Most Taiwanese are descendants of both Han-Chinese (father side) and aborigine-Taiwanese (mother side). Due to hundred years of political and cultural domination of Han-Chinese, the Chinese elite in Taiwan and the Chinese in PRC have tried every effort to convince Taiwanese to forget about our blood line of the aborigine Taiwanese.
Taiwan's map has been presented in the past like a sweet potato, locating just outside of the China mainland. That was a China-centered Taiwanese map. On the other hand, when the Dutch came to Taiwan in the 17th century, Taiwan map looked like a whale in the Pacific ocean (see the attached). Ocean is part of the life of the aborigine Taiwanese. Even for the Han-Chinese who sailed through Taiwan strait, ocean is also part of their blood. If you don't believe it, just to witness how the Taiwanese celebrate birthday of the goddess Ma-Zu 媽祖. Why goddess Ma-Zu 媽祖 is so respected in Taiwan ? Because Ma-Zu 媽祖 is a goddess who protects Taiwanese safe returning from the sea voyage.
Taiwan's map has been presented in the past like a sweet potato, locating just outside of the China mainland. That was a China-centered Taiwanese map. On the other hand, when the Dutch came to Taiwan in the 17th century, Taiwan map looked like a whale in the Pacific ocean (see the attached). Ocean is part of the life of the aborigine Taiwanese. Even for the Han-Chinese who sailed through Taiwan strait, ocean is also part of their blood. If you don't believe it, just to witness how the Taiwanese celebrate birthday of the goddess Ma-Zu 媽祖. Why goddess Ma-Zu 媽祖 is so respected in Taiwan ? Because Ma-Zu 媽祖 is a goddess who protects Taiwanese safe returning from the sea voyage.
Readers, if you are a Taiwanese, believe in ourselves: Taiwan is a whale, not a sweat potato.
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