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The Parliament Petition

An academic exploration of the pivotal movement advocating for self-governance in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial era.

What was the Movement? ๐Ÿ‘‡ Discover its Impact ๐ŸŒŸ

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The Movement Defined

A Call for Autonomy

The Petition Movement for the Establishment of a Taiwanese Parliament, also known as the Taiwan Representative Assembly or Taiwan Parliament Petition League Movement, was a significant political campaign during the first half of the 20th century under Japanese rule in Taiwan. It represented a crucial shift in Taiwanese resistance, moving from armed uprisings to organized, modern political activism.

Core Objective

Initiated by the New People Society, an organization comprising Taiwanese students studying in Japan, the movement's primary goal was to petition the Japanese Imperial Diet. The objective was to advocate for the establishment of an autonomous parliament within Taiwan, thereby seeking to restore legislative authority to the Taiwanese people from the Japanese Governor-General's Office.

Advancing Constitutional Values

This movement was instrumental in fostering the development of the rule of law and promoting constitutional values in Taiwan. It demonstrated a sophisticated engagement with political processes, aiming to achieve self-governance through persistent petitioning and advocacy rather than direct confrontation.

Roots of the Movement

The Law 63 Repealing Movement

The intellectual groundwork for the petition movement can be traced back to 1918 and the "Law 63 Repealing Movement." At that time, figures like Lin Cheng-lu, a newspaper editor, argued that the authoritarian legal framework established by Law 63 undermined Taiwan's distinct identity and autonomy. He proposed redirecting the movement's focus towards establishing a Taiwanese parliament.

Shifting Strategy

This strategic pivot aimed to transition from merely challenging existing laws to actively proposing a new political structure. The idea was to shift legislative power from the colonial administration back to the people of Taiwan, aligning with principles of constitutional governance prevalent in Japan at the time.

Key Figures and Organizations

Lin Hsien-tang (Rin Kendล)

A central figure in the movement, Lin Hsien-tang was a prominent intellectual and political leader. He was instrumental in founding the League for the Establishment of a Formosan Parliament in 1923, providing leadership and organizational structure to the petition efforts.

New People Society

This organization, composed of Taiwanese students pursuing higher education in Japan, served as the initial catalyst for the movement. Their academic background and exposure to Japanese political discourse informed their advocacy for parliamentary representation.

Taiwanese Cultural Association

Founded to promote Taiwanese culture and consciousness, this association, closely linked with Lin Hsien-tang, provided a broader platform and support network for the political aspirations of the petition movement.

Taiwan Parliament Period Alliance

Established in preparation for the third petition drive, this alliance aimed to consolidate support. However, it faced suppression by the colonial authorities, leading to the "Incident of Security Maintenance," highlighting the challenges and risks involved in such political organizing.

Taiwanese People's Party

While not directly initiating the petition movement, the existence and eventual dissolution of this political party in 1931 were significant factors that contributed to the movement's eventual termination due to the loss of organized political support.

Chronology of Advocacy

Key Milestones

The movement spanned over a decade, marked by persistent efforts and evolving political landscapes:

  • 1918: The "Law 63 Repealing Movement" provides the conceptual basis for advocating parliamentary establishment.
  • 1921 (Jan 30): The first petition for a Taiwan Parliament is submitted to the Imperial Diet, marking the formal start of the movement.
  • 1923: Lin Hsien-tang founds the League for the Establishment of a Formosan Parliament.
  • Intervening Years: Multiple petitions are submitted, gaining support but also facing colonial resistance.
  • 1931: The dissolution of the Taiwanese People's Party weakens the broader political support structure.
  • 1934: The movement is officially terminated after 14 years and 15 petition submissions, without achieving its primary goal.
  • 1935: Limited local elections are introduced in Taiwan, representing a partial concession by the colonial government.

Legacy and Influence

Political Transformation

The movement fundamentally altered the nature of political resistance against Japanese rule. By shifting towards modern political activism and petitioning, it laid crucial groundwork for the development of democratic and constitutional values in Taiwan. It demonstrated the potential for organized political action within the colonial framework.

Influence on Governance

Although the ultimate goal of a fully autonomous parliament was not achieved during the petition phase, the sustained advocacy exerted significant pressure on the Japanese government. This pressure contributed to policy changes, notably the introduction of partial elections for local governance in 1935, marking a step towards limited self-administration.

Historical Significance

As the longest-running political movement during the Japanese colonial period, it stands as a testament to the resilience and evolving strategies of Taiwanese society in pursuit of greater political rights and representation. Its influence extended beyond immediate political gains, shaping the discourse on governance and rights for future generations.

Scholarly Foundations

Cited Works

The historical understanding of this movement is built upon rigorous academic research. The following sources provide foundational insights:

  • Chou, Ming (2006). "The First Roar of Local Autonomy in Taiwan - The Significance of the 'Taiwan Local Autonomy Alliance' Realizing Voting Elections." In Proceedings of the Academic Symposium on the Rise and Transformation of Democracy in Taiwan. Taiwan Provincial Consultative Council.
  • Hao, Zhidong (2010). Whither Taiwan and Mainland China: National Identity, the State and Intellectuals. Hong Kong University Press.
  • Nakano, Ryoko (2013). Beyond the Western Liberal Order: Yanaihara Tadao and Empire as Society. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • ๅ‘จๅฉ‰็ชˆ (1989). ๆ—ฅๆฒปๆ™‚ๆœŸ็š„ๅฐ็ฃ่ญฐๆœƒ่จญ็ฝฎ่ซ‹้ก˜้‹ๅ‹• [The Taiwan Parliament Establishment Petition Movement during the Japanese Occupation]. Taipei: Independence Evening Post Cultural Publishing Division.
  • Chen, Tsui-Lien (2003). "Beyond Resistance and Compliance: A Study of the Home Rule Movement in Taiwan under Japanese ruled." Taiwan Journal of Political Science (18). Department of Political Science, National Taiwan University.
  • Yu, Chung-Hsin (2002). ๆ—ฅๆฒปๆ™‚ๆœŸๅ…ญไธ‰ๆณ•ๅˆถๅฐๅฐ็ฃๆณ•ๆฒปๆ”ฟๆฒป็š„ๅฝฑ้Ÿฟ [The Impact of the 1936 Legal System in Taiwan during the Japanese occupation Period on the Rule of Law]. Graduate Institute of Nationalism Studies, National Taiwan Normal University.
  • The Police Bureau of the Office of the Governor-General, ed. (1989). ๅฐ็ฃ็คพๆœƒ้‹ๅ‹•ๅฒ [History of Social Movements in Taiwan (1913-1936)]. Translated by Wang, Nai-Hsin. Taipei: Creative Publishing.
  • Wakabayashi, Masahisa (2007). ๅฐ็ฃๆŠ—ๆ—ฅ้‹ๅ‹•ๅฒ็ ”็ฉถ [Research on the History of Anti-Japanese Movements in Taiwan]. Translated by The Taiwan History Japanese Historical Materials Reading Group. Taipei: Sower Publisher.
  • ้™ณ็ฟ ่“ฎ (2009-09-24). "ๅฐ็ฃ่ญฐๆœƒ่จญ็ฝฎ่ซ‹้ก˜้‹ๅ‹•". Taiwanpedia. ไธญ่ฏๆฐ‘ๅœ‹ๆ–‡ๅŒ–้ƒจ. Archived from the original on 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2015-04-17.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Petition Movement for the Establishment of a Taiwanese Parliament Wikipedia page

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This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date. The information presented here is a scholarly interpretation derived from historical sources and should be viewed within that academic context.

This is not professional historical or political advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for in-depth academic research or consultation with qualified historians or political scientists. Always consult primary sources and peer-reviewed academic literature for comprehensive understanding.

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