The National Palace Museum is home to a large number of Ch'ing archival documents on the aborigines of Taiwan. An examination of the reports and memorials by various regional and local officials is to reveal their knowledge of the island and its aborigines, as well as the Ch'ing court's policy on Taiwan since the 17th century.

The memorial from Governor-general Liu Yun-ke of Fukien and Chekiang, dated the 27th year of Emperor Tao-kuang's reign (1847), shown in this exhibition is one example. It is documented that Liu, at the command of the emperor, had visited Taiwan himself, and had surveyed the land inhabited by the six aboriginal communities of Shui-sha-lien. He had inspected their living conditions and consolidated his observations into a memorial to the throne for the purpose of assimilating aboriginal peoples. The memorial is made up of more than 7,000 Chinese characters, delineating in detail what he saw on his expeditions, which has greatly contributed to our understanding of the locations of various tribal communities, their social life and customs, aboriginal costumes and dress accessories, farming conditions, and natural resources, as well as the implementation and administration of the policies of the Ch'ing court.

Governor-general Liu also addressed the beauty of Jih-yüeh-t'an (also known as Sun Moon Lake), the tattoo designs of the aborigines, their weapons and tools, etc., details that well illustrate the native culture of the Shui-sha-lien aborigines over a hundred years ago.

	Reporting on the reclamation of the land located in six aboriginal communities of Shuishalien Memorial from Governor-general Liu yun-ke of Fukien and Che-chiang Tao-kuaug reign 710.4cm × 21.2cm