Browsing: John Ross

On the question of what to do with the newly conquered territory, the Kangxi emperor is reported to have told his officials: “Taiwan is no bigger than a ball of mud. We gain nothing by possessing it, and it would be no loss if we did not acquire it.” He favored abandoning Taiwan (after repatriating all the Chinese). Keeping the island would be an economic burden, a needless expenditure for what was considered a wild land of tattooed cannibals, dangerous terrain, and disease. Kangxi had – as did his predecessors – a continental mentality; his eyes were on expansion into Central Asia, not turned toward maritime horizons.

The Kaohsiung Times continues its serialization of John Ross’s Taiwan in 100 Books with the second half of Chapter Two, which examines the end of Dutch rule on Formosa.

We continue with our serialization of Taiwan in 100 Books and find out what became of George Psalmanazar, a young Frenchman claiming to be a native of Formosa. He was the author of An Historical and Geographical Description of Formosa (1704), one of history’s greatest literary hoaxes.

Next week we will continue the Psalmanazar story, covering how his Formosan claims were challenged and how he defended himself. Our French conman had some very cunning explanations to rebut his challengers, and also the confidence that came from an increasing intake of drugs.