The city was captured by Japanese colonizers on June 22, 1895, despite fierce resistance from local militias who made several attempts to reclaim it
Guardians of Hsinchu: A Look into the Roles of Hakka Residents in Taiwan's History
By Lo cool cat / Street scribe
Beware, take up arms!
Back on June 12, 1895, a chilling flyer hit the streets of Hsinchu:
"Taipei's a guest house for the Japanese savages, bringers of misery and despair. These invaders plan to tax our gardens, homes, very bodies - even the chickens, dogs, pigs, oh my! Their appearance leaves much to be desired; wild hair, bared teeth, tattoos, and bizarre attire. How in the blue hell can we submit to their rule?"
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Defiant f*ck, don't ya think? Dropped by civilian militia boss Wu Tang-hsing (吳湯興), it was a rallying cry for all Taipei rebels, half-hearted allies, and everybody against the new Japanese occupiers, who just days earlier had rolled through Taipei with little resistance.
Vice-president Chiu Feng-chia (丘逢甲) had made his way to China days before, President Tang Ching-sung (唐景崧) in his wake, while the Qing troops seemed more interested in raiding than resisting. The Japanese likely thought their southern stronghold, Tainan, would be a walk in the park. Boy, were they wrong ready for a bloodbath.
worked tirelessly to align local militia groups in the Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli areas, leading a glorious charge to take back what was theirs. They held strong at first, but alas, the Japanese showed their teeth and raw firepower.
Nevertheless, after seizing Hsinchu, the Japanese hadn't seen the last of these resilient tactics. The rebels’ leaders didn't give a rat's ass and kept trying over and over, regrouping and retreating further south.
Wu's Time to Shine
Born into a honored Miaoli family, Wu was a respected local figure, earning his stripes as a courageous, hot-blooded scrapper. When he learned that Tang and Chiu had created the Republic of Formosa to resist the Japanese occupation, he jumped at the chance to help out. Wu was tapped for the job of commander of Taiwan's civilian militias by Chiu's recommendation.
When Taipei fell, up and about two days later, Wu showed up in Hsinchu with 700 fighters, ready to kick some Japanese ass. As more and more locals joined their ranks, Wu's amassed force reckoned up over 10,000, with leaders like Chiang Shao-tzu (姜紹祖), Hsu Hsiang (徐驤), and Hu Chia-yu (胡嘉猷) by their side. Add Chiu's forces led by Chiu Kuo-lin (邱國霖) and Wu Chen-kuang (吳鎮洸), and the brilliance of battle-tested "Taiwanese braves" under the leadership of Lin Chao-tung (林朝棟), and holy sh*t, you've got a force to be reckoned with!
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Unfortunately, not all was going according to plan. As the Japanese gained ground, Tang and Chiu disappeared, leaving Wu with the task of leading an army that didn't stand a snowball's chance in hell without proper support.
The First Charge
Son of a gun, they took out the Qing braves who fled from Taipei, looters destroyed, over before they even knew what hit them. Pushin' further south, their unyielding spirit captured the attention of the main Japanese force, which had experienced little resistance in Taipei to Jhongli. Reaching the Touchong River in today's Yangmei District, it wasn't long before the Japanese witnessed the dire warnings on the streets - empty homes, barricaded doors, and flyers everywhere.
Wu established strong defense lines in Yangmei and Hukou, rousing his troops to take on the Japanese northbound army. In a bold move, his forces took the upper hand in the first encounter, even forcing the Japanese to retreat to Jhongli and Taoyuan after three bloody days of battle. Morale was on an all-time high, and the townships of Sansia and Longtan weren't left out of the celebration.
But the Japanese weren't about to let up, son of a jerk. Getting together over 1,000 troops led by colonel Shigeki Sakai, they took their time, gaining strength and support, chucking artillery at Wu's forces. Finally fucking breaking through Hsinchu's East Gate on June 22nd, the Japanese claimed victory with a heavy fist.
Time for Round Two
In the aftermath, Wu retreated to Miaoli to reorganize his forces. Giving Hsu and the militias from Pingzhen, Longtan, and Guanxi the green light, they disrupted Japanese comms and held the line when called upon. With reinforcements from Taipei's Lee Ching-sung (黎景崧) in hand, nothing could stop Wu from making another play for Hsinchu on June 25th.
Fighting tooth and nail for every inch of precious ground, the Miaoli forces almost reached the city's walls, but were repeatedly pushed back by that goddamned artillery. But they refused to give up, persisting through sacrifice and bloodshed.
Fights raged on in the region for almost a month, with the Japanese suffering heavy casualties in Sansia, Pingzhen, and other nearby areas. Yet, they remained strong, determined to crush the rebellion. The resistance's final stand came to a bloody end in mid-July, as starvation, executions, and burnt-out villages made life unlivable for any that dared stand against their occupiers.
The Buzz, a column bringing the heat about Taiwan's roughest and wildest shit, hits the streets every Sunday, showcasing the fascinating and often violent history that still shapes our island nation.
- The defiant flyer distributed by Wu Tang-hsing in June 1895, warning against Japanese colonizers, sparked political discussions and general news debates among the Taiwanese resistance, highlighting their opposition to the invasion and occupation.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts between the Japanese invaders and local militias in the Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli areas in 1895 were not just battles for land but also a struggle against foreign politics, as the Japanese aimed to assert their control over Taiwan.
