KMT ERA
After Japanese occupation in Taiwan was up-heaved with Japan's surrender in World War 2, China once again reclaimed the small island and integrated Taiwan under its name. Unwillingly, Taiwanese inhabitants were once again forced to exist under another nation's name. However, this disparity in identity would remain throughout foreign tenure, which would later lead to a collaborative Taiwan vying for independence in the late 20th century.
Introduction:
The KMT group, or Kuomintang, arose as a political party in mainland China, which conflicted with the other domineering party at the time - the Communist Party of China. After a hasty defeat in the civil war, KMT supporters under their leader, Chiang Kai Shek, fled to the only safe haven in the region - Taiwan, which acquired temporary independence from mandates through the Cairo Conference. Upon arrival, the KMT party, under Chiang Kai Shek, dissolved any hopes of an enduring independence as they instantiated strict military rule which restricted developing Taiwanese culture (especially after the 2/28 incident [2]). A sense of Chinese nationalism which rejected communist appeals, initiated by the KMT regime, largely confined a developing Taiwanese culture; however, beneath the dictatorship, the repressed Taiwanese culture continued to grow. Under the KMT occupancy, Taiwanese culture which grew from the Japanese era (during the doka era [1]), was immediately replaced by harsh laws that restricted language, writing, politics, and media. KMT rule enforced their control, by regarding any opposition of their laws as "communist actions", which characterized the paranoia and spy-mania of the time period. Likewise, culture during the KMT was very superficial and stripped down of its significance (and thus of any Japanese influence) as an indicator of adherence to KMT regulation. However, while cultural values diminished, the KMT era's strict regulation marked a period of increasing economic growth and industrialization, which consequently led to the Western movement later on in the 20th century.
The KMT group, or Kuomintang, arose as a political party in mainland China, which conflicted with the other domineering party at the time - the Communist Party of China. After a hasty defeat in the civil war, KMT supporters under their leader, Chiang Kai Shek, fled to the only safe haven in the region - Taiwan, which acquired temporary independence from mandates through the Cairo Conference. Upon arrival, the KMT party, under Chiang Kai Shek, dissolved any hopes of an enduring independence as they instantiated strict military rule which restricted developing Taiwanese culture (especially after the 2/28 incident [2]). A sense of Chinese nationalism which rejected communist appeals, initiated by the KMT regime, largely confined a developing Taiwanese culture; however, beneath the dictatorship, the repressed Taiwanese culture continued to grow. Under the KMT occupancy, Taiwanese culture which grew from the Japanese era (during the doka era [1]), was immediately replaced by harsh laws that restricted language, writing, politics, and media. KMT rule enforced their control, by regarding any opposition of their laws as "communist actions", which characterized the paranoia and spy-mania of the time period. Likewise, culture during the KMT was very superficial and stripped down of its significance (and thus of any Japanese influence) as an indicator of adherence to KMT regulation. However, while cultural values diminished, the KMT era's strict regulation marked a period of increasing economic growth and industrialization, which consequently led to the Western movement later on in the 20th century.
Language:
The language of Taiwan during the KMT era was dominated by Mandarin; however, many other dialects such as Taiyu and other local languages existed, but they were restricted in local settings. As Mandarin speakers consisted of the minority (because these speakers were from the small, original KMT group that migrated from the mainland to Taiwan), the government enforced strict regulation to allow the Mandarin speakers to assimilate into society, and retain upper class status. With schools teaching only in Mandarin, missionaries only allowed to preach in Mandarin, the media only speaking in Mandarin, the use of local dialects slowly deteriorated in the public sphere. Likewise, this led to the standard of professional business using Mandarin, and Mandarin as the universal, ubiquitous language of Taiwan. While Cantonese, Hunanese, Shanghainese all existed in private settings, because of their dormancy outside of the household, they slowly lost their value. People living in the KMT-dictated era were multilingual because they were forced to learn Mandarin, however, the use and prominence of their native languages decreased. Besides repressing independence and individuality, by negating the value of these dialects and advocating a national language, the KMT effectively created a uniformity and basis to single out resistance, which heightened their overall control over Taiwan's population.
Literature was dulled by the KMT era, but also subconsciously incorporated the fears and paranoia which classified the period. Because spoken language was strictly Mandarin, writing was also limited to the newly-imposed national language. Thus, early writers in the KMT era were the mainlanders themselves, who described their experiences with Nationalists and Communists, as well as their encounter with the Japanese. As more of the original Taiwanese began to write, Taiwan began to emerge into World War 2; the government utilized this time to further distort all writing, as poetry and literature became "well versified slogans" of propaganda. Writing was thus meant to provide morale to troops and conceal the cultural downfall and defeat in the war. However, writers could not conceal the sense of disease, dissatisfaction, and paranoia, which shone through their writings. While all literature was covered up by the veil of propaganda, writers harbored repressed feelings of discontent from KMT dictation, which erupted as a significant shift to individualism writing and creativity during the rise of Western influence.
The language of Taiwan during the KMT era was dominated by Mandarin; however, many other dialects such as Taiyu and other local languages existed, but they were restricted in local settings. As Mandarin speakers consisted of the minority (because these speakers were from the small, original KMT group that migrated from the mainland to Taiwan), the government enforced strict regulation to allow the Mandarin speakers to assimilate into society, and retain upper class status. With schools teaching only in Mandarin, missionaries only allowed to preach in Mandarin, the media only speaking in Mandarin, the use of local dialects slowly deteriorated in the public sphere. Likewise, this led to the standard of professional business using Mandarin, and Mandarin as the universal, ubiquitous language of Taiwan. While Cantonese, Hunanese, Shanghainese all existed in private settings, because of their dormancy outside of the household, they slowly lost their value. People living in the KMT-dictated era were multilingual because they were forced to learn Mandarin, however, the use and prominence of their native languages decreased. Besides repressing independence and individuality, by negating the value of these dialects and advocating a national language, the KMT effectively created a uniformity and basis to single out resistance, which heightened their overall control over Taiwan's population.
Literature was dulled by the KMT era, but also subconsciously incorporated the fears and paranoia which classified the period. Because spoken language was strictly Mandarin, writing was also limited to the newly-imposed national language. Thus, early writers in the KMT era were the mainlanders themselves, who described their experiences with Nationalists and Communists, as well as their encounter with the Japanese. As more of the original Taiwanese began to write, Taiwan began to emerge into World War 2; the government utilized this time to further distort all writing, as poetry and literature became "well versified slogans" of propaganda. Writing was thus meant to provide morale to troops and conceal the cultural downfall and defeat in the war. However, writers could not conceal the sense of disease, dissatisfaction, and paranoia, which shone through their writings. While all literature was covered up by the veil of propaganda, writers harbored repressed feelings of discontent from KMT dictation, which erupted as a significant shift to individualism writing and creativity during the rise of Western influence.
Politics and Media:
Politics and Media were closely intertwined, as media depicted the skewed propaganda that the KMT sought to instill into citizens. The influx of Chinese immigrants from the mainland to Taiwan aided the growing KMT power in politics, however, the incident that sparked the so called "White Terror" of KMT rule began on February 28, where anti-KMT uprisings resulted in a massacre of thousands of civilians. From that point on, resistance was greatly suppressed, and the KMT party enforced military rule over Taiwan. Media added to this conformity; all channels were government-run and aired predominantly in Mandarin, and media aided in downsizing the natives as part of a lower social class. History books, major streets, and films were rewritten to incorporate Taiwan as part of China's perspective. The KMT curtailed all links to the previous Taiwan (Japanese influenced), but rewriting the past and advocating a new standard which promoted mainland Chinese superiority.
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*Footnotes: [1]. doka*: period of time characterized to treat all people (races) alike proclaimed by Taiwanese Nationalists who were inspired by the Self-Determination of Nations by Japan (the colonial power).
[2]. 2/28 incident*: anti-KMT uprising which led to the onslaught of thousands of civilians in Taiwan, both native Taiwanese and KMT affiliates. This furthered the divergence in identity in Taiwan, and initiated the beginning of martial law on the island.
Politics and Media were closely intertwined, as media depicted the skewed propaganda that the KMT sought to instill into citizens. The influx of Chinese immigrants from the mainland to Taiwan aided the growing KMT power in politics, however, the incident that sparked the so called "White Terror" of KMT rule began on February 28, where anti-KMT uprisings resulted in a massacre of thousands of civilians. From that point on, resistance was greatly suppressed, and the KMT party enforced military rule over Taiwan. Media added to this conformity; all channels were government-run and aired predominantly in Mandarin, and media aided in downsizing the natives as part of a lower social class. History books, major streets, and films were rewritten to incorporate Taiwan as part of China's perspective. The KMT curtailed all links to the previous Taiwan (Japanese influenced), but rewriting the past and advocating a new standard which promoted mainland Chinese superiority.
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*Footnotes: [1]. doka*: period of time characterized to treat all people (races) alike proclaimed by Taiwanese Nationalists who were inspired by the Self-Determination of Nations by Japan (the colonial power).
[2]. 2/28 incident*: anti-KMT uprising which led to the onslaught of thousands of civilians in Taiwan, both native Taiwanese and KMT affiliates. This furthered the divergence in identity in Taiwan, and initiated the beginning of martial law on the island.