Hidden among the hiking trails of Taroko National Park in east Taiwan lies a powerful tribute: the Taroko Battle Monument 🏞️✨
Designed by a Truku artisan, the monument’s eye-shaped top and 22 spherical pillars symbolize the unity of the 22 Truku tribes who joined forces in 1914. At its base, a marble board records stories of courage and sacrifice.
From June 10 to July 30, 1914, about 2,350 residents of Taiwan’s Truku tribes armed with arrows, spears and machetes held off a Japanese force of nearly 21,000. Using guerrilla tactics—luring troops into forests, setting traps and striking like skilled archers—they inflicted 122 fatalities and wounded 254, including then Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan Sakuma Samata, who later died from his wounds.
Despite their bravery, most Truku fighters fell under advanced weaponry. To honor these heroes, the community built the Taroko Battle Monument in 2014, ensuring their legacy lives on and reminding us never to forget this chapter of Taiwan’s history.
Whether you’re a history buff, culture explorer or nature lover, the Taroko Battle Monument is a must-visit spot that connects you to the island of Taiwan’s resilient spirit. 🌿💪
Reference(s):
Taroko Monument honors Taiwan's resistance against Japanese aggression
cgtn.com
