The Environmental Politics in Taiwan under Qing Ruling Period

My project is a study of Taiwan environmental history during Qing ruling period. Geographically, “Taiwan” is an important nexus in the strait and very close to the southeastern provinces of China. To investigate the ideas and environmental discourses in Qing Dynasty is the theme of my current research project sponsored by National Science Council. In this application of proposal for new term, I intend to continue the fundamental thought planned in the original project for two more years, and aim to focus on the subject of environmental politics from 1684 to 1895. I would divide Qing ruling period in Taiwan into two parts for discussion and comparison. The first stage is from 1684 to 1860 before the launch the so-called “Self-strength Movement.” The second part emphasizes the period after 1860 and ended it up in 1895 when Taiwan became Japanese colony. In order to analyze the development, characteristics, and changes of the environmental politics in Taiwan under the rule of Qing dynasty, I plan to survey the contents of the primary archives, local accounts of Taiwan, and contemporary works on the relating issues as well. In terms of research approach, this project will be conducted based on the concepts of environmental history and politics, and will adopt the method of the text-narration/analyses in two perspectives: geographic knowledge and environmental discourse. In addition to writing papers for academic journals each year, the project plans to compile and publish a Taiwan Environmental Chronology in Qing Ruling Period along with the ongoing research. I will interpret the situations of perpetuity and change in the evolution of environmental politics under Qing’s governance. The factors impacted the development of it in that period is crucial in my investigation. We understand that Qing authority had maintained a coherent policy in hydraulic issue consistently. On the other hand, the shaping of the environmental politics might have been affected by the following elements: geographic knowledge, societal security, national policy to search for wealth and power, and ethnic governing policy related to land uses. In my study, the reasons for the changes are also fundamental to show the main points of the history of environmental politics in Taiwan under Qing ruling period.

Project ID:PE10301-0178
External Project ID:NSC102-2410-H182-004-MY2