If history really is a “net with no seams”, what would be the best way to split and categorize them? Is the current structure created by historians, or is it at least based upon some markers that already existed between the historical incidents? How far back can we trace history? These are probably some common questions which are related to the beginning of history. When posterity look at the scope of history, how much of the truth can they really see? This seems like a difficult mission. When exploring the themes and events written by historians, we cannot just focus on the incidents per se. “An event” is an artificial concept, but the universe flows continuously and changes constantly. If events are history, we must understand that part of them still originated from human thought. What is “time”? Maybe we will never find the answer.
Before foreign political powers came to Taiwan during the Confederation era, Taiwan's indigenous peoples gradually established political structures that are similar to community alliances or confederations. These structures ruled over land and people, and members share governing rights. This type of political structure slowly spread out to the central, eastern and southern parts of Taiwan. Each system had various degrees of political power, and formed different relationships with foreign political powers that came throughout history. This issue presents important historical information on the Tjaquvuquvulj, the Seqalu people, and the Tatuturo Confederation. Readers can see how some of these kingdoms and peoples interacted or even warred with foreign ruling powers (the Netherlands, Spanish, Koxinga’s army, the armies from the Qing Dynasty, and the Japanese) back then. In Central Taiwan, there were kingdoms established by the Papora people, Babuza people, Pazeh people, Honya people, and the Taokas people. These are very important history records as well.
In this issue, we also cover some past history which has been mentioned before. We hope to build up the indigenous people’s history which was rarely mentioned in the past, and present this as an important database to our people and the public once again. Maybe other peoples also set up kingdom-like community organizations and operation models in the past. With sufficient time and effort, we can collect more comprehensive data and systematically unveil the mystery of the Confederation era.
Chairperson, Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation
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