The Story of the Fortifications: Taiwan's Walls in Qing Dynasty Documents and Images

Presented by Canjibu, Inspecting Censor for Taiwan
28 April 1725

The year 2025 marks the 300th anniversary of the construction of the “prefectural city” (modern-day Tainan). One of the historical records verifying Tainan’s birth year is a memorial (i.e., Palace Memorial on Wooden Palisade Construction around Taiwan City) submitted by Inspecting Censor Canjibu to Emperor Yongzheng in 1725. The memorial detailed efforts led by local civil and military officials to raise funds and coordinate construction, with support from local residents. The initial city wall was made of wooden palisades, extending over 2,000 zhang in circumference, supplemented by watchtowers and cannons for defense. Tall gate towers were constructed at each of the four main gates.

Presented by Dingzhang, Governor of Fujian
29 March 1763

With the expansion of governance and the establishment of new administrative divisions, five major strongholds were gradually set up across the western plains of Taiwan by the early 18th century. These strongholds included Taiwan Prefecture (Fuguo), Fengshan County, Zhuluo County, Changhua County, and Tamsui Prefecture. The walls of these strongholds were primarily constructed using bamboo stakes, wooden palisades, or rammed earth. In this memorial, Fujian Governor Ding Zhang noted: “Given the loose and sandy coastal soil, brick and stone walls cannot last long-term; hence, the walls of Taiwan Prefecture, Fengshan County, Zhuluo County, Changhua County were built using wooden palisades, thorny bamboo, or rammed earth, and are maintained as appropriate to ensure defense.”

From Chong xiu Tai jun ge jian zhu tu shuo [the Diagram Showing the Reconstruction of Various Structures in the Prefecture of Taiwan]
Qianlong reign (1736-1795), Qing Dynasty
Album leaf, colour on paper

Taiwan Prefecture was the most significant political, economic, and cultural center in Taiwan during the Qing dynasty. Renovations and Repairs for the Taiwan Command City Wall, the first color drawing in The Diagram Showing the Reconstruction of Various Structures in the Prefecture of Taiwan, depicts the prefecture’s overall appearance in the Qianlong era. Taiwan prefectural magistrate Jiang Yuanshu meticulously illustrated the map using an east-up, west-down orientation, showcasing the city in the mid-1770s encircled by bamboo stakes and wooden palisades in a formation described as “a half-moon sinking into the river,” with its western side open directly to the Taijiang inner sea. Recognizing the relative weakness of wooden palisades for defense, Jiang also added watchtowers and artillery batteries to strengthen defense.