STUDENT SELF-DIRECTED PROJECT

The majority of the aforementioned diversity in Taiwanese religion stems from the intricate series of historical events that have played their part in shaping the way Taiwan is today. 
 
Before the 17th century, Taiwanese aborigines, Chinese and Japanese maritime traders, and pirates found home on the island. Dutch ruling in 1624 replaced the animistic ethnic religion with Protestantism, which, two years later, was accompanied by the Catholic Church, demonstrated by the Spanish rule.

17th and 18th Centuries
 
The progression in imperial power from the Ming dynasty to the Manchurian Qing dynasty brought about a massive influx of Han Chinese. Sailing south to Taiwan, Ming loyalist Zheng Chenggong and his troops established the Kingdom of Tungning, the first Chinese state on the island. They were followed by settlers from Fujian and Guangdong. With the settlers came cults local to the mainland. As the settlers were mostly male and with origins ranging from many different areas, there weren't many people sharing the surnames and pledging allegiance to the same kins. Thus, ancestral shrines of kinship gods only developed in the 1790s, after many established generations of families. 
 
Settlers from the Qing periods nurtured their practices with images or incense ashes from mainland temples and installed them in their homes and the thatched huts that ultimately developed into proper temples as the economy accommodated the buildings. The foci of religious, political and social life, prominent temples frequently surpassed state-sponsored temples in their degree of influence. 
 
Evidence supporting the presence of Buddhism and Taoism during this period of time is limiting. 

19th century

Halfway through the Qing period, popular Buddhist sects sent missionaries from the mainland to the island. More successful in attracting converts than either pure Buddhism or Taoism, the religious representatives belonged to religions of fasting due to their vegetarian practices.

20th century
 
The Manchu government ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895, following the First Sino-Japanese War. During Japanese rule, governors set regulations for the activities of native religions. At first, a laissez-faire policy was adopted. Then, the government began extensive investigations of local religions. After that, happening at the same time as the outbreak of hostilities between Japan and China, there was a government-initiated "Japanisation movement", which integrated restructuration of temples in its plan. Restructuration is also known as the imposition of new organisations. 
 
As Buddhism shared heritage between both Japan and China, the nontheistic religion received better treatment. Chinese folk religion and Taoism could not cooperate with the Japanese government like Taiwanese Buddhist groups could; Japanese Buddhist sects extended representatives to Taiwan, and said representatives worked with zhaijiao Buddhist groups. However, even Buddhism could not escape the differences in traditions. For example, while Japanese priests can marry, eat meat and drink alcohol, Chinese monk can't. Taiwanese Buddhist communities resisted the "Japanisation".
 
In 1915, Japanese religious policies changed. The "Xilai Temple Incident" took place when an anti-Japanese uprising, spearheaded by zhaijiao Buddhist follower Yu Qingfang, plotted against the Japanese government. Yu Qingfang and ninety-four other followers from folk religions or Taoism were immediately executed. 
 
On guard after the incident, the Japanese government began to suspect Taiwan's "old religious customs". This meant that local temples were all investigated, registered, and regulated. 
 
Declaration of war between China and Japan in 1937 led to even stronger examples of the mentioned measures against "old religious customs". As such, local officials began to close or demolish temples, burning their images and confiscating their real estate. The gods were apparently "sent to Heaven." 

Modernisation of infrastructures was another effect of Japanese colonisation on religious life; before the 20th century, travel infrastructure on the island was undeveloped, and thus restricted movement of people. The network of railroads connecting all regions of the island enabled the rise in importance of many Buddhist, Taoist and folk temples, 
 
Onto the Republic of China!
 
After World War II in 1945 and through the Instrument of Surrender, Taiwan was handed over to the Republic of China. Four years later, the People's Republic of China was established in the mainland under the Communist Party of China. Rapid economic acceleration of Taiwan throughout the 1970s and 1980s was accompanied by renewal of Chinese folk religion, which, during the time, pledged allegiance to environmental causes.
 
Chinese salvationist religions, for example, Xiantiandao, grew in popularity despite their legal standing. After the 1950s, Buddhism expanded as well, advancing into new forms with the fundamentals of movements like the Tzu Chi and the Fo Guang Shan. In addition, Tibetan Buddhism was imported to the island. More recently, religious groups in Taiwan and China have witnessed increased degrees of cooperation.