A Complete Travelogue of Taiwan

池志征Jun 2024

3.1

Word count: 49K words
Chapters: 6

Summary

Written between 1892 and 1893 (Guangxu reign, years Renchun and Guisi) during the author's service as a private secretary in Taiwan, this travelogue was adapted from his diary. Two companion works from the same period survive: A Brief Account of Aboriginal Customs and Remnants of Taiwan Travels. The former records the customs of the indigenous peoples; the latter recounts life in the singing houses and dance halls of Tainan and Taipei. When the Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1894, the author fled hastily back to the mainland, and friends who saw the manuscript praised it highly.

Editor's review

This book was compiled by Chi Zhizheng, a late Qing literatus who served on the staff of officials, from his diary of 1892–1893 in Taiwan. Together with An Account of Aboriginal Customs and Taiwan Travel Snow-Goose Notes, it forms part of the author’s observations of Taiwan. It contains observations of Taiwanese social life at the time and preserves the author’s personal experience of the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War and his hurried return to the mainland, giving concrete expression to late Qing Taiwanese social conditions and the mentality of literati. Its value lies in supplementing official history with the details of a private diary; the writing is unadorned and carries the atmosphere of the age. Readers may note the shift in genre between travel record and diary, and the author’s traces across northern and southern Taiwan. Suitable for slow, attentive reading by those interested in Taiwan local history and late Qing travel literature, and as a reference among sources on modern Taiwanese history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Researchers interested in late Qing Taiwan local history and travel literature
Readers interested in late Qing literati travels and diary writing
General readers engaged in introductory reading on Taiwan’s history and culture

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a systematic general history of Taiwan or fieldwork materials
Readers who prefer light travel guides and contemporary travelogues

Reading tips

Read the preface or editorial notes first to understand the background of the book’s composition and the process of revision before entering the main text.
Read in the order of the author’s travels, marking place names and people as you go to help trace the route.
Read with the historical background around the First Sino-Japanese War in mind, noting changes in the author’s mood before and after his return to the mainland.
Read alongside similar late Qing travel records to compare perspectives and differences in style.

版权信息
自序
全台游记
观光日记
鲲瀛日记
台湾游记

FAQ

How is this book different from ordinary Taiwan travelogues?

It is not a travel guide in the modern sense. It was compiled by the author from his diary of serving on the staff in Taiwan during the Guangxu era and has the character of a private record and contemporary observations; it is closer to a late Qing literatus’s travel notes and should be read as both historical source and literary text.

Does the book record only famous scenic spots?

According to the materials, the author also wrote An Account of Aboriginal Customs, devoted to aboriginal customs, and Taiwan Travel Snow-Goose Notes, on the song halls and dance venues of Tainan and Taipei. This book is a travel record compiled from his diary, and its contents are not limited to scenic spots; readers should note the parts recording social life.

Can it be read without a foundation in late Qing history?

Yes, but it is advisable first to understand the background of the First Sino-Japanese War and the author’s hurried return to the mainland; otherwise one’s understanding of the book’s emotions and selections will suffer. The classical Chinese style also requires some reading patience.

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About the author

池志征 Author

Public information about Chi Zhizheng is limited; all that is currently known is that one work by this author, A Travelogue of Taiwan (Quan Tai Youji), survives, commonly classified under travel. Judging from the title, the book covers the whole of Taiwan and belongs to modern travel writing, likely recording the landscapes, towns, and impressions encountered on journeys around the island, combining the immediacy of a travel account with the documentary value of local observation. Because the author's native place, dates of birth and death, and identity are not clearly recorded, little can be said about his life, associations, or the circumstances of writing; readers can only infer his approach from the title and subject matter. As a travel text, A Travelogue of Taiwan may be useful to readers interested in Taiwan's geography and travel literature, and it also reminds researchers to pay attention to works that, though their authors remain obscure, preserve records of actual journeys.