Tongpu Liuqiu Ancestral Grave Introduction
The Tongpu Ryukyu Clan Cemetery, also known as the Ryukyu Fief Cemetery, was established in 1871 (the 10th year of the Qing Dynasty's Tongzhi period). That year, two ships traveling to Naha for tribute encountered a typhoon on their return journey. After several days, the ships ran aground at Bay of Biyou in Hengchun, where 66 crew members came ashore seeking refuge. They inadvertently trespassed into indigenous territory, and due to language barriers, a serious conflict erupted with the local Paiwan people, resulting in the brutal killing of 54 Ryukyu individuals, who were later buried in Tongpu Village. Initially, there was no monument at the Tongpu Ryukyu Clan Cemetery. In 1874, under the pretext of avenging the victims, the Japanese landed at Pingtung’s Gao Sifu Society, Mudan Society, and Nuying Society, engaging in fierce battles with the indigenous people (an event known as the Mudan Incident). Following this, they erected a gravestone reading "The Grave of Fifty-four Ryukyu Clan Martyrs." This monument represents the earliest stone erected by the Japanese during their colonial rule in Taiwan. During Japan's colonial period, regular funding was allocated for maintenance, and even historians from Okinawa came to Taiwan to promote the restoration of the cemetery. As a result, despite the passage of hundreds of years, the cemetery still retains its complete appearance and serves as an indelible historical site. While the cemetery's appearance is of visual interest, its cultural significance is even deeper. The indigenous peoples of the past practiced headhunting, so the victims buried in the cemetery, despite their names and descendants being known, were laid to rest without heads. This historical tragedy not only leaves a legacy of the bloodshed but also allows future generations to witness a valuable cultural heritage reflective of its time.
