The History of Dadaocheng

2.1 The History of Dadaocheng

The Origin of the Name

 

Before Qing Dynasty, there are only a small number of Han people and Pingpu people lived in Dadaocheng. Dadaocheng was named because of the large tracts of empty land for drying rice (“TA “means large, “TAO"(means rice), “CHENG”, means the large tracts of empty land for drying rice). Over a period of time, owing to Dadaocheng area was close to the Tamsui River, the advantages and the convenience of the river have made Dadaocheng area developed rapidly. Therefore, Dadaocheng was also known as “Tao (means rice) Jiang (means river)".

 

History

Important Events

• 1851 AD: In order to escape the pirates, Mr. Lin Lantian migrated to Dadaocheng from Keelung. Mr. Lin Lantian opened three stores (located at: No. 154, Section 1 Tihua Street,Taipei ), which were the earliest shops in Dadaocheng area.

Fig.2: Fresco showing Dadaocheng’s early life

1853 AD: A fight between Up-Suburb people and Down-Suburb people happened in Wanhua. Up-Suburb people and Down- Suburb people were the two largest groups of the immigrants from Quanzhou, Fu-Jian Province .They immigrated to Dadaocheng during the Qing dynasty. Down-Suburb people were the immigrants from Tongan in Fu-Jian province, who lived in Ba-Jia-Zhuang (where is now located at the Old-Pine Elementary School area). The other group (Up-Suburb people) was here earlier, and they have more immigrants, who were from Jinjiang County, Hui-An County and Nan-An County, Quanzhou .Up-Suburb people were living on the “Old Street" and the Coast of Tamsui River. Down -Suburb people were mainly engaged in trading between Xiamen and Monga. And, due to the difference in beliefs and interests, Up-Suburb and Down-Suburb were in conflicts most of the time.

In the year of 1853, Up-Suburb people attacked Down-Suburb people and burned all their housing. After the fight, Down-Suburb people gave up Monga pier and escaped to Dadaocheng to restart their business. Fortunately, they were able to saved the statues of “Chenghuang" and “Matsu", which later, they built “Town God’s Temple" and “Tsz Shing” Temple to enshrine the statues in Dadaocheng.

 

Cultural Heritage of Famous People

 

Fig.3: The original site of Dr. Chiang’s “Tan-An” Hospital

Dadaocheng’s North Yenping road’s main developed area, which started from section 2 of North Yenping road, has couples of famous traces, including:

 

• “Penglai Ge”: A renowned and luxury restaurant, which was built by an oil baron “Dong-Mao Huang” in the Japanese Colonial Period.

Fig.4: The view of Tamsui River

“Tan-An” Hospital: It is now replaced by the “I-Mei” food corporation. The hospital was founded by Dr. Chiang Wei-Shui, who was seen as one of the most important characters in resistance movement against Japanese rule in Taiwan. He was born in Yilan in year 1891. After he graduated from Taiwan Medical College (now is the National Taiwan University College of Medicine) for a few years, he started to participate in the resistance movement and used the “Tan-An” Hospital as his stronghold. He was the founder of Taiwan Cultural Association, and the leader of Taiwanese People’s Party’s left-wing.

• “Di San Shi Jie Guan” Theater: Renamed as “Da Guang Ming” theater after Taiwan Restoration. The site was located at Lane. 61 of Section 2. Yanping North Road. It was built in the Japanese Colonial Period. However, the theater is now replaced by a residential building.

 

Fig.5: The aerial view of Di Hua Street

Dadocheng’s Regional Development

So where is the exact region of “Dadaocheng? Many People might not know, it is actually located near the Tamsui riverbank in Datong district, Taipei. Originally, Dadaocheng covered the area from Nan Street to Ducuo Street (now called Dihua Street), as the economic developed in the district, Dadaocheng expended west from Ducuo Street to Yibaoyu Street (close to Daqiao Tou area), and south from Nan Street to Liu Quan Zi Street (close to Nanjing West Road by the Tamsui riverside). During the Japanese Colonial Period, Liu Quan Zi Street was reconstructed to connect the Qianqiu Street, Jian Chang Street, and Zhongnan Street together. Later, Dadaocheng further extended to Yanping North Road and Jing Xiu Junior High School. In regards to the past region’s development, Dadaocheng now refers to the area from Northgate southernmost, Yibaoyu Street Northernmost, Tamsui river westernmost, and Chongquing North Road easternmost.