History in Focus: Taiwan in the early 20th Century

Taiwan is an island state situated in East Asia and for the much of the early half of the 20th century, the island was controlled by Japan. Following the end of World War II, the island eventually came into the control of China (though officially, the details are murky, with Japan still exercising sovereignty over the island until 1952. See here). As a result of the Communist takeover of mainland China, the previous government relocated to Taipei in Taiwan and continue to stay there since.

During the latter half of the 20th century, Taiwan has experienced rapid economic growth and industrialization and is now an advanced industrial economy.

 In the 1980s and early 1990s, Taiwan evolved into a multi-party democracy with universal suffrage. Taiwan is one of the Four Asian Tigers and a member of the WTO and APEC. The 19th-largest economy in the world,its advanced technology industry plays a key role in the global economy.

 Taiwan is ranked highly in terms of freedom of the press, health care, public education, economic freedom, and human development.

Here are some photos from TaiPics.com, which is an archive of over 7000 historical Taiwan pictures collected and organized by taipeimarc, an American expat in Taiwan. All images are believed to be in the public domain. I recommend you visit the website!

Overview of Taipei, Taiwan's capital, in the early 20th century

School session in Japanese-held Taiwan, prior to 1945

The Governor General's house and East Gate , circa 1920s.

School gathering

Farmers working

1945 bombing of Taipei

Taipai in the early 20th century

Taiwanese farmers on the field. Date unknown

Girls' school in Taiwan

Aborigines of Taiwan (historically called Formosa). Date unknown

Missionary school, date unknown.

Rice planting. Workers often worked till sunset. Date unknown

Opium den in Taiwan

Sugar manufacturing factory and plantation. The site is now a museum.

Sugarcane farming. Date unknown

Sugar bags from the 1940s.

Sun Moon Lake.

Aborigines canoeing in the Sun Moon Lake.

Unknown building in Taipai