IT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER TO CLARIFY THE DISTRIBUTION OF NATIVE VILLAGES AND THE HAN CHINESE VILLAGES OVER THE TAIPEI PLAIN AND TO ANALYZE THE URBANIZATION PROCESS TILL THE CHING DYNASTY. IN THIS PROCESS, WE FIND THAT THE RECLAMATION OF THE PLAIN BY CHINESE CAUSES THE GRADUAL LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND OWNED BY NATIVE INHABITANTS, AND THAT ECONOMIC FACTORS SUCH AS INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND LOCATIONAL ADVANTAGE PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN URBANIZING THREE CORE REGIONS OF TAIPEI.
