Colonial Interests
The Japanese colonial government impacted education in Taiwan through enforcing education policies which served colonial interests. Apart from serving colonial interests, some of these changes also had a positive impact on Taiwanese society, genuinely improving the daily lives of the colonized Taiwanese and the Japanese colonizers. Through education policies, the Japanese colonial government increased literacy in Japanese and improved health conditions to provide a safe colony for the Japanese to pursue their interests.
Through education policies, the Japanese colonial government increased literacy in Japanese in Taiwan. The Japanese colonial administration managed to triple the percentage of Taiwanese students attending common schools, sharply decreasing the popularity of Chinese schools at the same time.[1] By doing so, the Japanese government managed to facilitate the process of assimilation through education, furthering the gap between the Taiwanese and the Chinese. The increase in the number of students attending common schools also served colonial interests through acquainting the Taiwanese with Japanese customs and manners.[2] Furthermore, this increase in students attending common schools improved the lives of the Taiwanese, providing the Taiwanese with more career opportunities.
The Japanese colonial government improved health conditions through education policies. Upon arrival, Japanese authorities had noticed the poor public health conditions in Taiwan prior to their administration, and were determined to improve health conditions in order to ensure safety for their colonial enterprises.[3] In order to achieve their goal of combating disease, the Japanese administration founded a medical school in Taiwan and allowed the Taiwanese to obtain educations in medicine in Japan. The Japanese also introduced Western sciences to the Taiwanese common schools, which many Taiwanese held reservations about, complaining that these studies were replacing conventional literary refinement and moral virtues.[4] This change in curriculum proved to be beneficial to the Taiwanese, leading to a stark increase in the number of Taiwanese medical doctors. As a result of the Japanese government’s efforts, the number of Taiwanese physicians increased by sixty every year.[5] By the year 1931, over eighty percent of college educated Taiwanese had a medical degree.[6] These education policies implemented by the Japanese colonial government served colonial interests through providing a safe space for the Japanese to pursue their interests, improving the health of the Taiwanese at the same time.
Through education policies, the Japanese colonial government increased literacy in Japanese in Taiwan. The Japanese colonial administration managed to triple the percentage of Taiwanese students attending common schools, sharply decreasing the popularity of Chinese schools at the same time.[1] By doing so, the Japanese government managed to facilitate the process of assimilation through education, furthering the gap between the Taiwanese and the Chinese. The increase in the number of students attending common schools also served colonial interests through acquainting the Taiwanese with Japanese customs and manners.[2] Furthermore, this increase in students attending common schools improved the lives of the Taiwanese, providing the Taiwanese with more career opportunities.
The Japanese colonial government improved health conditions through education policies. Upon arrival, Japanese authorities had noticed the poor public health conditions in Taiwan prior to their administration, and were determined to improve health conditions in order to ensure safety for their colonial enterprises.[3] In order to achieve their goal of combating disease, the Japanese administration founded a medical school in Taiwan and allowed the Taiwanese to obtain educations in medicine in Japan. The Japanese also introduced Western sciences to the Taiwanese common schools, which many Taiwanese held reservations about, complaining that these studies were replacing conventional literary refinement and moral virtues.[4] This change in curriculum proved to be beneficial to the Taiwanese, leading to a stark increase in the number of Taiwanese medical doctors. As a result of the Japanese government’s efforts, the number of Taiwanese physicians increased by sixty every year.[5] By the year 1931, over eighty percent of college educated Taiwanese had a medical degree.[6] These education policies implemented by the Japanese colonial government served colonial interests through providing a safe space for the Japanese to pursue their interests, improving the health of the Taiwanese at the same time.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epLnwU6nN9U
This video shows a procession during the Lunar New Year during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan. The video was taken on February 15th, 1930.
This video shows a procession during the Lunar New Year during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan. The video was taken on February 15th, 1930.
Sources:
1. Tsurumi, Japanese Colonial, [620].
2. Ching-Chih Chen, "IMPACT OF JAPANESE COLONIAL RULE ON TAIWANESE ELITES," Journal of Asian History, [35], http://www.jstor.org/stable/41932016?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents.
3. Ibid [37]
4. Ibid
5. Ibid
6. Ibid [38]
1. Tsurumi, Japanese Colonial, [620].
2. Ching-Chih Chen, "IMPACT OF JAPANESE COLONIAL RULE ON TAIWANESE ELITES," Journal of Asian History, [35], http://www.jstor.org/stable/41932016?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents.
3. Ibid [37]
4. Ibid
5. Ibid
6. Ibid [38]