Tai Chao-chuen incident

The Tai Chao-chuen Incident was one of the three major rebellions in Taiwan during the rule of the Qing dynasty. The rebellion lasted from 1862 to about 1865. The incident was caused by the suppression of the Tiandihui by the Qing government, and affected central Taiwan, spreading as far north as Dajia and as far south as Chiayi. Although the rebellion was led by Tai Chao-chuen (Taiwanese Hokkien: Tè Tiô-tshun), many rich and powerful people from all over Taiwan, like Lin Ri-cheng and Hung Tsung, were also involved.

At this time, the Qing dynasty was facing the Taiping Rebellion and therefore had little military force to spare to put down rebellion in Taiwan. In addition, many powerful local leaders participated in the rebellion, causing the Qing to initially rely on the militia of the Wufeng Lin and other clans. The rebellion was not brought under control until after the Qing had dispatched Ding Yuejian and Lin Wencha to suppress it in 1863, and did not end until 1865.

Once the Qing had succeeded, the Lin clan of Wufeng emerged as the most powerful in central Taiwan. This would eventually lead to conflicts between the clan and the Kuomintang government after the end of Japanese rule.

Origin
In 1860, the Taiping Rebellion troops invaded Zhejiang Province. The then Governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, Fucha Qingduan, petitioned the imperial court to recruit Taiwanese braves to assist in suppressing the bandits. With the court's approval, in the winter of 1861, 3,000 Taiwanese braves were recruited to aid Zhejiang. Approximately two thousand of these braves were recruited from the Wufeng Shanggu area by Lin Wenchai and Lin Wenming. Other military leaders holding positions like Commander of Taiwan, and Assistant Commander of the Northern Route of Taiwan such as Zeng Yuming and Zeng Yuanfu, were also transferred to Zhejiang and Fujian to combat during the same period, shifting the military forces of central Taiwan.

Tai Chao-chuen, the leader of the Tai Chao-chuen Incident, was originally from Longxi, Zhangzhou. From his grandfather Dai Shenbao, not only was a landlord in the Sizhangli area of Changhua County with a wealthy family background, but he also had good relations with the government, traditionally holding the position of "Draft Scribe" in the Northern Route Assistant Commander's office. Tai Chao-chuen's position as a "Draft Scribe", also known as "Character Scribe", involved clerical work in the military as much military personnel was illiterate, requiring a scribe to assist with records, and manage the transfer of troops, funds, and provisions.

Tai Chao-chuen's elder brother, Tai Wan-guei, discontent with their family's land rent being infringed upon by the people of Azawu (Lin Wenchai's family), collaborated with Zhang Shui, to organize the "Baguahui". At that time, bandits and thieves roamed everywhere, and it was agreed among villages to come to each other's aid in times of trouble; Tai Chao-chuen, to avoid further trouble, did not involve himself in the affairs of the Baguahui. According to "Dai Case Brief", similar local mutual defense organizations, composed of people from Quanzhou, such as the "Tong'an Liaison Twelve Villages", were also prevalent, led by the chief minister Chen Qing'an, based around today's Fuxing Township and Puyan Township.

In 1861, when the former Deputy Commander of the Northern Route, Zeng Yuming, was promoted to Commander of Fujian Funing, Xia Ruxian filled the vacancy. Tai Chao-chuen was still serving as a Draft Scribe. That winter, during a tour by the Magistrate of Changhua, Gao Tingjing, Tai Chao-chuen arrested a group of hooligans and presented them to Gao, displeasing Xia Ruxian. Xia accused Dai of disloyalty and demanded bribes. Dai refused and was forced to resign. After returning to his hometown of Sizhangli, with his elder brother Dai Wanguai deceased, Tai Chao-chuen took over the management of the "Training Groups" under the guise of training militias, subsequently taking over the Baguahui's operations and reorganizing it into the "Tiandihui". Due to the prevailing poor security, local order was often maintained by these training groups, attracting wealthy families to join, and leading to a significant increase in the Tiandihui membership. From the original 300 members of his family's private militia, by 1862, the number of members recorded in the society's register exceeded ten thousand.

Because of the rapid expansion of Tai Chao-chuen's power and rumors of his follower's lawlessness, the government decided to act against Tai Chao-chuen. On 3 April 1862, the Taiwan Military Director Kong Zhaoci arrived in Changhua, executed Hong Shi, the leader of the Eight Trigram Society, and then summoned former Changhua County magistrate and then-Tamsui Prefecture magistrate Qiu Yuejing to discuss mopping up anti-government forces. Consequently, Qiu Yuejin led 600 soldiers, in addition to supporting forces of 400 each led by Lin Dianguo and Lin Richeng, to destroy the Tiandihui. However, on April 15, just as the government forces were going to battle with several thousand members of Tiandihui at Dadun, Lin Richeng defected and killed Qiu Yuejian. Lin Dianguo, seeing that the situation was not favorable, retreated to Azhaowu Village (present-day Wufeng District, Taichung City). <!--，而林奠國見局勢不利，決定退回阿罩霧庄（今台中縣霧峰鄉）自保，於是Tiandihui勢力頓時坐大，身為會首的戴潮春騎虎難下，只得於4月16日率天地會黨人圍攻彰化縣城，並從八卦山以大砲轟城. 這時城內僅有三百多名老弱兵，而勇首施九挺前往鹿港徵召鄉勇失利，城內從此無援可求. 4月18日，城內奸細打開城門，戴氏於鼓樂之中騎馬入城，孔昭慈則因外援始終未到，旋即服藥自殺，夏汝賢等大小官員則紛紛被殺.

Uprising and crackdown
After Changhua was captured, people in southern Taiwan started to rebel. Local powerful people in central Taiwan such as 陳弄 of Hsiaopuhsin (小埔心; present-day 彰化縣埤頭鄉), 洪欉 of Peishihnan (北勢楠; present-day 南投縣草屯鎮), and 嚴辦 of Chiayi, started joining the coalition. 各地支持股首更是達上千，除自封為東王外，封林日成、陳弄與洪欉為南王、西王與北王，設置大將軍等官位. The "Tai Force" (戴軍) eventually controlled most of central Taiwan and part of northern Taiwan.

由於福建向來靠台灣接濟米糧，事件爆發後臺米上漲，福建頓時陷入斷糧危機. 於是，閩浙總督慶瑞緊急派遣福甯鎮總兵曾玉明渡海來臺，召集臺勇平定戰事，另外命臺灣鎮總兵林向榮自西螺出兵作戰. 另一方面，台灣府知府洪敏琛緊急成立籌防局應對事變，並向外國商行籌借十五萬兩銀作為軍費，並以關稅抵還.

阿罩霧庄攻防戰
4月28日，戴軍西王林日成為了替族人林媽盛報仇，率領三萬多人截斷阿罩霧庄的水源，打算一舉消滅前厝林家（即霧峰林家）. 這時，林家因多數家勇跟隨林文察與林文明赴浙江作戰，庄中只有72名壯丁. 但在林文鳳指揮下，林家人靠著大砲等強大火力予以還擊，隨即展開三天的激烈攻防戰. 期間，林家莊宅幾乎失守，但林家家人日夜死守，加上翁仔社〔今臺中縣豐原市翁子〕羅冠英與東勢角客家人分別派出援人支援，林家與五百多名援軍突襲林日成陣中，擊殺敵軍數百人，一舉擊退林日成軍.

同時，林向榮率領2200名（一說為3000名）士兵駐紮嘉義，並於4月28日擊退戴軍. 之後清軍出城，在坊牌與戴彩龍率領的戴軍一萬多人於八掌溪兩畔對峙. 由於戴軍由白沙墩包抄，一舉截斷清軍後路，導致清軍前後受敵，部分將士溺死河中，直到後來使用大砲突襲，一舉逆轉戰事，反敗為勝.

另一方面，戴軍西王陳弄率軍攻打鹿港，以獲取財貨. 但由於鹿港城居民多為泉州人，而戴潮春起事後又大肆屠殺泉州人家莊，因此鹿港居民在黃季忠、蔡馬湖、林清源等士紳領導下極力抵抗，而勇首施九挺也招募600名鄉勇協助抵抗，經過三天大戰後終於擊退戴軍.

六月，掌管台灣北部軍務的鹽運使林占梅派蔡宇等人突襲大甲城東門，一舉收復該城. 而戴軍的王和尚則於6月2日率軍圍攻大甲城，並斷絕城中飲水. 於是城民請貞婦余林氏祈雨，而當天果然下起雨來，頓時解除城中水問題. 6月9日，代理淡水廳職務的張世英與千總曾捷步、把總周長桂以及翁仔社勇首羅冠英率軍支援，加上大安港黃氏的協助，一舉擊退戴軍. 但6月17日，王和尚再度領軍圍城，並再次截斷城中水源. 這次居民又請余林氏祈雨，當天也再度將下甘霖. 於是在張世英指揮下，城中清軍出城迎擊，再度擊退戴軍.

援軍抵臺
6月7日，洪敏琛升為臺灣兵備道，統籌全部戰事. 6月9日，提督曾玉明率領600名兵力抵達鹿港. 然而，清軍軍費卻在押解途中於安溪寮遭遇戴軍，清軍大敗潰散，千總龔朝俊與澎湖副將陳國詮等人戰死，軍營器械經費全被奪走.

而同時，林日成進駐彰化城，戴潮春退回四張犁，之後戴軍陸續攻打嘉義、白沙坑等地，但皆被清軍擊退，而清軍雖陸續有曾玉明擴兵400人、臺勇1000人助戰，但也難有斬獲，雙方於是陷入對峙之中.

八月與九月間，林文明率領1000名臺勇請假回台灣助戰，戰事產生變化. 他於外新庄、阿罩霧庄（今台中市、霧峰鄉一帶）、大里杙等地與戴軍展開激戰，擊退戴潮春軍，然後轉自翁仔社（今台中豐原市），與當地勇首羅冠英合作，合力掃蕩石岡仔、葫蘆墩等地的戴軍，然而此戰後，林文明以彈藥不足為由，返回阿罩霧. 經多次催促後，善後總局補發火藥4000斤、子彈2000斤，而林文明於1863年1月29日再度呈請福建巡撫徐宗幹補發積欠的安家銀19000兩與口糧費10000兩，但這些錢始終未撥款下來·

1862年11月23日，林文明率300兵勇攻打樹湳，最後於1863年4月11日派叔叔林奠國率領600名臺勇，與羅桂英等人攻入戴潮春老家四張犁，經過七天激戰受攻克該地. 但由於軍費仍未解決，林文明再度停止進攻. 至此戰事再度陷入膠著.

就在林文明於北路有所斬獲時，清軍卻於南路遭到挫敗：台灣鎮總兵林向榮與台灣水師副將林國忠於七月前去救援斗六城，但反遭嚴辦、陳弄等人率數萬戴軍圍困；10月29日戴軍攻破圍困許久的斗六城，林向榮自殺，林國忠等大小將領分分戰死. 戴軍佔領斗六後，駐紮彰化城內的林日成於12月20日發軍圍攻大甲，與清軍大戰於城外，由於清軍人數有限，雖有羅冠英率義勇救援，仍敗退回城. 這次戴軍與前兩次一樣截斷城中水源，而大甲城居民三度請余林氏祈雨，天空隨即降下甘霖，不久戴軍撤退，林日成亦退回四塊厝庄. 隔年1月，台灣水師提督吳鴻源率領3000名清軍増援，並進駐鹽水.

清軍反攻
1864年3月19日，吳鴻源發動猛攻，直攻到嘉義城外，與城內守將湯得陞裡外夾擊，擊退圍城多日的陳弄軍. 6月，吳鴻源因不肯遵守指令發動攻擊，被洪敏琛免職，由曾元福接替，但六月洪敏琛亦死於任內，清軍與戴軍又陷入膠著之中.

8月，丁曰健接任臺灣兵備道，並由滬尾（今台北縣淡水鎮）登陸，重新佈置新的作戰方針. 他命台灣鎮守參將關鎮國由五汊港（今臺中港前身）進攻，自己則於10月22日進駐竹塹城（今新竹市），並命張世英、羅冠英等人精選1000鄉勇駐守岸里社，打算直接攻打四塊厝庄等戴軍活動核心地區. 兩軍合力之下，清軍迅速掃大肚溪以北（今台中縣一帶）的戴軍村庄，並控制住大肚溪航運，11月28日圍攻彰化城.

另一方面，11月12日福甯鎮總兵林文察自安平登陸，11月20日抵達嘉義，懲勸當地兩百數十庄向清軍投降，並與與護理水師提督曾元福會師商議戰略. 商討結果，他決定先疏通嘉義與彰化交界處的道路，然後再收復彰化，於是命白瑛、關鎮國合攻斗六，請彰化知縣凌定國由寶斗（今彰化北斗鎮）向南攻，而他本人與許忠標等部隊沿海向北作戰，直到麥寮與南下的林文明會師後再攻打彰化.

事件平定
11月26日，林文察進駐麥寮. 這時丁林兩軍已包圍彰化縣城，12月1日由曾玉明破城. 之後，林文察進駐塗庫，與曾元福相約攻打斗六，同時殲滅支持戴潮春的村莊三十多座，逐漸逼近斗六城，但斗六防禦堅固，難在短其內拿下. 於是12月12日，林文察假意以援助彰化戰事為由，密令各軍各撤離城外，至1865年1月15日，僅留關鎮國數營於城下，並燃燒煙柴草煙火，令士兵作慌亂狀，而誘使城內敵軍開門襲擊，這時附近甘蔗田伏兵衝出襲擊，關鎮國等軍備後夾擊，成功大敗敵軍，收復斗六城. 1月18日，戴潮春在張三顯勸說下出面投降丁曰健，但因出言不遜，隨即被斬殺.

收復斗六後，清軍開始掃蕩林日成、洪欉、陳弄與嚴辦等戴氏諸王強將. 1864年12月，曾玉明迅速圍攻北勢楠庄，雙方展開激烈的攻防戰，其中清軍曾挖地道攻入，但不成功，只好以大炮猛烈砲轟，才攻陷該庄，洪欉則於期間戰死，其弟洪番被俘，當場被殺. 1月19日，林文察率軍攻打四塊厝庄，經過一番激戰後仍未能進，最後搭建砲臺，以大砲連夜砲轟，才得以於1865年2月6日斬殺林日成，收復該地. 5月，林文察與羅冠英圍攻小埔心，與陳弄展開砲戰，期間清軍死傷慘重，羅冠英也死於其中，但在羅冠英弟弟羅坑領導下，清軍持續猛攻，終使陳弄開庄投降，並被當場斬殺. 同月，丁曰健派遣知縣白鸞卿、參將徐榮生等人率軍攻打於二重溝重新起事的嚴辦，嚴辦以伏兵擊退清軍，但清軍以優勢兵力圍攻，並以大砲轟擊指揮臺，擊殺嚴辦，並押其妻侯氏回嘉義，以凌遲處死.

至此，戴潮春事件宣告結束，清軍終於收復台灣中部，而曾雄據一方的戴氏政權則結束其四年多的統治.

Legacy
此戰之後，臺灣中部大土豪死傷殆盡，其留下之產業也被清廷以「叛產」之名充公，部分則以補償林文明墊付軍費為由交給霧峰林家. 另一方面，霧峰林家因平定事件有功，得到全福建省（當時包含台灣）的樟腦收購權，加上林文明攻略各庄與事後清點「叛產」和收「罰捐」（即與事者家人抵罪錢）時侵占部分錢財土地，使林家頓時由地方土豪崛起為全臺大家族之一. 然而，此事件也重下林家與官府之間對立的種子，並激化與鄰近大族之間的仇恨關係，因而導致後來林文明被殺，林家一度失勢的局面.

但由另一角度而言，戴潮春建立之政權也為台灣清治時期中，最具政權性質的民變勢力. 事件期間，戴潮春創作童謠，偽造符應，親自開耕，種種之舉皆模仿中國天子行為與天人感應說. 因此有部分史家認為戴潮春是歷次民變中，最有政權意識的民變領袖. -->

Impact
Following the battle, most of the major landlords and gentry of central Taiwan were either killed or severely wounded, and their properties were confiscated by the Qing government under the name of "rebel properties", some of which were transferred to the Wufeng Lin family as compensation for the military expenses they had covered. Additionally, because of their role in quelling the uprising, the Wufeng Lin family was granted the exclusive right to purchase camphor throughout Fujian Province (which included Taiwan at the time). As Lin Wenming strategized attacks on various villages and later inventoried "rebel properties" and collected "punitive donations" (fines and redemption money from the families of the accused), he amassed significant wealth and land, propelling the Lin family to become one of the five major families in Taiwan. However, this incident also planted seeds of opposition between the Lin family and the government and exacerbated hostilities with neighboring clans, leading to Lin Wenming's eventual assassination and a temporary decline of the Lin family's fortunes.

From another perspective, Tai Chao-chuen's regime during the Qing rule period in Taiwan was seen as the most politically conscious rebel force. During the incident, Tai Chao-chuen created nursery rhymes, forged talismans, and personally engaged in farming, emulating the behavior of an emperor and the concept of celestial.