Visually Impaired People in Taiwan in the Process of Decolonization: Focusing on Policy and Social Representation

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22028
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0103:History, archaeology, museology, and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Shimane (2022); Aichi University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Fukakushi Toru 島根県立大学, 国際関係学部, 准教授 (90881657)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 台湾 / 脱植民地化 / 視覚障害者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined the changes that occurred in the circumstances of visually impaired people in Taiwan before and after decolonization from Japan. The research revealed the following facts. (1) After the ROC seizure, the de-Japanization of education was promoted. In this process, Japanese braille, tenji, was replaced by Chinese braille. However, as for vocational education, emphasis continued to be placed on massage which was introduced during the colonial period. (2) As the wartime regime continued in the Republic of China period, the visually impaired were involved in the war effort in the same manner as under Japanese colonial rule, such as donating money and providing comfort to military personnel. They were also used in propaganda as proof of the benevolence and beneficence of the head of state, or as patriotic citizens who were willing to contribute to national policy despite their handicaps.

Free Research Field

地域研究

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的・社会的意義は、従来もっぱら健常者の回想や記録をもとに再構成されていた日本統治時代から中華民国時代への移行過程が、視覚障害者にとってどのような経験であったかを部分的に明らかにし、台湾の脱植民地化研究に新たな視角を提示したことである。また、視覚障害者と戦争との関わり方など、二つの時代に存在した連続性についても新しい事実を発掘することに成功した。