YAN SHIQI – FOUNDER OF TAIWAN

Yan Shiqi’s style name was Zhen Quan (1589–1625 AD). He hailed from Fujian, Long Hai County. Since young, he had been an advocate of justice and was skilled in martial arts. When he killed someone to address an insult, he went on the run from the law and escaped to Japan, where he made underworld acquaintances. His growth in influence resulted in his appointment by the Japanese government to head the Chinese community. In 1624, his displeasure with the Tokugawa Shogunate Government led him to plot a rebellion. When his plot was exposed, he escaped by sea to the North Harbour of Taiwan, where he built ten colonies and taught the basics of agriculture to the natives.

People from Zhang Zhou and Quan Zhou, China, later migrated to Taiwan and settled down in Yan Cuo Liao, a region populated by the Yans. Yan Shi Qi is considered the founding father of Taiwan.