從琉球藩民墓碑文探索牡丹社事件

Exploring Bodan Tribe Incident through Tombstone Epitaph of 54 Vassal Ryukyuans

透過「大日本琉球藩民五十四名墓」碑之銘文，以及其他相關的文獻與研究之佐證，牡丹社事件可以歸納為九個重點事項── 一、牡丹社事件期間（1871–1874），琉球兩屬於中國與日本；日本官方亦確知此事。二、54 位琉球人漂流臺灣而遭原住民殺害之日為清同治 10 年（辛未）11 月 8 日，實當西元 1871 年 12 月 19 日。三、琉球漂民所「悞入」之部落為排灣族高士滑社，而非牡丹社。四、殺害 54 位琉球漂民之凶手，則包括高士滑社、牡丹社、女乃社與竹社之 原住民。五、排灣族原住民殺害琉球漂民的動機，主要應是基於保護族人與領地。 六、日本出兵臺灣，一方面是因「征韓論」受挫，不得不為軍閥找用武之地；另一方面也想達成擴張領土之目的。七、54 位琉球漂民遭害之後，將其遺骸收拾埋葬之主事者應如〈琉球藩民墓 碑〉所載，為鄧天保其人；伊能嘉矩抄錄碑文時，作「劉天保」，當是筆誤。八、目前在車城鄉統埔的琉球藩民墓中所埋葬的屍骸，應該只有身軀部分， 而沒有頭顱。1874 年找到的 44 顆遭難者的「髑髏」，被送回琉球，葬於那霸若狹「上之毛」；1898 年 3 月，又移葬至波之上護國寺。 九、〈琉球藩民墓碑〉之銘文，應如山中樵所考證，係出自福島九成之手筆。

Through research into epitaph on 'tomb of 54 vassal Ryukyuans ', as well as related documents and other evidences, this study deduces the following facts in Botan Tribe Incident: During the time of Bodan Tribe Incident (1871-1874), Ryukyu was a vassal kingdom to both China and Japan, which is known to Japanese government. 54 Ryukyuan shipwrecked castaways were killed by Taiwanese aborigines on the 8th day of the 11th month of Ching Tongzhi 10th year (December 19, 1871). It was the land of Kuskus tribe, not Botan tribe of Paiwan, where the castaways accidentally stumbled. 54 Ryukyuans were killed by Paiwan tribesmen of Botan, Kuskus, 女乃 and Bamboo. The motive of Paiwan tribesmen's killing 54 shipwrecked Ryukyuans was mainly to protect their tribe and territory. Japan sent troops to Taiwan, partly because their 'Korea invading advocate' failed, thus they needed another warlord arena. On the other hand, they intended to achieve territory expansion. The tombstone inscription shows that 54 slaughtered Ryukyuans were buried by Teng, Tien Bao. However, it must be a typo that Ino Kanori, the famed scholar, transcribed Teng, Tien Bao wrongly as Liu, Tien Bao. The corpses buried in 54 Ryukyuans' tomb in Pingtong should be headless for some 44 skulls were found in 1874 and later sent back to Ryukyu. They were first buried in Naha and then moved to Naminoue Gokokuji. According to Yamanaka Kikori, the tombstone epitaph of 54 vassal Ryukyuans was written by Fukushima KyuNaru.