Cultivation in sanshia
In late Ming and Qing Dynasty, the Chinese immigrants that crossed the ocean to cultivate in Taiwan, took the boat along the Tamsui River and gradually moved upward to start cultivation in the upstream of Dahan River to form villages in sanshia area. To facilitate the water acquirement and convenient irrigation, the majority lived by the water. For that reason, the earliest development in sanshia started out from near the Heng River, sanshia River, and the Dahan River. Due to the limited space for living, people started to expand to the mountains.
With the enormous range of mountains，the ancestors in sanshia could go lumbering in the mountains, rattan picking, charcoal burning and along with farming. Woads (used for dying) produced in the nearby mountains and the clear water of sanshia River enable the cloth to be transported by Tamsui to establish the development for dying industries. Earlier days, most shops in sanshia Old Street based on cloth dying. Later on, the foreigners discovered that the mountain areas in sanshia were suitable for tea planting and there was a natural resource – camphor trees. People then started to plant tea and make camphor products. Cloth dying, tea and camphor were the most popular commodities.
In past sanshia. In the early sanshia, it was common for the boats to transport passengers and cargos.
Urban development
The majority for urban clusters with earlier establishment and development in Taiwan was located in the coast or places like estuary. Early sanshia has been known for its great advantage in navigation, medium or small boats could navigate the sanshia River. The wharf was right in front of the Tsaisu Temple at that time, however, the erosion from sanshia River bank has changed the exact location. Furthermore, the early cluster of this town was based on its geography. For example, during the early reign of the Qianlong emperor in the Qing Dynasty, Sanjiayong with its center on Tsushih Temple, joined the nearby lanes, streets and the buildings and developed along sanshia River to form clusters. By the early years of Jiaqing Emperor, Sanjiayong has extended its area to Hsiuchuan Street、changfu Street and areas along both sides of Mingchuan Street.
Mingchuan Street, originally known as Sanjiayong Street, was the market center in early sanshia. The majority for products of business transaction at the time were agricultural products of countryside and mountains in the vicinity. By the reigns of Jiaqing and Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty, industries gradually grew with prosperity and the rise of industry for cloth-dying has promoted the preliminary framework for the market. The streets and villages had to extend due to the continuous developments of mountain products and cash crops. The intersection of the weat Yuanshan (Kite Hill) and east Jhongpu River has reached an end and such a geographical limitation has caused the further development to cross Jhongpu River or move to the north of the street.
During the former Japanese occupation, there has been a corrective measure in urban areas. The old narrow and winding streets were broadened and straightened and the buildings of township offices and farmers’ associations of township were constructed. In addition, public facilities of post offices and public schools were also set up. Prior to Taiwan’s restoration, the Japanese has centralized an administrative culture and education district for all administration, cultural and educational facilities along the both sides of Jhongshan Road. As for the most prosperous business center in sanshia, it was along the market and Minsheng Street. The time has drawn a line from the old settlement of Hsiuchuan Village to Mingcyuan Street. Houses were highly concentrated and business was flourishing within the boundary formed and it was the early developed area in sanshia.
After Taiwan’s restoration, the removal of portable tracks and transfer of the traffic and the station for the township have caused the business status for the traditional cluster in sanshia to drop dramatically. The move out for shops has further deepened the isolation. The old street of red bricks in the cluster is an important asset of sanshia historical culture and it should be greatly valued and preserved by each one of us. |
