Qianlong reign (1736-1795), Qing dynasty
Due to the custom of the traditional Chinese society, it was rare for the lives of commoners to be documented in official records. However, the memorials in the National Palace Museum detail not only key national affairs and regional constructions but occasionally civilian testimonies, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of ordinary people at the time.
The Lin Shuangwen Rebellion was the largest civil uprising in Taiwan during the Qing dynasty, with its leader Lin Shuangwen (?-1788) becoming the primary target of the Qing court. In January 1788, Lin was captured at Laoquqi (present-day Qiding Village, Zhunan Township, Miaoli County) and taken to the capital for interrogation. This testimony, over a thousand characters long, provides a detailed account of Lin’s personal background, family members, the causes of the uprising, and his resistance efforts against the Qing. Facing relentless pursuits and defeats, Lin described how he first attempted to hide his family in Shuilishe while leading his followers from Huoyanshan to Jijipu, hoping to ambush and defeat the Qing forces in rugged terrain. However, this strategy ultimately failed as Qing troops fortified mountain passes and enlisted local highland Indigenous people familiar with the terrain. Lin recounted: “My parents, brothers, and family have all been captured. Every mountain pass is guarded by soldiers. As I fled north, Qing troops and Indigenous warriors ambushed me along the way, dispersing all my followers…” This testimony reveals Lin’s desperate predicament, the sorrow of his family’s capture, and the disintegration of his forces, offering a vivid portrayal of the mental and emotional toll of wartime chaos.