Tai Chao-chuen incident
Encyclopedia
The Tai Chao-chuen Incident was one of the three major rebellion
s in Taiwan
during Qing Dynasty
was rule. The rebellion lasted from 1862 to about 1865. The incident was caused by the suppression of the Tiandihui
by the government, and affected Central Taiwan
, spreading as far north as Dajia and as far south as Chiayi
. Although the rebellion was led by Tai Chao-chuen , many rich and powerful people from all over Taiwan, like Lin Ri-cheng and Hung Tsung, were also involved.
At this time, the Qing Dynasty
was facing the Taiping Rebellion
and therefore had little military force to spare to put down rebellion in Taiwan. In addition, many powerful local leaders participated in the rebellion, causing the Qing to initially rely on the militia of the Wufeng Lin and other clans. The rebellion was not brought under control until after the Qing had dispatched Ding Yuejian and Lin Wencha to suppress it in 1863, and did not end until 1865.
Once the Qing had succeeded, the Wufeng Lin clan emerged as the most powerful in central Taiwan. This would eventually lead to conflicts between the clan and the KMT government after the end of Japanese rule.
, Taichung
). At one point he was an assistant to the military governor of central and northern Taiwan，though he lost it after being blackmailed by a high-ranking official. He succeeded his elder brother Tai Wan-guei as the head of his clan, and its associated Lord of the Land Society and Eight Trigram Society. He expanded these societies and converted them into branches of the Tiandihui
while winning official approval by helping the government capture bandits, thereby expanding the power of the Tai clan.
Because of the rapid expansion of Tai Chao-chuen's power and rumors of his follower's lawlessness, the government decided to act against Tai Chao-chuen. On April 3, 1862, the Taiwan Military Director Kong Zhaoci arrived in Changhua, executed Hong Shi, the leader of the Eight Trigram Society, and then summoned former Changhua County magistrate and then-Tamsui Prefecture magistrate Qiu Yuejing to discuss mopping up anti-government forces. Consequently, Qiu Yuejin led 600 soldiers, in addition to supporting forces of 400 each led by Lin Dianguo and Lin Richeng, to destroy the Tiandihui. However, on April 15, just as the government forces were going to battle with several thousand members of Tiandihui at Dadun, Lin Richeng defected and killed Qiu Yuejian. Lin Dianguo, seeing that the situation was not favorable, retreated to Azhaowu Village (present-day Wufeng District, Taichung City.
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
s in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
during Qing Dynasty
Taiwan under Qing Dynasty rule
The Qing Dynasty ruled Taiwan from 1683 to 1895. The Qing court sent an army led by general Shi Lang and annexed Taiwan in 1683.-History:Qing Emperor Kangxi annexed Taiwan because he wanted to remove the remaining resistance forces against the Qing Dynasty...
was rule. The rebellion lasted from 1862 to about 1865. The incident was caused by the suppression of the Tiandihui
Tiandihui
The Tiandihui is a fraternal organization that originated in China. The Hongmen grouping is today more or less synonymous with the whole Tiandihui concept, although the title "Hongmen" is also claimed by some criminal groups.As the Tiandihui spread through different counties and provinces, it...
by the government, and affected Central Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, spreading as far north as Dajia and as far south as Chiayi
Chiayi
-Administration:-City attractions:*Chiayi Park*Sun Shooting Tower *Lantan *Historic Archives Building of Chiayi City*University of Chiayi*Chiayi Museum...
. Although the rebellion was led by Tai Chao-chuen , many rich and powerful people from all over Taiwan, like Lin Ri-cheng and Hung Tsung, were also involved.
At this time, the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
was facing the Taiping Rebellion
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who, having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty...
and therefore had little military force to spare to put down rebellion in Taiwan. In addition, many powerful local leaders participated in the rebellion, causing the Qing to initially rely on the militia of the Wufeng Lin and other clans. The rebellion was not brought under control until after the Qing had dispatched Ding Yuejian and Lin Wencha to suppress it in 1863, and did not end until 1865.
Once the Qing had succeeded, the Wufeng Lin clan emerged as the most powerful in central Taiwan. This would eventually lead to conflicts between the clan and the KMT government after the end of Japanese rule.
Origin
Tai Chao-chuen was originally a landowner in Sichangli (四張犁; ), Changhua (present-day Beitun DistrictBeitun District
Beitun District is the largest district of Taichung in Taiwan, the Republic of China. Located in the northern part of the city, it is a half mountainous, half urban area. Though Beitun District used to be considered part of the countryside, the new TaiYuan train station has urbanized it...
, Taichung
Taichung
-Demographics:Taichung’s population was an estimated 1,040,725 in August 2006. There are slightly more females in the city than males.24.32% of residents are children, while 16.63% are young people, 52.68% are middle-age, and 6.73% are elderly....
). At one point he was an assistant to the military governor of central and northern Taiwan，though he lost it after being blackmailed by a high-ranking official. He succeeded his elder brother Tai Wan-guei as the head of his clan, and its associated Lord of the Land Society and Eight Trigram Society. He expanded these societies and converted them into branches of the Tiandihui
Tiandihui
The Tiandihui is a fraternal organization that originated in China. The Hongmen grouping is today more or less synonymous with the whole Tiandihui concept, although the title "Hongmen" is also claimed by some criminal groups.As the Tiandihui spread through different counties and provinces, it...
while winning official approval by helping the government capture bandits, thereby expanding the power of the Tai clan.
Because of the rapid expansion of Tai Chao-chuen's power and rumors of his follower's lawlessness, the government decided to act against Tai Chao-chuen. On April 3, 1862, the Taiwan Military Director Kong Zhaoci arrived in Changhua, executed Hong Shi, the leader of the Eight Trigram Society, and then summoned former Changhua County magistrate and then-Tamsui Prefecture magistrate Qiu Yuejing to discuss mopping up anti-government forces. Consequently, Qiu Yuejin led 600 soldiers, in addition to supporting forces of 400 each led by Lin Dianguo and Lin Richeng, to destroy the Tiandihui. However, on April 15, just as the government forces were going to battle with several thousand members of Tiandihui at Dadun, Lin Richeng defected and killed Qiu Yuejian. Lin Dianguo, seeing that the situation was not favorable, retreated to Azhaowu Village (present-day Wufeng District, Taichung City.