The Pu-Li Basin(_??__??__??__??_)is the only wide plain among the mountainous region of central Taiwan and is thought to be the last in development. Many scholars have paid their attention to this region owing to specific topographical, geological and cultural reasons.
This paper has two main objectives; the first is to make an investigation into the colonization of the Pu-Li Basin and the change in the landscape from the viewpoint of the settlement; the second is to make clear the landscape and structure of the present rural settlement which was established by people from various backgrounds.
1. The pu-Li Basin as a Dwelling Place The Pu-Li Basin is the northernmost and the largest one among the basins of central Taiwan. There are two main rivers, the Mei-Si(_??__??_)and the Nankang-Si(_??__??__??_).The Mei-Si flows from the west of Central Mountain Range to the north of the basin; the Nankang-Si flows from the northeasten hills of the Sun-Moon Lake(_??__??__??_)to the southwest of the basin. The so-called Mei-Si Fan(_??__??__??__??__??_)and the Nankang-Si Fan are formed by these two rivers. There are some topographical, agronomical and agricultural differences between the two Fans.
The climate of the Pu-Li basin belongs to the southern type in Taiwan, its rainy season and dry season are remarkable. Thus, it was very difficult for the pioneers who had been accustomed to rice cultivation.
2. Historical Development of the Settlement in the Pu-Li Basin After the conquest of natives about Shuishalien(_??__??__??__??_)in 1726, the Han People(_??__??__??_)gradually turned their attention to this region. At that time, the natives who lived in the Pu-Li Basin were of the Bunun group(_??__??_)and the Atayal group(_??__??_).
The movement of the Han People(_??__??__??_)to the Pu-Li Basin was interrupted by the Kuo Pai-Nien Incident(_??__??__??__??__??_)in 1814. All of the Han people were expelled from the basin in accordance with the mountain region blockade policy of the Government of the Ching Dynasty(_??__??_).In order to protect themselves, the Bunun group called the Ping-Pu People(_??__??__??_)who lived in the middle part of the western plain in their region. The Ping-Pu People brought a portion of the land under cultivation formed a large part of the present settlement and became the rulers of the basin.
A merchant of the Minnan group(_??__??__??_)(of the Han People) came to the basin from about 1865, This was the first step of the Han People's settlement in the basin. In 1875, the Government of the Ching Dynasty cancelled prohibition to the mountainous regions and started pioneering the Pu-Li Basin. They built the Ta-Pu Castle(_??__??__??_).After that, the immigration of the Han People suddenly increased. Among them the Minnan group who came from the middle part of the western plain, occupied the good part of the region; whereas, the Minnan and Kanton groups(_??__??_)who came from northern Taiwan settled in the piedmont or the plateau. The general development of the Pu-Li Basin was accomplished by the settlement of these groups of the Han People.
During the Japanese occupation, almost all of the Japanese people preferred to reside in the city. They were less concernd about villages. The Japanese Goverment occupied Pu-Li Town(_??__??__??_)as its center and built up the modern foundation of this basin. After the World War II, the culture of Mainland China was reintroduced. Pu-Li Town gradually developed to a modern city. Accordingly, the contrast of town and village within the basin became more noticeable.
3. The Type of the Rural Settlement in the Pu-Li Basin The Mei-Si Fan area was dominated by the clustered settlement, whereas there was a mixture of disperesed and clustered types of settlement on the Nankang-Si Fan. According to the map and the history of development, the clustered settlement was the basic type of rural settlement in the Pu-Li Basin.
