Taimali Township (Chinese: 太麻里鄉; pinyin: Tàimálǐ Xiāng) is a rural township in Taitung County, Taiwan. It has a population of 10,763 in 96.6523 km2 area. Taimali Township is located on the Pacific coast.[1] The indigenous Amis and Paiwan peoples make up one-third of the population.

Taimali Township
太麻里鄉
Tamari
Taimali Township in Taitung County
Taimali Township in Taitung County
LocationTaitung County, Taiwan
Area
 • Total97 km2 (37 sq mi)
Population
 (September 2023)
 • Total10,723
 • Density110/km2 (290/sq mi)

History

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Tjavualji was established 1,000 years ago by the Qian YaoKao, also called the Da Ma, who were ancestors of the Paiwan people. Qing era records show the placename written variously (Chinese: 兆貓裡/朝貓籬/大貓狸/大麻里), etc.[2] According to Paiwan legend it had been called "the village of sunrise" (Jabauli or Tjavualji in Paiwan language) because there the sun rises from the eastern sea.

 
Map of Taimali (labeled as Tamari) and surrounding area (1944)
 
Map of the area immediately east of Taimali (1944)

In the early 1900s (under Japanese rule), the Amis and additional Paiwan were moved to the village. In 1920, the village was officially called Tamari (太麻里), which is essentially the name used up to now. During the 1940s (also under Japanese rule), some residents from Miaoli, Nantou, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung also settled in the area. Due to the increasing population, the Japanese government subordinated the village to Taitō District, Taitō Prefecture, and in 1937, its official name was changed to Tamari Village (太麻里庄).

 
Map of the region including Taimali (labeled as Ta-ma-li (Tamar [sic]) 大麻里) (1951)

After Taiwan was handed over from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945, its name was modified to Taimali Village (太麻里村).

Administrative divisions

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The township comprises nine villages: Beili, Dawang, Duoliang, Huayuan, Jinlun, Meihe, Sanhe, Taihe and Xianglan.

Tourist attractions

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Transportation

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TRA Taimali Station

References

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  1. ^ "Taitung County Government English-About Taitung".
  2. ^ "太麻里". Taiwan Railways Administration. Retrieved 7 December 2014.

22°37′N 121°00′E / 22.617°N 121.000°E / 22.617; 121.000