Early history Before the arrival of
Han Chinese to Nantou, the
Atayal,
Bunun and
Tsou tribes were distributed throughout the northern and central Nantou. These groups pioneered the early development of mountain regions in Nantou. The name derives from the
Hoanya Taiwanese aboriginal word
Ramtau.
Kingdom of Tungning In 1677, Lin Yi (), a general under the command of
Koxinga, led soldiers to establish residence in '''' (modern-day
Zhushan). The
Han Chinese began to enter Nantou via two main routes, the
Zhuoshui River and
Maoluo River. However, actual control was limited, with
indigenous populations in the area remaining largely isolated. In 1740, Qing authorities assigned the indigenous people the surname
Pan. Contact between these people and
Han Chinese settlers often resulted in violence. Stone border markers may have been in place as early as 1713. In 1744, Qing authorities banned Han land claims in indigenous land, and in 1752 set out formal border markers which Han Chinese were not allowed to pass. Detailed mapping in 1790 led to further demarcation. moved into the Puli Basin The Puli basin became an important area for indigenous peoples. In 1814, a group of over 100 Han Chinese led by Guo Bainian massacred indigenous people living in the Puli basin. Around 3,000 settlement contracts are known from the Puli basin. From 1850 to 1874, there are three recorded official movements of Thao people from other areas to Sun Moon Lake, and new settlements were established. In 1848, the local government began to more actively develop the area. Water infrastructure was developed to improve agriculture, and a small number of Han settlers began to enter the area. The ban on Han settlement was removed in 1874. Those who were not given last names under Qing rule were given last names by the Japanese authorities. The construction of the Mingtan Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant also saw the construction of the
Jiji line. Finished in 1922, this line significant enhanced the capacity of goods transport between the interior and the coast. Economic growth occurred along the line. The Jiji line and a sugar line both had a western terminus at
Ershui railway station, and ran parallel until
Zhuoshui railway station. From there, the sugar line went north towards
Nantou City, while the Jiji line continued east into the interior. Banana exporting peaked in 1930. This wood was also exported, with a
torii at Tokyo's
Meiji Shrine being built with wood from Danda. Checheng's forestry sector significantly expanded.
Republic of China After the
handover of Taiwan from Japan to the
Republic of China on 25 October 1945, the present day area of Nantou County was administered under
Taichung County of
Taiwan Province. Settlements in what became the county were affected by the
February 28 incident.
Nantou County was established by its separation from Taichung County, and
Nantou Township was designed as the
county seat. The
Nantou County Government was created on 21 October, with the first elections taking place the next year. Taichung continued to provide Prosecutors Office service, although this office opened a branch in Nantou County in 1982. An independent Nantou Prosecutors Office was only set up on 1 July 1994. On 1 July 1957, the
Zhongxing New Village in Nantou Township was designated as the capital of
Taiwan Province, replacing the former capital
Taipei. It remained the capital until the province was reorganized in 1997. Railway tourists brought a new economic lease of life to the declining towns along the railway. The Thao community organized to assist in reconstruction, and also pushed for reconstruction to be done in a way that restored their culture. In 2001, the Thao people were recognized as Taiwan's 10th indigenous group. ==Geography==