Beyond the Forts: Re-examining the Proto-historic Landscape of Taiwan within East Asian Maritime Networks (1550–1620)

LIU Yi-chang

Traditional historical study often associates Taiwan’s integration into global trading networks with the Dutch arrival in 1624. However, extensive archaeological investigations since the 1990s reveal a sophisticated formative phase of maritime interaction that significantly predates the colonial period. This study synthesizes long-term research on imported ceramics to reconstruct Taiwan’s proto-historic landscape, arguing that the island’s role in the "Age of Commerce" began as early as the mid-16th century. This presentation examines the critical transition period (1550–1620) following the maritime shifts of the Ming Dynasty. Archaeological evidence from several coastal regions- including the Tamsui River estuary, the Choshui alluvial fan, and the Tainan plains have revealed a substantial finding of Chinese trade ceramics, notably Zhangzhou (Swatow) wares. These assemblages show high consistency with the San Isidro and Nan'ao No. 1 shipwrecks, suggesting that indigenous communities were already active in East Asian networks involving Fujianese and Japanese merchants well before the 1620s. Furthermore, this study discusses the emergence of "Pecan" (North Harbor) around 1550 as a pivotal maritime post and meeting point for trade. The data also imply that during this era, Taiwan occupied a strategic position where indigenous groups established exchange relationships with foreign traders. This interaction led to a transformation of local socio-economic structures, as traditional Austronesian exchange systems were gradually transformed into Chinese trade patterns. This research demonstrates that the 17th century colonial era was the culmination of dynamic proto-historic development influenced by 16th century maritime dynamics.