Proud to Be Hakka in Taiwan

The Hakka came to Taiwan in the seventeenth century, over three hundred years ago, claiming to be descendants of Chinese nobility. In their new island home, however, they were treated not as nobles, but as unwanted intruders. Their new enemies were the Hokkien from Fujian, who had arrived earlier. As descendants of Chinese nobles, the Hakka were viewed as having a strong connection with mainland China rather than Taiwan. The strong Taiwanese nationalist movement threatened the Hakka identity and suppressed its culture for decades. The Hakka became Taiwan’s invisible minority.