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Etymology

Main article: Names of Taiwan

Current Name

The name of Taiwan (simplified Chinese: 台湾; traditional Chinese: 臺灣 or 台灣; pinyin: Táiwān) is comprised of the Chinese character for “lookout, tower, terrace, platform or stage,” and the Chinese character for "bay, cove, inlet, or bend of a stream.”,” Numerous Chinese scholars have ascribed the current appelation to Sinicizations of Tayuan, Tayoan, Tay-oan, or other vari ants of the word used by the Siraya people, (Chinese: 西拉雅族; pinyin: xī ​lā​ yǎ ​zú) one of Taiwan's indigineous groups. Other scholars have described it in relation to Fort Zeelandia, which was built on an island in Tainan Bay, ("a platform within a bay"), from which the Dutch once ruled Taiwan, and from which Koxinga and his successors operated for many years.

Prior to its standardization, Chinese scribes wrote "Taiwan" in various Sinicizations including

• Tayuan (Chinese: 大冤; pinyin: dà yuān) meaning "big grievance,"
• Taiyuan meaning “terrace” and “outermost border,” and
• Tawan (simplified Chinese: 大湾; traditional Chinese: 大灣; pinyin: dà wān) meaning “big bay.”

Each of these is pronounced as "Tai-oan" or "T'ai-oan" in Amoy dialect of Fujian province. The current name "Taiwan," (simplified Chinese: 台湾; traditional Chinese: 臺灣; pinyin: Táiwān) was standardized at least as early as 1685 when scholar Lin Chien-kuan of Taiwan Fu-hsueh (Academy) wrote Tai Wan Chi Lueh (Brief Record of Taiwan) , and is said to be the preferred name used by Chinese pirate Yen Shih-chi who purportedly used Taiwan as his base some 43 years prior to the arrival of Koxinga (1624-1662) .

Ancient Names

Early Chinese scribes referred to Taiwan in various ways including:

• Penglai (simplified Chinese: 蓬莱; traditional Chinese: 蓬萊; pinyin: péng lái), one of three fabled islands in Eastern sea, said to be the abode of immortals and, a source of an elixir of immortality, by extension, fairyland. (ntnu)
• Beigang (Chinese: 北港; pinyin: běi gǎng), literally "North Harbor," said to have originated from "paken," the Ketagalan tribal word for "north." (academica sinica)(mdbg dictionary)
• Daiyu (simplified Chinese: 岱舆; traditional Chinese: 岱輿; pinyin: dài yú), Dai refers to Mt. Dai in Sh andong province, one of five chinese Holy mountains. Yu is a sedan chair. (ntnu) (mdbg dicitonary) (chinese travel agency)
• Yingzhou (Chinese: 瀛洲; pinyin: yíng zhōu), easternmost of three fabled islands in Eastern sea, home of immortals and source of elixir of immortality (academica sinica) (mdbg dictionary)
• Daoyi (simplified Chinese: 岛夷; traditional Chinese: 島夷; pinyin: dǎo yí), literally "Island of Barbarians" (ntnu) (mdbg dictionary)(chinese travel agency)
• Yizhou (Chinese: 夷洲; pinyin: yí zhōu), literally "Barbarian Island" (taiwan review) (academica sinica) (ntnu) (mdbg dictionary)
• Liuchiu (Chinese: 琉球; pinyin: liú qiú), a term that once referred collectively to Ryukyus, Taiwan and the Penghu islands, and currently refers to the Ryukyus (taiwan review)(ntnu)
• Dongti (simplified Chinese: 东鳀; traditional Chinese: 東鳀; pinyin: dōng tí), "Dong" means "east," "ti" has been interpreted alternately as "sheatfish" (a type of catfish) and "anchovy." (Taiwan Review) (Academica Sinica) (mdbg)(chinese travel agency)
• Jilongshan (simplified Chinese: 鸡笼山; traditional Chinese: 雞籠山; pinyin: jī lóng shān), literally "Chicken Cage Mountain," said to be a transliteration originating from a word used by Taiwan's indigineous Ketagalan people to describe the place where they live. (Taiwan Review)