As a unique historic war site, the well-preserved Kinmen Battlefield Culture is the best relic of human warfare encompassing the height of conflict, the lull in battle, and peaceful co-existence.
In contrast, only a small segment of the Berlin Wall remains today, the 38th parallel north demilitarized zone between North and South Korea remains on high alert, and trenches from the Vietnam War have been wiped out. Even the war infrastructure in Xiamen directly across from Kinmen has been demolished.
Given Kinmen’s special location and historic heritage, traditional villages, battlefield culture, and natural resources, the government planned to establish a national park in Kinmen after its designation as a combat zone was lifted in 1992. The Kinmen National Park was established on Oct. 18, 1995 as the first national park in Taiwan dedicated to preserving historic legacy and battlefield culture. It also serves to promote the goal of wildlife conservation.
As the frontline of national security, Kinmen is full of military infrastructure due to its constant preparation for war in the past. From Commander Zheng Chenggong’s campaign against the imperial Qing dynasty to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek’s anti-Communist campaign, numerous wars left significant marks on Kinmen. Moreover, during the Cold War, Kinmen was the closest outpost of the democratic world to face the Communist regime.
3-1. Behind the Name
Kinmen was also known as Wuzhou, Xianzhou, Wujiang, Wudao, Canghai, and Cangwu. It acquired the name “Kinmen” in 1387, the twentieth year under the rule of Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming dynasty.
The emperor sent Marquis Zhou De-xing of Jiang Xia to govern Fujian Province and its coastal regions, and the Marquis established his control by launching five military units and 12 battalions. Jinmencheng on Kinmen Island was one of the 12 battalions established.
Kinmen defended the southeast estuary of Fujian, Zhangzhou, and Xiamen, and guarded Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, giving rise to the title of Kinmen, which was taken from a saying – “Solid like wall and moat, guarding the gate of southeast China.”
3-2. Six Waves of Immigration
Most residents in Kinmen came from the Central Plain in China, crossing the Yangtze River to enter Fujian Province and reach Kinmen. There are six main waves of migration:
- During the Uprising of the Five Barbarians, the cultured Jin elite escaped to the south and settled on Kinmen.
- During the Tang dynasty, Marquis Chen Yuan bred horses on the island.
- During the Song dynasty, prominent families from Quanzhou crossed the sea in search of fertile lands.
- During the Yuan dynasty, salt makers farmed salt on Kinmen.
- During the Ming and Qing dynasties, military personnel were stationed on the island to defense the empire from maritime attacks.
- Throughout history, fishermen, farmers, and traders from nearby coasts also migrated to Kinmen in search of a better life.
Immigrants formed villages and communities with people of the same family surname or neighbors, married, and settled down, slowly resolving differences and overcoming their distrust of people from different parts of China.
3-3. ThePeople of Kinmen
The earliest mention of Kinmen can be found in the historic records of Jin dynasty, circa 265 to 420.However, archaeological research have identified traces of human activity in Kinmen from as early as 8,000 years ago.
A prehistoric shell heap was located in Fuguodun, and fragments of plant fossils likely from the Pleistocene era were excavated in Liaoluo. The geological layers and prehistoric remnants found at these two sites suggest that human life on Kinmen began 3,500 to 8,000 years ago.
Immigration from China began in the 4th century. The first exodus was during the Eastern Jin dynasty, in which the cultured Jin elite fled China’s Central Plain and sought shelter in Kinmen to escape from revoltingnomadic tribes.
Early development of Kinmen gave rise to its rich history and culture. Immigrants passed down their knowledge of classic texts and moral education, and Kinmen became known as a cultured region for producing court officials who passed the imperial Chinese examinations
3-4. TheArchitecture of Kinmen
Immigrants shaped the physical appearance of Kinmen as well. Settlers from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou built houses and temples in the traditional Fujian style, and continued their traditional practices and customs. Many of these buildings still stand today, as Kinmen’s 40-year tenure as a military base slowed the pace of urbanization on the island.
Traditional Fujian-style settlements are found in abundance within the Kinmen National Park. Such villages include Oucuo, Jhushan, Shuitou, Qionglin, Shanhou, Nanshan and Beishan, which were constructed by immigrants from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou. The application of bricks and stones, architectural décor, and interior planning all reflect aesthetics and design that comply with regional elements, and reflect the expertise of local master builders.
Kinmen is also famous for another architectural style – “fanzailou,” meaning “house of foreigners.” Introduced by Chinese traders that lived abroadbefore retiring in Kinmen during the Qing dynasty, “fanzailou” combines eastern and western architectural elements.
Another unique Kinmen construction is the ancestral shrine. As villages in Kinmen were usually formed by families of the same surname, there is an ancestral shrine in each village dedicated to their surname. This formed a society of clan settlements centered on ancestral worship.
Such ancestral shrines were usually built in the traditional Fujian architectural style and equipped with two entryways. Larger than most houses, each shrine contains the family history of a clan on Kinmen.
3-5. The Military History of Kinmen
Kinmen’s pivotal location made it an important outpost during wars. Ming authorities constructed a military city on Kinmen to defend against Japanese pirates in the late 14th century. The battalion was named “Jinmencheng,” which was later shortened to “Kinmen.”
In 1949, the Nationalist government relocated to Taiwan proper, and Communist troops attempted to seize control of Kinmen to make way for invading Taiwan and Penghu. In the early morning of Oct. 25, 1949, Communist forces landed at the shores of Guningtou, but they were defeated by Nationalist garrisons after two days of fighting. The decisive incident became known as the Battle of Guningtou, which is credited with preventing a Communist invasion of Taiwan proper.
On Aug. 23, 1958, Kinmen was bombarded by Communist forces for 44 consecutive days. Nearly 1 million cannon balls were fired inwhat became known as “The 823 Artillery Bombardment.”
For the next 20 years following the bombardment, Communist forces continued to fire cannons at Kinmen on odd-numbered days in a symbolic show of power and to disturb the island. The bombardment of Kinmen did not cease until 1979, when the United States switched recognition from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China.
Years of living under the threat of warfare give rise to Kinmen’s unique military infrastructure. The Kinmen Battlefield Culture site encompasses historic villages and magnificent tunnels that served in the war.
For instance, villages in the Guningtou region served as the main battlefield for the Battle of Guningtou. The Beishan Old Western Style House here boasts broken walls and bullet holes from that passage of history.
Taiwu Mountain, the main mountain on Kinmen, is also heavily fortified. Apart from a central tunnel that cuts through the mountain, the Taiwu region also contains war memorial halls, the 823 Artillery Bombardment Museum, and the combat-ready village of Qionglin, which was equipped with many secret tunnels.
Other relics of war include the renowned Mashan Broadcast Station for psychological warfare in Mashan District; the Zhaishan Tunnel in Gugang District; and the Jiugong Tunnel, Hongshan and Guishan battalions, the combat-ready Shuangkou Village, and Hujingtou Battle Museum on Kinmen’s Lieyu Islet.
3-6. History of the Kinmen National Park
Given Kinmen’s special location,historic heritage, traditional villages, battlefield culture, and natural resources, the government planned to establish a national park in Kinmen after its designation as a combat zone was lifted in 1992.
The project was approved by the Executive Yuan on May 25, 1995 and an administrative officewas established in the same year on Oct. 18. Under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior’s Construction and Planning Agency, the Kinmen National Park preserves and promotes the rich cultural heritage, battlefield culture, and ecology of Kinmen.