan may encounter Typhoone or earthquakes sometime in a year. Typhoons are very severe storms with powerful winds and heavy rains. Therefore, Taiwan always suffer great damage from typhoons and the floods that accompany them. Luckily, they only come during the summer and the beginning of the autume. Earthquakes, just like Japan and California, Taiwan can have earthquakes very easily.

Political Situation

The government of the Republic of China has some similarities to the government of the United States. The government is based on a Constitution and there is a President and Vice President. ROC has a National Assembly instead of a Congress and there are five branches of the government, legislative, executive, judicial, examination, and control. There are three major political parties and some other lesser known ones. The best party that control many resources of the country is the KMT, (Kuomintang), also known as the Nationalists. The second best party is DPP, (Democratic Progressive Party). And New Party. Well, from here I have to tell you that I am a partisan of New Party and I will interprete the three parties in MY WAY. Alright, let me give you detailed descriptions of the three parties. KMT is the oldest party in Chinese history. However, over the past 80 years, the whole party has turn from energetic and benevolent to decandent. However, such corruption was not the sole problem of KMT. The biggest trouble this party is facing is the infiltration of the independence idea. Because of President Lee, who is a total hypocratical Japanese renegade, he tries to lead KMT into an authoritarian that secretly seek the independence of Taiwan. Therefore please note President Lee's decieteful actions and not to be fooled by the media that support him. Beside KMT, the second most important political party is the DPP. DPP is a party that is known for seeking of the independence of Taiwan. They think that only with the total separation with China would benefit Taiwan. They are the ideal radical leftists. However, because they are too idealistic, these partisans often use extreme and violent ways to accomplish they goals or to express their feelings. As a result, they are also known for their anti-government and belligerent behaviors. The last party which is also the party that I personally support, is the New Party. New Party is a pretty "new" party. it was formed, I believe, only 5 years ago by only 7 members of the KMT legislators. The reason that they form such party is because their ideals to reform the Taiwan government. 5 years ago, ROC government was controled by weak and corrputive KMT officials (so is now) that the anarchist DPP members disturb the domestic tranquility. They thought there is a need to restore the proper social order and long lost Chinese culture. Unlike the KMT and DPP, New Party do not think that "Money" has to go with "Power" and anything has to go the "hard way", so they are peaceful fighters against the corruption and the violence in society. At that time, all the political critics believed that this party will not survive under the domination of KMT and DPP. However, over 5 years their support has raised from 5 percents to now 20 percent and is still steadyly growing. As people like me (well educated middle class) support this party, I believe Taiwan will be a better country.

Issue on the Independence of Taiwan

Mentioning the issue on the independence of Taiwan, I have to declare that I am against the independence of Taiwan. The reason is because it's not the right time and right place to do such thing. To me, Taiwan is only a part of territory that belongs to the ROC government. The whole China theoriatically belongs to ROC as well. Therefore, it is not reasonable for a government to be independent on it's territory (because it is already independent). To view this problem in a different spectrum, Taiwan does not have the ability to be indepedent "now". Right now, China has the biggest arm force in the Earth, therefore, if those DPP do some stupid move that really "incite" China's anger, the whole Taiwan will face an unendurable threat. Even if the ROC army defeat the Chinese army, Taiwan by that time will be destroyed to the ground. Thus, why can't we just wait a little longer. As the time passes, if the Red China is more democratic, we should reunite to form a perfect country. If the PRC government enervates this power, then we should proceed to be independent. However, since I consider myself as a Chinese, I do not support the independence of Taiwan. I believe ROC will take back, or I should say, reunite the Mainland China to free the Chinese people from Communism.

Taiwanese Society

Taiwanese People

Taiwan is a crowded island. Imagin 21 million people living on an island that's only 36,000 square km, including all the mountains and unlivable areas. If you do some serious calculations, you would find out that in some big cities like Taipei, the density of population averages over 1500 persons per square km! Therefore, if you travel on Taiwan, you will usually see people. Sometimes, even if you climb a mountain or hike far into the woods, you will still find a little farm village hidden in the jungle, or students on a picnic, or soldiers on maneuvers.
There are three major groups that live on the island of Taiwan. The first group is the Chinese that migrated to Taiwan 400 years ago to avoid the chaos and war in China. These people have their own dialect (Taiwanese) and customs. However, although they consider themselves as Taiwanese, they are still Chinese. The second largest group living in Taiwan is the Mainlanders that came over 40 years ago when the Nationalists fought the Communists. Because these people are often well educated and sometimes wealthy (despite the soldiers that came along), they efforts helped to shape the present country. The last group is the aborigines who have been living in Taiwan for more than thunsands of years. These people are like the Indians in American who face considerable problems. These three groups were living in harmony few decades ago. However, the DPP has been trying to emphasize that the Mainlanders are not truely Taiwanese but Chinese Pigs. You see, they believe Taiwanese are NOT Chinese (this most frustrates me!) . They declare that once Taiwan is independent they will kick all the Chinese Pigs out. The problem is that there are people like me who is half Taiwanese and half Chinese Pig...
Taiwanese are friendly and nice people. Most people who do not know about Taiwanese may think that they are just like those poor third world country people who have low education rate, and abuse the natural environment. Well, I am here to prove that Taiwanese are very kind and considerate. If you ever come to Taiwan, you will find that Taiwanese provides the foreigners with extra help and care. If you go to a grocery store without knowing even a Chinese word, you will find that the Chinese in the store, even the other customers will all be your aid to find the things you want to buy. Sometimes you will even get a discount. That's why there are more westerners coming to Taiwan for jobs now, or for vacation. Also, there are far less mental illness, alcoholism, social disturbances, and violent crimes in Taiwan compare to elsewhere.

Taiwanese Food

Chinese food is quite different from western food, and most foreigners have come to love many of the savory Chinese dishes. Rice is one of the main foods. It could be said that rice is to the Chinese what potaoes are to Americans. The Chinese prepare their rice dishes in what seems to be an endless variety. (I guess I will not go through all the details of the variety of the Chinese dishes...you should go to the nearest Chinese restaurant to explore and understand yourself!)

Religion and Customs

Religions in Taiwan

Most Chinese on Taiwan are Buddhists. Buddhist temples, shrines, and statues are found all over Taiwan; in Changhua, there is a 72-foot high statue of Buddha, and in Taichung there is an even taller statue of Milwofwo, the Happy Buddha. The oldest and best-known BUddhist temple in Taipei is Lungshan Temple, which is about 250 years old. "Lung-Shan" means Dragon Hill; the temple is always busy with worshippers and toursists. Chinese usually do not go to a group service, but rather go to the temple individually when they have a desire to do so. In Chinese temples, you will see statues and statuettes of other gods, goddesses and saints, and you will be impressed bye the elaborate roof carvings of animals and human figures. You will see incense being burned and paper money and food offerings being made for the gods. In addition to Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism are also important philosophies of Taiwan. Chinese are very tolerant about religion, and they see no difficulty in considering themselves to be Buddhist, Confucianist, Taoist, and even Christian, all at the same time! Other Chinese don't concern themselves too much with any religion. Generally, it is important for Chinese to pay respect to older people. Children must respect parents; wives must respect husbands; brothers and sisters must respect each other. This practice is called filial piety, and is part of the philosophy of Confucius, plus a blend of Buddhism, Taoism, and five thousand years of Chinese thought.

Weddings

Weddings in Taiwan are increasingly similar to those in western countries. Chinese brides now wear the same kind of wedding gown as the Americans, but the traditional color of red is still very apparent at Chinese weddings. Many Chinese wait until they are almost 30 years old before getting married. The man often will postpone marriage until they have completed their schooling, their military service, and are more sure of having a secure job.

Funerals

Funerals in Taiwan may seem odd to the westerners. For on thing, white, not black, is the color that is often seen at funerals. Also, some Taiwanese perfere to invite a lot of people to come to the funeral, so the family might sometimes pay people to attend even though they do not know the man who died. Fortunately, these cases occur less than before. Part of the funeral ceremony includes the burning of paper money and otherpaper objects, in the belief that the smoke will carry the real object up to heaven for the dead person to use. Families usually burn huge paper house, paper mercedes, paper servants, paper appliances for their loved ones.

Language

To make friends with the Chinese, you need to understand them better. ONe way to understand anyone is to learn our language, which is Mandarin. Chinese writing started thousands of years ago, and many of the early characters were pictographs. Written Chinese is the same all over China, even though there are many different spoken dialects, such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Fukien and Hakka. The writing of Chinese characters is called calligraphy and it is considered to be as much a form of art as would be the painting of portraits or landscapes.

Learn to Speak Chinese Now!
Mandarin Pronunciation	English Meaning	Chinese Character
Ni Hau	Hello	你好
Sye-Sye	Thank you	謝謝
Zai Jan	Good Bye	再見
Jung Gwo Ren	Chinese	中國人
Peng Yo	Friend	朋友

*You need to encode your browser with BIG5 code in order to see the Chinese character.

Life in Taipei

I have been living in Taipei for all my life. To me, Taipei is a City with different faces. A place where you can explore and have fun from dawn till dusk. I will show you by telling you one day of my life in Taipei.
Around 4 in the morning, the nearby chinese traditional markets would first come into life where the vendors prepare for the housewives to buy food and daily products around 7 in the morning. However, for me, I am still in my bed sleeping until 11 am. Then, I would wake up, go out (just forget about the dressing and blahs) have a little breakfast in a cozy and not-so-dirty soybean milk restaurant (well, not really a restaurant). Then, I would take bus 606 (Note that bus is the most convenient and cheap transportation in Taipei, you can get to ANYWHERE with bus, and it only costs 15 NT per ride) from Tienmu down to Kwan Hwai Market and look for the latest and cheapest computer products and games. After getting some CDs, I would take bus again down to Taipei Train Station. Ok now, this is a cool place, you can get lotta cheap books, CDs, and cheap but great stereo products in Chung Hwai Road (but be awared, don't get gypped!). After eating and getting what I want, I would take a cab (there are cabs everywhere in Taipei, and it's quite cheap) and meet up with my friends in Chung Siao East Road. This road is the most famous road in Taipei, coz it's got lotta malls, shops, restaurant, hot chicks, anything and everything! When I see my friends, it's already 3, we go straight to the nearby Cash Box KTV (if you come to Taiwan, and you know how to sing, you have to check out KTV!!!). Singing and messing around in the KTV until 8 is definetely NOT ENOUGH, but we go for the movies at Warner's Village (or to the night market). After the movie, it'd be 10. So, a good guy like me should now go home huh? Wrong, my gang now choose between Kiss, @live, Edge, TU and all those clubs and party until 2 in the morning. (NOTE: under the law, the clubs and pubs close at 3 in the morning) After the night's party, we would all be tired, so we would go to the nearby Tea shop (not really selling tea) and play cards, chat, and hang around (or to the bowling alley). After that it would be 4 in the morning. By then I'd be dead tired, but I can still manage to sing in KTV or have a breakfast in soybean milk rest. And take the morning bus home!

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中華民國萬歲!
Long live Republic of China!

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