【預刊】（37卷）臺灣日治時期 新竹地區之送養事件分析

Out-adoption among Children in Colonial Taiwan: The Evidence in Xinzhu

收養孩童風俗盛行於日治時期的臺灣漢人社會。藉由分析《臺灣日治時期戶口調查簿（1906-1945）》資料庫之資料，研究者探討新竹地區孩童送養現象。數據資料首先顯示，送養的女童人數明顯多於男童，且多非常年幼。重要地，孩童的手足組成或結構影響著孩童的送養風險。研究者認為，送養行為係為家戶存續策略的一環，也是一種家戶的理性行動或計畫行為。家戶決策者為維持家戶的存續，在其男嗣傳承的傳宗接代目標得以達成的情況下，送養部分家戶中之合適孩童。因此，相較於男童，女童的送養機率會較高。長子女的送養風險遠低於後出生序的孩童。

Adoption was prevalent in colonial Taiwan. Drawing data from the Taiwan Historical Household Registers Database (1906-1945), the researcher investigates the factors associated with the likelihood of out-adoption among children in Xinzhu. In addition to finding that girls were more likely to be adopted out than boys, and that most adoptions occurred at a young age, the statistical results show that sibling composition was important. Giving up a first-born boy or girl for adoption was rare. Consequently, the researcher argues that giving up specific children for adoption could be a planned household action that was one of the family survival strategies to overcome family difficulties. Offering children up for adoption would not occur until family continuity was ensured.