The Empire of Japan entered Taiwan as a modern state, and initiated stringent control over the island’s population and land. Mountain regions that formerly enjoyed relative autonomy in terms of politics and culture, and the eastern area that had been included in Qing territory but not properly controlled, had to be gradually incorporated into the colonial system. As a result of Japan’s conquest and policies, indigenous communities faced dramatic changes with respect to their daily lives and how they saw the world. The tribes’ oral traditions have preserved their historical memories, and their viewpoints differ widely from official records.