Figures
Those who shaped the isle
1589–1625
Yan Siqi
Pioneer of Taiwan
Rich on cloth and rice at Hirado, exiled after a failed plot, he sailed for Ponkan — where Han settlement begins.
Cornelis Reijersen
VOC Fleet Commander at Penghu
?–?
Nan Juyi
Governor of Fujian Who Drove the Dutch from Penghu
?–1644
Sonck
First Dutch East India Company Governor of Formosa
1590–1625
Pieter Nuyts
Governor of Formosa, Dutch East India Company
1598–1655
George Candidius
Dutch Reformed Missionary, First Sinologist of Formosa
1597–1647
Robertus Junius
Reformed Missionary at Sinkan
1606–1655
Hamada Yahyoe
Vermilion Seal Ship Merchant
?–?
Zheng Zhilong
Sea Lord of the South China Sea
1604–1661
Tagawa Matsu
Mother of Koxinga
1601–1646
Johan van Linga
VOC Officer on the Lamey and Pimaba Expeditions
?–?
Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera
Governor of the Philippines
1587–1660
Maarten Wesselingh
VOC Junior Merchant in the East
?–1641
Paulus Traudenius
Dutch Governor of Formosa
?–1643
Dika
Chief of Sinkan (Siraya)
?–?
Guo Huaiyi
Leader of the Han Chinese Uprising
?–1652
He Bin
Dutch East India Company Interpreter & Defector
?–?
Antonius Hambroek
Dutch Reformed Missionary, Martyr of Fort Zeelandia
1607–1661
Coyett
Last Dutch East India Company Governor of Formosa
1615–1687
1624–1662
Koxinga
Ming Loyalist General & Founder of Tungning
His father surrendered, his mother died by her own hand, and he fought on alone.
Wu Sangui
Prince of Pingxi & Leader of the Three Feudatories Revolt
1612–1678
Zhu Shugui
Ming Imperial Prince of Ningjing
1617–1683
Shi Lang
Qing Admiral
1621–1696
Liu Guoxuan
Admiral of the Tungning Navy
1629–1693
Chen Yonghua
Chief Administrator of Tungning
1634–1680
Zheng Jing
King of Tungning
1642–1681
Zheng Tai
Treasurer of the Zheng Maritime Regime
?–1663
Zhou Quanbin
Zheng Commander in the 1662 Crossing
?–?
Geng Jingzhong
Prince of Jingnan & Fujian Leader of the Three Feudatories Revolt
1644–1682
Kangxi Emperor
Emperor of the Qing Dynasty
1654–1722
Zheng Kezang
Regent & Designated Heir of Tungning
1664–1681
Zheng Keshuang
Last Prince of Yanping
1670–1707
Lady Dong
Principal Consort of Koxinga
?–1681
Camachat Aslamie
Paramount Chief of the Kingdom of Middag
?–?
Zheng Xi
Contender in the Succession of 1662
?–?
Feng Xifan
Minister & Architect of the Tungning Coup
?–?
1645–?
Yu Yonghe
Sulfur Collector · Travel Writer
He came for sulphur in 1697 and walked for three months. What he wrote is the island's earliest eyewitness account.
Wang Shijie
Founding Pioneer of Hsinchu
1661–1726
Chen Bin
Incorruptible Magistrate
1656–1718
Shi Shi-bang
Builder of the Babao Canal
1671–1743
Sun Yuanheng
Poet-Official · Author of Chikan Ji
1706 活躍
Zhu Yigui
Rebel Leader
1690–1722
Lan Dingyuan
Qing Military Adviser and Taiwan Governance Scholar
1680–1733
Lan Tingzhen
Qing Commander and Admiral of the Fujian Navy
1664–1729
Shi Shibiao
Admiral of the Fujian Navy
1667–1721
Gioro Manbao
Governor-General of Fujian and Zhejiang
1673–1725
Du Junying
Leader of the 1721 Uprising
1667–1721
Li Zhisan
First Chief Headman of the Liudui
?–?
Huang Shujing
First Inspector-General of Taiwan
1682–1758
Zhou Zhongxuan
Zhuluó Magistrate · Gazetteer Compiler
1671–1763
Zheng Yongxi
First Native-Born Taiwanese Jinshi
1788–1858
Zhimuliu
Saisiyat Chief
?–?
Pan Xianwen
Kavalan-Han Cultural Intermediary
?–?
Guo Xiliu
Builder of the Liugong Irrigation Canal
1701–1765
Lin Chengzu
Major Land Developer of Northern Taiwan
1699–1770
Zhang Dajing
Interpreter Between Han Settlers and the Anli Indigenous Society
1690–1773
Wu Feng
Interpreter Between Han and Tsou Indigenous Peoples
1699–1769
Yu Wenyi
Chief Compiler of the Taiwan Prefecture Gazetteer
1713–1782
Qianlong Emperor
Sixth Emperor of the Qing Dynasty
1711–1799
Lin Shuangwen
Rebel Leader
1756–1788
Fukang'an
Manchu General & Commander of the Lin Shuangwen Campaign
1754–1796
Zhuang Datian
Southern Commander of the Lin Shuangwen Rebellion
?–1788
Chen Zhouquan
Leader of the 1795 Changhua Uprising
?–1795
Cai Qian
Pirate King of the Black Ditch
1761–1809
Li Changgeng
Admiral of Zhejiang Who Hunted Cai Qian
1750–1807
Wu Sha
Pioneer of the Kavalan Plain
1731–1798
Wang Te-lu
Admiral of the Qing Navy
1770–1842
Yang Tingli
Qing Circuit Intendant, Founder of Kavalan Administration
1752–1832
Qiu Lianggong
Naval Commander Who Defeated Cai Qian
1769–1817
Lin Pinhou
Founder of the Banciao Lin Family
1766–1844
Zheng Chonghe
Pioneering Gentry Patriarch of Hsinchu
1768–1843
Cao Jin
Qing County Magistrate, Builder of Cao Gong Canal
1787–1849
Xu Zonggan
Scholar-Official and Circuit Intendant
1796–1866
Chen Weiying
Northern Taiwan Confucian Educator
1811–1869
Lin Zhanmei
Cultural Patron of Qianyuan Garden
1821–1868
Dai Chaochun
Rebel Leader
?–1864
Lin Wen-cha
Provincial Military Commander
1828–1864
Hong Tengyun
Merchant and Patron of Taipei City
1819–1899
Ding Richang
Fujian Governor and Modernization Advocate for Taiwan
1823–1882
Charles Le Gendre
American Consul and Foreign Adviser
1830–1899
Robert Swinhoe
British Consul and Naturalist
1836–1877
William Pickering
British Explorer and Customs Officer in Taiwan
1840–1907
Joseph B. Steere
American Naturalist · Taiwan Explorer
1842–1940
Carstairs Douglas
Compiler of the Amoy-English Dictionary
1830–1877
Tauketok
Chief of the Seqalu Confederation
?–1874
Arokus
Chief of Mudan Village, Paiwan
?–1874
Shen Baozhen
Imperial Commissioner
1820–1879
John Thomson
Pioneer Photographer of Taiwan
1837–1921
James L. Maxwell
First Western Medical Missionary in Taiwan
1836–1921
Hugh Ritchie
Presbyterian Missionary
1840–1879
Xia Xianlun
Advocate for Opening Eastern Taiwan
1829–1878
Pan Shengqing
Pingpu Official and Cultural Intermediary
1827–1886
George Leslie Mackay
Presbyterian Missionary
1844–1901
John Dodd
British Tea Pioneer of Northern Taiwan
1838–1907
Li Chunsheng
Tea Magnate of Dadaocheng & Modernization Patron of Northern Taiwan
1838–1924
William Campbell
Presbyterian Missionary and Pioneer of Blind Education
1841–1921
Thomas Barclay
Presbyterian Missionary
1849–1935
Wu Guangliang
General Who Opened the Central Mountain Trail
1833–1898
Wu Luanqi
Taichung Magnate · 1895 Resistance Leader
1833–1898
Shi Shijie
One of Taiwan's Last Imperial Jinshi · Remnant Poet
1855–1922
Liu Mingchuan
First Governor of Taiwan Province
1836–1896
Sun Kaihua
Commander at the Battle of Tamsui
1840–1893
Lin Chaodong
Commander of the Dongying Militia
1851–1904
Liu Ao
Qing Military Commander, Defender of Southern Taiwan
1829–1889
Lin Wei-yuan
Magnate of the Banqiao Lin Family
1838–1905
1841–1903
Tang Jingsong
First President of the Republic of Formosa
When the Qing ceded Taiwan, the gentry made him president of a republic. Ten days later he left Taipei.
Qiu Fengjia
Hakka Gentry and Volunteer Army Leader
1864–1912
Liu Yongfu
Black Flag General and Leader of the Southern Resistance
1837–1917
Wu Tangxing
Hakka Volunteer Leader of Miaoli
1860–1895
Hsu Hsiang
Hakka Volunteer Leader
1860–1895
Chiang Shao-tsu
Young Hakka Volunteer Leader of Beipu, Hsinchu
1876–1895
Lin Kungang
Tainan Volunteer Leader
1832–1895
Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa
Commander of the Imperial Guards Division
1847–1895
Kabayama Sukenori
First Governor-General of Taiwan
1837–1922
Ku Hsien-jung
Merchant and Colonial Collaborator
1866–1937
Chen Chung-ho
Sugar and Trade Magnate
1853–1930
Yen Yun-nien
Mining Magnate
1874–1923
Tanaka Chobei
Mining Entrepreneur
1834–1901
Ino Kanori
Anthropologist and Historian
1867–1925
Kodama Gentaro
Fourth Governor-General of Taiwan
1852–1906
Goto Shinpei
Chief of Home Affairs, Taiwan Governor-General's Office
1857–1929
Sakuma Samata
Fifth Governor-General of Taiwan
1844–1915
Hasegawa Kinsuke
Father of Taiwan's Railways
1855–1921
Hamano Yashiro
Father of Taiwan's Waterworks
1869–1932
Moriyama Matsunosuke
Architect of Government Buildings
1869–1949
Jian Dashi
Leader of Anti-Japanese Resistance in Northern Taiwan
1870–1900
Ke Tiehu
Guerrilla Leader of Iron Kingdom Mountain
1876–1900
Lin Xiaomao
Leader of Anti-Japanese Resistance in Southern Taiwan
1865–1902
Liao Tianding
Legendary Folk Bandit
1883–1909
Luo Fuxing
Leader of the Miaoli Uprising
1886–1914
Yu Qingfang
Leader of the Tapani Incident
1879–1915
Jiang Ding
Southern Field Commander of the Tapani Incident
1866–1916
Luo Jun
Central-Northern Coordinator of the Tapani Incident
1854–1915
Iso Eikichi
Father of Ponlai Rice
1886–1972
Hatta Yoichi
Father of the Chianan Irrigation System
1886–1942
Hatta Toyoki
Wife of Hatta Yoichi
1900–1945
Lin Hsien-tang
Father of the Taiwanese Parliament
1881–1956
Chiang Wei-shui
Physician & Anti-Colonial Activist
1890–1931
Lian Heng
Author of the General History of Taiwan
1878–1936
Lin Yu-chun
Poet of the Lo She and Parliamentary Petition Leader
1880–1939
Tsai Pei-huo
Managing Director of the Cultural Association
1889–1983
Wang Min-chuan
Left-Wing Leader of the Cultural Association
1889–1942
Lien Wen-ching
Left-Wing Leader of the Cultural Association
1894–1957
Mona Rudao
Seediq Chief & Resistance Leader
1882–1930
Tado Mona
Lead Warrior of the Mahebu Community
1901–1930
Mahung Mona
Survivor of the Wushe Incident
1908–1973
Hanaoka Ichiro
Seediq Policeman Educated in the Japanese System
1908–1930
Hanaoka Jiro
Seediq Policeman Educated in the Japanese System
1908–1930
Kamada Yahiko
Taiwan Army Commander Who Suppressed the Wushe Incident
1879–1948
Du Tsung-ming
Taiwan's First Doctor of Medicine
1893–1986
Huang Tu-shui
Sculptor
1895–1930
Chen Cheng-po
Painter & Civic Leader
1895–1947
Lai He
Father of Taiwanese New Literature
1894–1943
Yang Kui
Writer and Social Activist
1906–1985
Lu Heruo
Writer and Baritone
1914–1951
Yang Chian-ho
Reporter and Writer
1921–2011
Jiang Wenye
Composer
1910–1983
Chen Chin
Painter
1907–1998
Kuo Hsueh-hu
Painter, One of the Three Youths of the Taiten
1908–2012
Tsai A-hsin
Taiwan's First Female Physician
1899–1990
Li Ying-chang
Physician and Farmers' Movement Leader
1897–1954
Chien Chi
Founder of the Taiwan Farmers' Union
1903–1951
Kondo Hyotaro
Coach of the Kano Baseball Team
1888–1966
Wu Ming-chieh
Ace Pitcher of Kano
1911–1987
Kobayashi Seizo
Governor-General Who Drove Kominka
1877–1962
Hasegawa Kiyoshi
Wartime Mobilization Governor-General
1883–1970
Wu Zhuoliu
Novelist & Journalist
1900–1976
Teng Yu-hsien
Composer
1906–1944
Sayun
The Girl Behind the 'Bell of Sayun'
1921–1938
Suniuo
The Last Taiwanese Japanese Soldier to Return
1919–1979
Li Xianglan
Star of Wartime Propaganda Films
1920–2014
1880–1964
Douglas MacArthur
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers
His 1945 order handed Taiwan to Chiang's forces to receive. It never used the word sovereignty.
Ando Rikichi
Last Governor-General of Taiwan
1884–1946
Chen Yi
Chief Executive of Taiwan Province
1883–1950
Chiang Kai-shek
President of the Republic of China
1887–1975
Lin Mao-sheng
Taiwan's First Doctor of Philosophy
1887–1947
Chen Hsin
Financier & Economist
1893–1947
Wang Tien-teng
Key Leader of the 228 Settlement Committee
1901–1947
Tang Te-chang
Lawyer & Martyr of the 228 Incident
1907–1947
Hsieh Hsueh-hung
Communist Leader & 27 Brigade Commander
1901–1970
Huang Chin-tao
27 Brigade Frontline Commander at Wuniulan
1926–2014
Peng Meng-chi
Kaohsiung Fortress Commander & Army General
1908–1997
Chang Min-chih
Principal Executed After the Penghu July 13 Incident
?–1949
Kao I-sheng
Tsou Leader & Composer
1908–1954
Tang Shou-jen
Tsou Leader and Former Japanese Army Officer
1924–1954
Zhong Haodong
Principal of Keelung Middle School
1915–1950
Jiang Biyu
Nurse and Political Prisoner
1921–1995
Cai Xiaoqian
Secretary of the Taiwan Provincial Work Committee
1908–1982
Sun Li-jen
Army General
1900–1990
Kuo Ting-liang
Sun Li-jen's Officer in the 1955 Case
1921–1991
Fu Ssu-nien
NTU President & Historian
1896–1950
Hu Shih
Publisher of Free China and President of Academia Sinica
1891–1962
Lei Chen
Publisher of Free China Journal
1897–1979
Fu Cheng
Free China Editor and DPP Co-Founder
1927–1991
Li Wan-chu
Founder of the Kung Lun Pao
1901–1966
Kuo Yu-hsin
Yilan Provincial Assemblyman and Tangwai Pioneer
1908–1985
Yin Haiguang
Philosopher & Liberal Intellectual
1919–1969
Wei Ting-chao
Author of the Self-Salvation Declaration
1935–1999
Liao Wen-yi
Pioneer of the Overseas Taiwan Independence Movement
1910–1986
George H. Kerr
US Diplomat & Author of "Formosa Betrayed"
1911–1992
Ong Iok-tek
Linguist & Taiwan Independence Pioneer
1924–1985
Yin Chung-jung
Minister of Economic Affairs and Architect of the Exchange Reform
1903–1963
Li Kwoh-ting
Minister of Economic Affairs and of Finance
1910–2001
1910–1988
Chiang Ching-kuo
President of the Republic of China
He built the security apparatus first and lifted martial law last. The same man did both.
Yu Teng-fa
Southern Tangwai Pioneer & Catalyst of the Bridgehead Incident
1904–1989
Peng Ming-min
Scholar & First Direct-Election Candidate
1923–2022
Hsieh Tsung-min
Co-author of the Taiwan Self-Salvation Manifesto
1934–2019
Bo Yang
Writer & Political Prisoner
1920–2008
Huang Hsin-chieh
Democracy Activist & DPP Chairman
1928–1999
Kang Ning-hsiang
Parliamentary Tangwai Leader & Political-Magazine Founder
1938–
Yao Chia-wen
Kaohsiung Incident Prisoner & Writer
1938–
Chang Chun-hung
Tangwai Theorist & Kaohsiung Incident Prisoner
1938–
Lin I-hsiung
Democracy Movement Leader
1941–
Hsu Hsin-liang
Central to the Chungli Incident & DPP Chairman
1941–
Shih Ming-teh
Democracy Movement Leader
1941–2024
Lu Hsiu-lien
New-Feminism Pioneer & Kaohsiung Incident Prisoner
1944–
Chen Chu
Kaohsiung Incident Prisoner & Human-Rights Advocate
1950–
Chiang Peng-chien
Kaohsiung Incident Defense Lawyer & First DPP Chairman
1940–2000
Hsieh Chang-ting
Kaohsiung Incident Defense Lawyer and Premier
1946–
You Ching
Kaohsiung Incident Defense Lawyer and Taipei County Magistrate
1942–
Chen Wen-cheng
Mathematician & Democracy Martyr
1950–1981
Chen Chi-li
Bamboo Union Leader in the Henry Liu Murder
1943–2007
Chen Ding-nan
Magistrate of Yilan and Minister of Justice
1943–2006
Cheng Nan-jung
Freedom of Speech Martyr
1947–1989
Chan Yi-hua
Self-Immolated at Deng Nan-jung's Funeral
1957–1989
Hou Hsiao-hsien
Film Director, A City of Sadness
1947–
Lee Teng-hui
President of the Republic of China
1923–2020
Lee Huan
KMT Secretary-General and Premier
1917–2010
Lin Yang-kang
President of the Judicial Yuan and 1996 Presidential Candidate
1927–2013
Hau Pei-tsun
Chief of the General Staff and Premier
1919–2020
Lee Chen-yuan
Snake-Venom Scientist and Founder of the Article 100 Action Alliance
1915–2001
1917–2008
Wang Yung-ching
Founder of Formosa Plastics & "God of Management"
A tea farmer's son with a primary-school education. He began with a rice shop and built Taiwan's largest petrochemical group.
Hsu Wen-lung
Founder of Chi Mei Corporation & the Chimei Museum
1928–2023
Morris Chang
TSMC Founder & Semiconductor Pioneer
1931–
Stan Shih
Founder of Acer & Branding Theorist
1944–
Lee Yuan-tseh
Nobel Chemistry Laureate & President of Academia Sinica
1936–
Teresa Teng
Legendary Mandopop Singer
1953–1995
Ang Lee
Film Director & Two-Time Academy Award Winner
1954–
Wei Te-sheng
Film Director, Cape No. 7 and Seediq Bale
1968–
Chi Po-lin
Aerial Photographer & Director of "Beyond Beauty"
1964–2017
Chen Shu-chu
Philanthropist Vegetable Vendor & Time 100 Honoree
1950–
Lien Chan
Vice President & KMT Chairman
1936–
James Soong
Governor of Taiwan Province & PFP Chairman
1942–
Chen Shui-bian
President of the Republic of China
1950–
Ma Ying-jeou
President of the Republic of China
1950–
Tsai Ing-wen
President of the Republic of China
1956–
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
1940–
Audrey Tang
First Digital Minister & Civic-Tech Advocate
1981–