TOPIC FOUR:

CITIZENS, SOCIETY AND TE STATE

CLAIRE O. DEL VALLE

BA POLSCI 4-1
ETHNIC CLEAVAGES
 Taiwan has many ethnic groups with the largest group being the Hoklo Han
Chinese with about 70% of the total population followed by the Hakka Han Chinese
who make up about 14% of the total population. These ethnic groups contribute to
the cultural diversity of Taiwan as well as in the economic, social and political
spheres. The interactions of these ethnic groups have led to the borrowing of cultural
practices, intermarriages, and growth or population decline of some of the groups
 Hoklo Han Chinese

The Hoklo Han Chinese migrated from

China to Taiwan in the 19th century before
the establishment of the Japanese rule.
The Hoklo people intermarried with the
native and adopted some of their customs
and assimilated some of the aboriginals.
The Hoklo people speak Hokkien dialect
which cannot be understood by speakers
of other Chinese dialects. The Hoklo Han
Chinese have adopted most of the religions
practiced in Taiwan as well as some cultural
aspects.
 Hakka Han Chinise

The Hakka are Han Chinese who originated from the Hakka-speaking provinces of China such
as Shanxi, Henan, and Hubei. The Hakka people make up about 14% of the total population of
Taiwan. The Hakka people migrated to other countries all over the world mainly due to social
unrests and invasions. During wars, they fled to Taiwan and settled there permanently. Most of the
Hakka’s today are recognized as leaders and military men mainly because, by the time of their
settlement, there was little land left for cultivation, so their primary emphasis was on education
and related careers.
 Mainland Chinese
The mainland Chinese are a group of people who migrated to Taiwan in the 1940s from mainland
China after Kuomintang lost the Chinese civil war in 1949. The migrants mainly consisted of soldiers,
merchants, bankers, and other people who feared communist rule. The mainland Chinese were
distinguished from the local Taiwanese people by the fact that their native land was not Taiwan. The
mainlanders make up 14% of the population due to immigration. The mainland Chinese controlled most
of the political and economic spheres in Taiwan until the 1970s. The Taiwan independence movement
weakened the dominance of the mainlanders giving the local Taiwanese a chance to rule the country.
 Aboriginal Taiwanese
The Taiwanese aboriginals’ population totals to 547,465 people. The aboriginals are found in the
mountainous terrain, narrow eastern plains and the Orchid Island in Taiwan. The aboriginals are the
indigenous inhabitants of Taiwan who have been assimilated into other communities through intermarriages.
The Taiwanese aboriginals are said to have ties with the Austronesian people of Philippines, Malaysia,
Madagascar, and Oceania. The aboriginals have lost a great deal of their cultural identity due to
intermarriages, cultural assimilation, and continued contact with colonizers and making some of their tribes
to become extinct while others face a threat of extinction.
RELIGIOUS CLEAVAGES
 Taoism

Taiwan (Republic of China) is one of the

Asian countries having the most vibrant
Taoism religion.
Taoism (including Chinese folks
religion) is the largest religion (in terms
of population) in Taiwan, with adherent
population of around 10 million (about
44% of the population in Taiwan).

Taoist temple in Taiwan

 Buddhism is the 2nd largest religion in Taiwan
with adherent population of 4.8 million (about 21%
of the population in Taiwan).The information was
extracted from Pew Research Center.
According to Republic of China Ministry of the
Interior Statistics 2016, Taiwan has a total of 11,936
Taoist / Buddhist Temples . Out of these temples,
there is a total of 9,589 Taoist temples (the highest
in the world) and 2,347 Buddhist temples.

Buddhism devotees are widespread in Taiwan,

worshipping and meditating in temples found on the
island.
 Protestants in Taiwan constitute a
religious minority of about 2.6% of the
population of total population or 595,254
people in number Protestantism was
introduced to Taiwan during the Dutch
colonial period.
Tthe Catholic Church in Taiwan is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under
the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. Between 1.5% and 2% of the
population of Taiwan are Catholic. The Church operates one university, the Fu
Jen Catholic University. The Catholicism was introduced to Taiwan during the
mission of Father Martinez and four Dominican priests in spreading the religion.

The Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, has a Christian minority,

making up about 4.5% of its population. Roughly half of Taiwan's Christians are
Catholic, and half Protestant.[
 Despite its minority status, Christianity has had a disproportionate influence on
the island's culture and development, as illustrated by such exemplary figures
as George Leslie Mackay (Presbyterian) and Nitobe Inazō (Methodist, later
Quaker).
Several Presidents have been at least nominal Christians, including the country's
founder Sun Yat-sen (Congregationalist), Chiang Kai-shek, and Chiang Ching-
kuo (both are Methodists) as well as Lee Teng-hui (Presbyterian). Former
president, Ma Ying-jeou, apparently received a Catholic baptism in his early
teens, but does not identify with the religion. At the same time,
the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan has been a key supporter of human rights
and the Democratic Progressiv Party, a stance opposed to many of the
politicians listed above.
 Islam
Islam is a slowly growing religion
in Taiwan and it represents about
0.3% of the population. There are
around 60,000 Muslims in Taiwan,
in which about 90% belong to
the Hui ethnic group. There are
also more than 180,000 foreign
Muslims working in Taiwan from
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and
the Philippines, as well as other
nationalities from more than 30
countries.
 Baha‘I faith

Faounded in Iran is
1844, baha’I is a small
percentage of the religion in
Taiwan. It believes that the
family is the foundation of
society and G-d has sent
meseengers, like Moses, to
fulfil his purpose.
I-Kuan Tao Hsuan-yuan Chiao
References:
 
https://www.quora.com/How-is-Taoism-in-Taiwan
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/ethnic-groups-of-taiwan.html