Lukang

Lukang, formerly romanized as Lugang and also known by other names, is an urban township in northwestern Changhua County, Taiwan. The township is on the west coast of Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait. Lukang was an important sea port in the 18th century and 19th century. It was the most populous city in central Taiwan until the early 20th century. In March 2012, it was named one of the Top 10 Small Tourist Towns by the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan.[3]

For other places with the same name, see Lugang (disambiguation).

Lukang
鹿港鎮
Rokkō; Luchiang; Lugang
Urban township
Lukang Township
An alley in the old town of Lukang
An alley in the old town of Lukang
Location of Lukang
Coordinates: 24°03′N 120°26′E
CountryTaiwan
CountyChanghua County
Government
[1]
 • TypeUrban township
 • Mayor許志宏
Area
 • Total71.802 km2 (27.723 sq mi)
Population
 (January 2023)[2]
 • Total85,423
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)
Gender
 • Male44,101
 • Female42,717
Websitewww.lukang.gov.tw/eng
Lukang Township
Traditional Chinese鹿港鎮
Literal meaningDeer Harbor

Name

The township's name, which means "Deer Port", came from its deerskin trade during the Dutch period. Its old Taiwanese name was Lok-a-kang (Chinese: 鹿仔港; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lo̍k-á-káng) and its shortened version is seen in English texts and maps as variants such as Lok-kang,[4] Lokang[5] and Lo-kiang.[6]

In 2011, the Ministry of Interior decided to keep the historical Wade-Giles spelling "Lukang" and abandon the change to the Pinyin spelling "Lugang" consistent with the switch to Tongyong Pinyin in 2002 and later Hanyu Pinyin 2009.[7]

History

An important trading port during Lukang's heyday from 1785 to 1845, Lukang's population reached 20,000.[8] Lukang was Taiwan's second largest city after Tainan and was larger than Bangka (now a district of Taipei), then the island's third-largest city. The rice industry brought great wealth to the city. During the late 1800s the most prominent families in Lukang were the Huang and Koo clans.[9]

The subsequent silting of the harbor and the city's refusal to allow railroads to pass through the city led to losses in trade in commerce, which, in turn led to Lukang's decline relative to other cities, which were experiencing considerable urbanization and population growth. This same decline, however, averted the modernization processes that demolished historical buildings in Tainan and Taipei, leaving Lukang preserved as it was in the past.

During the period of Japanese rule, the city was Taiwan's fifth most populous city, with a population of 19,805 according to the December 1904 census.[10] The Hoklo people in the area were predominantly of Xiamen and Quanzhou origin,[11] thereby speaking the Quanzhou dialect of Hokkien. Nanguan music is highly popular in Lukang and originates from Quanzhou.

Map of Lukang (labeled as ROKKŌ) and surrounding area (1944)
Map including Lukang (labeled as Lu-chiang (Rokko) 鹿港) (1954)

In 1920, Lukang was governed as Rokkō Town (鹿港街) under Shōka District of Taichū Prefecture.

Overview
Beautiful Lukang Longshan Temple.
Lukang Mazu Temple

There are many old temples in Lukang, such as Longshan Temple and Matzu Temple. The city boasts over 200 temples dedicated to a wide variety of folk deities.[12] The town is also the origin of the terms "ē-káng" (下港) and "téng-káng" (頂港) used respectively to refer to southern Taiwan and northern Taiwan; the literal meanings of the terms are "below the harbor" and "above the harbor".

The Yu Jen Jai (玉珍齋) cakes are famous local specialties, as well as Lukang's Ox Tongue Cakes (牛舌餅) and oyster pancakes. It will host the 2012 Taiwan Lantern Festival, beating out six other contenders.[13]

Lukang encompasses 39.46 square kilometers (15.24 sq mi) with a population of 85,423, including 43,199 males and 42,224 females as of January 2023.[14]

Administrative divisions
Lukang Township Office
Street view in Lukang

The township comprises 29 villages, which are Dayou, Zhongxing, Luojin, Shunxing, Pulun, Xingong, Yushun, Tungshi, Guocuo, Yongan, Jingfu, Taixing, Zhangxing, Xinghua, Longshan, Caiyuan, Jiewei, Zhaoan, Haipu, Yangcuo, Caozhong, Tounan, Shanlun, Dingpan, Toulun, Gouqi, Liaocuo, Tungqi and Dingcuo.

Infrastructure

Tourist attractions
Lukang Folk Arts Museum, the former Koo's family mansion (see Koo Hsien-jung)
The Glass Mazu Temple at Taiwan Glass Gallery in Lukang

The town was referenced in the 1982 song "Lukang, The Small Town" (鹿港小鎮) by Lo Ta-yu.

Notable natives

References

Citations
  1. "鎮長介紹". 11 September 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  2. "彰化縣各鄉鎮市 107年12月人口數統計表" (PDF). Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  3. Wong, Maggie Hiufu (30 March 2012). "Taiwan names its 10 top small tourist towns". CNN Go. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  4. Campbell (1896), map.
  5. Davidson (1903), Index p.32.
  6. Davidson (1903), map.
  7. Liu, M. (2011). 鹿港譯名恢復Lukang.United Daily News, retrieved at 28 June 2011.
  8. DeGlopper (1995), pp. 78–79.
  9. Cheung, Han. "Taiwan in Time: Crafting Taiwan's temples". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  10. Takekoshi, Yosaburō (1907). "Chapter XIII: Population and future development of the island resources". Japanese rule in Formosa. London, New York, Bombay and Calcutta: Longmans, Green, and co. p. 200. OCLC 753129. OL 6986981M.
  11. Davidson (1903), p. 591.
  12. "Historic town of Lukang boasts over 200 temples". China Post. CNA. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  13. "Lugang unveiled as host of 2012 Taiwan Lantern Festival". Taiwan Today. 22 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  14. 統計資料 | 一月 | 表四 [Statistics|January|Table 4]. accounting.chcg.gov.tw (in Chinese). Changhua County Government. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.

Bibliography
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