This story appears in the September 2019 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine, Israel edition.
Between Past and Future
Photographs by Eddie Gerald
Various names for the island of Taiwan remain in use today, each derived from explorers or rulers during a particular historical period. The name Formosa dates from 1542 when Portuguese sailors sighted an uncharted island and noted it on their maps as Ilha Formosa ("beautiful island"). The name Formosa eventually "replaced all others in European literature" and remained in common use among English speakers into the 20th century. Use of the current Chinese name became official as early as 1684 with the establishment of Taiwan Prefecture. Through its rapid development the entire Formosan mainland eventually became known as "Taiwan".
During the 1950s and 1960s, after the government had withdrawn to Taiwan upon losing the Chinese Civil War, it was commonly referred to as "Nationalist China" to differentiate it from "Communist China". It was a member of the United Nations representing "China" until 1971, when it lost its seat to the People's Republic of China. Over subsequent decades, the Republic of China has become commonly known as "Taiwan", after the island that comprises 99% of the territory under its control. In some contexts, especially ROC government publications, the name is written as "Republic of China (Taiwan)", "Republic of China/Taiwan", or sometimes "Taiwan (ROC).
The image of Chiang Kai-shek displayed in an exhibit area documenting Chiang's life and career at the lower level of the main chamber of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei,Taiwan
A visitor at the exhibit area documenting Chiang's life and career at the lower level of the main chamber of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei,Taiwan
Life-sized mannequin illustrate soldier in combat position placed on the beach in the northwestern shore of Lieyu township on Lesser Kinmen Island in Taiwan just few miles from the port city of Xiamen in mainland China. Back in the 1950s, the islands were heavily shelled during the two Taiwan Strait Crises - military clashes between the PRC and ROC. The small islands were heavily fortified against bombardment and invasion, with barricades placed on beaches.
The image of Chiang Kai-shek displayed in an exhibit area documenting Chiang's life and career at the lower level of the main chamber of the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei,Taiwan