| 30,000 B.C. to 5,000 B.C. |
What archaeologists refer to as the "Changpin cultural period" lasted in Taiwan from roughly 30,000 years ago to about 5,000 B.C. During this period, which continued in eastern Taiwan until approximately 3,000 B.C., people subsisted mainly by hunting and fishing. |
| 5,000 B.C. to 3,000 B.C. |
The "Coarse Corded Pottery culture," also known as the "Tapenkeng culture," flourished in western Taiwan from roughly 5,000 B.C. to 3,000 B.C. This was the first Neolithic culture in Taiwan, and it marked the beginning of primitive agriculture. Besides hunting, fishing, and gathering, the people of this period also grew taro and other subtropical fruits, vegetables, and seasonings. |
| 2,500 B.C. to the beginning of the Christian era |
Many different cultures came and went in northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan in the period from 2,500 B.C. to the beginning of the Christian era. According to Prof. Sung Wen-hsun, the ancestors of the modern aboriginal tribes may have arrived in Taiwan during this period, coming at different times and from different directions. The following is a general list of the various cultures that appeared throughout this period:
Northern Taiwan: the Yuanshan culture (divided into the earlier "Yuanshan period" and the later "Chihwuyuan period")
Central Taiwan: the earlier "Niumatou culture," middle "Yingpu culture," and later "Tachouyuan culture"
Southern Taiwan: the earlier "Niuchou culture" and the later "Tahu culture"
Eastern Taiwan: (the Hengchun area, the Coast Range, and the inland valley from Hualien to Taitung) during most of this period two cultures existed simultaneously; the "Megalithic culture," also known as the "Chilin culture," appeared around 2,000 B.C. and lasted to roughly the beginning of the Christian Era; the "Beinan culture" appeared around 2,000 B.C. and lasted until the first centuries of the Christian Era. |
| beginning of the Christian Era to 16th century |
The various regions of Taiwan gradually entered the Iron Age from around the beginning of the Christian Era until the appearance of the Han Chinese in the 16th century. The following are the names of the Iron Age cultures of Taiwan:
Northern Taiwan: Shihsanhang culture
Central Taiwan: Fantsaiyuan culture
Southern Taiwan: Niaosung culture
Eastern Taiwan: Ami culture |
230
2nd year of the Huanglong reign period (Wu dynasty) of the Three Kingdoms period |
Wu Sun commands Wei Wen and Zhu Ge to set sail for the lands of Yizhou and Shanzhou. Shanzhou is too far away to be reached, but the force lands on Yizhou and captures several thousand inhabitants (Yizhou refers to Taiwan). |
607
3rd year of the Daye reign period (Sui dynasty) |
Emperor Yang Di heeds the advice of naval commander He Man and sends a party led by Zhu Kuan and He Man to explore the land of Liuqiu. Because the party has difficulty communicating with the natives, they take a prisoner and return (Liuqiu refers to Taiwan). |
608
4th year of the Daye reign period (Sui dynasty) |
Emperor Yang Di again sends Zhu Kuan to Liuqiu. The inhabitants cannot be subdued. |
610
6th year of the Daye reign period (Sui dynasty) |
Emperor Yang Di orders an attack on Liuqiu with 10,000 men under Huben Chenling. |
615
11th year of the Daye reign period (Sui dynasty) |
30 people from the land of Yiqiu return to Japan (Yiqiutai refers to Taiwan and the Ryukyu islands) |
806
First year of the Yuanhe reign period (Tang dynasty) |
The successful examination candidate Shi Jianwu recites a poem mentioning Penghu. It is suspected that he moved to Penghu with his family (unconfirmed). |
