Names for the island
The name “Taiwan” has evolved through centuries of cultural exchange and exploration. Early Chinese records referred to places such as “Liuqiu”, though historians still debate whether these names described Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, or other nearby regions. Over time, different travelers and writers used various names to describe the island.
In 1542, Portuguese sailors sailing past the island were struck by its beauty and named it Ilha Formosa, meaning “beautiful island”. This name became widely used in European literature and remained common among Western countries for hundreds of years.
The modern name “Taiwan” is believed to have originated from the language of indigenous peoples in the southwest of the island. It became an official name during the Qing dynasty in the late 17th century, and as development spread, the name gradually came to represent the entire island as it is known today.