Specific descriptions and characteristics of Taiwanese indigenous peoples in the historical and ethnographic book Huang qing zhi gong tu

The research presented in this paper is relevant because of the growing interest in studying the history and ethnography of Mainland China and Taiwan, especially given strained relations between them, debates around their common ethnic roots, and an increasingly large number of Chinese studies suggesting that both countries have a common history. Some questions about the origins, everyday life and traditions of Taiwanese indigenous peoples can be answered by studying the Chinese historical and ethnographic woodblock book Illustrated Tributaries of the Qing Dynasty (Huang Qing zhi gong tu) dating back to the second half of the XVIII century. One of the volumes (juans) comprising this book tells about the indigenous peoples living in Taiwan at the time when Huang Qing zhi gong tu was compiled. The analysis of this source gives an idea of these peoples’ appearance, way of life and traditions; it also provides insight into Qing imperial court’s attitude towards the “eastern barbarians” (as Taiwanese inhabitants were called in China at that time). The essence of this attitude was clearly conveyed by the “civilized China - barbarian periphery” discourse, which represented the world model traditionally accepted in China. The author conducted a comprehensive analysis of Huang Qing zhi gong tu by studying its illustrations and accompanying texts, and correlating them to the Qing and Ming dynastys’ histories and other historical sources describing Taiwanese indigenous peoples, which were created before Illustrated Tributaries of the Qing Dynasty. The author also analyzed a number of geographical maps of Taiwan drawn throughout the Qing dynasty period, examined specific features of depicting Taiwanese indigenous population, translated previously untranslated descriptions of Taiwanese ethnic groups from the third juan of Huang Qing zhi gong tu, thoroughly examined them and provided relevant comments. One of the important aims of the paper is to draw attention of the scholars who study Taiwanese indigenous peoples to Huang Qing zhi gong tu as a valuable source of information on this subject.