Lukang, Changhua

Lukang
鹿港鎮
Lugang
Urban township
Lukang Township
Coordinates: 24°03′N 120°26′E / 24.050°N 120.433°E / 24.050; 120.433Coordinates: 24°03′N 120°26′E / 24.050°N 120.433°E / 24.050; 120.433
Country Taiwan
County Changhua County
Government
 • Type Urban township
 • Mayor Huang Zhen-yan (DPP)
Population (February 2015)
 • Total 86,112
Website www.lukang.gov.tw
Lukang Township Office

Lukang[1] or Lugang, is an urban township in northwestern Changhua County, Taiwan. The township is on the west coast of Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait. The township's name came from the port's trade of deerskins during the Dutch period. Lukang was an important sea port in the 18th century and 19th century. It was the most populous city in central Taiwan until the early 20th century. In March 2012, it was named one of the Top 10 Small Tourist Towns by the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan.[2]

Name

The township's name came from the port's trade of deerskins during the Dutch period. Its old Taiwanese name was Lok-a-kang (Chinese: 鹿仔港; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lo̍k-á-káng) and its shortened version is seen in English texts and maps as variants such as "Lok-kang",[3] Lokang[4] and Lo-kiang.[5]

In 2011, the Ministry of Interior decided to keep the historical Wade-Giles spelling "Lukang" and abandon the change to the Pinyin spelling "Lugang" that had been gradually taking place since Taiwan switched to Pinyin in 2009.[6]

History

During the Qing Dynasty, the depth of Lukang's harbour and its proximity to Fujian province on mainland China made Lukang an important trading port. During Lukang's heyday from 1785 to 1845, Lukang's population reached 20,000.[7] Lukang was Taiwan's second largest city after current Tainan and was larger than Bangka (now a district of Taipei), then the island's third-largest city.

The subsequent silting of the harbour and the city's refusal to allow railroads to pass through the city led to losses in trade in commerce, which, in turn led to Lukang's decline relative to other cities, which were experiencing considerable urbanization and population growth. This same decline, however, averted the modernization processes that demolished historical buildings in Tainan and Taipei, leaving Lukang preserved as it was in its heyday.

During the period of Japanese rule, the city was Taiwan's fifth most populous city, with a population of 19,805 according to the December 1904 census.[8] The Hoklo people in the area were predominantly of Xiamen and Quanzhou origin,[9] thereby speaking the Quanzhou dialect of Hokkien. Nanguan music is highly popular in Lukang and originates from Quanzhou.

In 1920, Lukang was governed as Rokkō Town (鹿港街) under Shōka District of Taichū Prefecture.

Overview

There are still many old temples in Lukang, such as Longshan Temple and Matzu Temple. The city boasts over 200 temples dedicated to a wide variety of folk deities.[10] The town is also the origin of the terms ē-káng (下港) and téng-káng (頂港) used respectively to refer to southern Taiwan and northern Taiwan; the literal meanings of the terms are below the harbor and above the harbor.

The Yuzhenzhai (玉珍齋) cakes are famous local specialties, as well as Lukang's Ox Tongue Cakes (牛舌餅) and oyster pancakes. It will host the 2012 Taiwan Lantern Festival, beating out six other contenders.[11]

Lukang encompasses 39.46 square kilometres (15.24 sq mi) and a population of 86,779, including 44,115 males and 42,664 females as of January 2017.[12]

Administrative divisions

The township comprises 29 villages, which are Dayou, Zhongxing, Luojin, Shunxing, Pulun, Xingong, Yushun, Tungshi, Guocuo, Yongan, Jingfu, Taixing, Zhangxing, Xinghua, Longshan, Caiyuan, Jiewei, Zhaoan, Haipu, Yangcuo, Caozhong, Tounan, Shanlun, Dingpan, Toulun, Gouqi, Liaocuo, Tungqi and Dingcuo.

Infrastructure

Tourist attractions

Notable natives

References

  1. ↑ 臺灣地區鄉鎮市區級以上行政區域名稱中英對照表 Glossary of Names for Administrative Divisions. Ministry of the Interior. 26 March Minguo 104 (2015). Retrieved 30 September 2017. (in Chinese)
  2. ↑ Wong, Maggie Hiufu (30 March 2012). "Taiwan names its 10 top small tourist towns". CNN Go. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  3. ↑ Campbell (1896), map.
  4. ↑ Davidson (1903).
  5. ↑ Davidson (1903), map.
  6. ↑ Liu, M. (2011). 鹿港譯名恢復Lukang.United Daily News, retrieved at 28 June 2011.
  7. ↑ DeGlopper (1995), pp. 78–79.
  8. ↑ Takekoshi, Yosaburō (1907). "Chapter XIII: Population and future development of the island resources". Japanese rule in Formosa. London, New York, Bombay and Calcutta: Longmans, Green, and co. p. 200. OCLC 753129. OL 6986981M.
  9. ↑ Davidson (1903), p. 591.
  10. ↑ "Historic town of Lukang boasts over 200 temples". China Post. CNA. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  11. ↑ "Lugang unveiled as host of 2012 Taiwan Lantern Festival". Taiwan Today. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  12. ↑ 統計資料 | 一月 | 表四 [Statistics|January|Table 4]. accounting.chcg.gov.tw (in Chinese). Changhua County Government. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.

Bibliography

  • Campbell, William (1896). "The island of Formosa: Its past and future". Scottish Geographical Magazine. 12 (8): 385–399. doi:10.1080/00369229608732903.
  • Davidson, James W. (1903). The Island of Formosa, Past and Present : history, people, resources, and commercial prospects : tea, camphor, sugar, gold, coal, sulphur, economical plants, and other productions. London and New York: Macmillan & co. OL 6931635M.
  • DeGlopper, Donald R. (1995). Lukang: Commerce and Community in a Chinese City. Albany: State University of New York Press, Albany.
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