Taipei culture
Taipei has a mixture of many cultures from the multiple times it was conquered. Yet, it still practices old Chinese traditions. The Han Chinese fled to the mainland in a historic revolt that created Taiwan. There are fourteen dominant tribes in Taipei: Amis, Atayal, Bunun, Kavalan, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisyut, Sakizaya, Sediq, Thao, Truku, Tsou, and Yami. Some of these tribes' traditions like tribal festivals that honor hunting, fishing, and snake worship. Recent research suggests their ancestors may have been living in Taiwan for about 8,000 years. The culture of taipei is shaped from these remaining traces of colonization and indigenous ethnicities.
Most of Taipei's architecture and arts originate from traditions and knowledge of the Han Chinese. The best representation of such cultural influence is seen in the temple Longshan, or Dragon Mountain, in Taipei. The two most popular art expressions in Taipei are Taiwanese Opera and the puppet theater. The republic has undergone colonial rule many times in the past. Conquests by Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and Japanese have left marks on the island. Remnants of Japanese influence are still spread around Taipei. Significant buildings in modern Taiwan were built during the Japanese occupation.
The Taiwanese culture is a perfect combination of Confucianist Han Chinese, European, Japanese, American, and local traditions. The processes of imperialism and colonization have largely formed Taiwan’s culture. In 1895, before the Qing Empire ceded Taiwan to Japan, Taiwan Culture was shaped by Qing frontier societies of Han farmers and highland Aborigines. During KMT era, between 1960s and 1980s, the culture of Taiwan represented the contrasts between Taiwan and communist China. At that time the main focus was the traditional culture of China and involvement in social and community events.
Taiwan's history goes as far back as two, three, or even tens of thousands of years. The indigenous people who first came to Taiwan so long ago form the northernmost branch of the Austronesia culture group. Over the years, other tribes, especially flatland groups, increasingly came in contact with the Han Chinese, their daily lives becoming more and more integrated, and by now most have assimilated with the Chinese. The other tribes, however, have also managed to preserve some of their traditional customs, tribal structures and architecture, and continue to keep the tribal spirit alive through the practice of traditional worship.
Nevertheless, the Han Chinese who brought with them traditional customs from China and created new ones in Taiwan played the most important part in Taiwan’s cultural history. Whether they were southern Fujianese who immigrated over the centuries, the Chinese who came in the late 1940s, or Hakkas, they created their own cultures, traces of which can still be found all over Taiwan. In Taipei, for example, old cities, streets, and temples still stand from many years ago, while traces of wars, settlements and different cultures can even be found on offshore islands.
Most of Taipei's architecture and arts originate from traditions and knowledge of the Han Chinese. The best representation of such cultural influence is seen in the temple Longshan, or Dragon Mountain, in Taipei. The two most popular art expressions in Taipei are Taiwanese Opera and the puppet theater. The republic has undergone colonial rule many times in the past. Conquests by Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and Japanese have left marks on the island. Remnants of Japanese influence are still spread around Taipei. Significant buildings in modern Taiwan were built during the Japanese occupation.
The Taiwanese culture is a perfect combination of Confucianist Han Chinese, European, Japanese, American, and local traditions. The processes of imperialism and colonization have largely formed Taiwan’s culture. In 1895, before the Qing Empire ceded Taiwan to Japan, Taiwan Culture was shaped by Qing frontier societies of Han farmers and highland Aborigines. During KMT era, between 1960s and 1980s, the culture of Taiwan represented the contrasts between Taiwan and communist China. At that time the main focus was the traditional culture of China and involvement in social and community events.
Taiwan's history goes as far back as two, three, or even tens of thousands of years. The indigenous people who first came to Taiwan so long ago form the northernmost branch of the Austronesia culture group. Over the years, other tribes, especially flatland groups, increasingly came in contact with the Han Chinese, their daily lives becoming more and more integrated, and by now most have assimilated with the Chinese. The other tribes, however, have also managed to preserve some of their traditional customs, tribal structures and architecture, and continue to keep the tribal spirit alive through the practice of traditional worship.
Nevertheless, the Han Chinese who brought with them traditional customs from China and created new ones in Taiwan played the most important part in Taiwan’s cultural history. Whether they were southern Fujianese who immigrated over the centuries, the Chinese who came in the late 1940s, or Hakkas, they created their own cultures, traces of which can still be found all over Taiwan. In Taipei, for example, old cities, streets, and temples still stand from many years ago, while traces of wars, settlements and different cultures can even be found on offshore islands.