荷蘭臺灣語彙史料中的虎尾壠信仰世界

The Favorlang World of Faith in Historical Dutch Formosan Lexical Materials

本文追溯基督宗教衝擊臺灣原住民族信仰的第一波──荷蘭時代，探討基督新教荷蘭改革宗教會於1644-1654年向中部平原虎尾壠人傳教的事工與內涵。由本土信仰主導的虎尾壠信仰世界，雖也見識過唐人的信仰崇拜，但直到新教的傳佈才最終譜出一段短暫的改宗插曲。
透過分析虎尾壠語彙史料──Gilbertus Happart牧師署名的《虎尾壠語詞典》與Jacobus Vertrecht牧師手稿總集《教義與講章》，可以觀察到兩者都隱含不具名的先行者Simon van Breen牧師打下基礎的業績。從牧師接續積累的成果中，我們得以掌握作為外來他者的牧師將見證的虎尾壠在地信仰與慣習經過再詮釋後，轉化成為傳遞福音的助力；另一方面，牧師也以習得的虎尾壠語，藉由講道與教學，傳達對虎尾壠人來說，全新且異己的基督教信仰與實踐的大致脈絡。
《教義與講章》無疑是牧師與虎尾壠人進行信仰接觸與交流的產物，筆者嘗試從中感受虎尾壠信仰世界在被殖民情境下受到世界性宗教衝擊的力度，並思索改宗的在地意涵。

This article examines the transformation of Indigenous beliefs in Taiwan during the Dutch colonial era, focusing on the initial impact of global religions on the Favorlang people in central Taiwan between 1644 and 1654. It explores the missionary efforts of the Dutch Reformed Church, particularly through the lens of linguistic and religious texts produced by Dutch ministers.
Scrutinizing historical materials such as the Woord-boek der Favorlangsche Taal [Dictionary of the Favorlang Dialect of the Formosan Language] and Leerstukken en Preeken in de Favorlangsche Taal (Eiland Formosa) [Articles of Faith for the Use of the Schools in the District of Favorlang (Island of Formosa)], this article highlights the foundational work and achievement of the largely anonymous pioneer Reverend Simon van Breen. Through an analysis of the documents, the study addresses key questions:“What Indigenous beliefs and practices did the ministers encounter upon entering‘the Favorlang world’as outsiders? How did the ministers’acquisition of the Favorlang language facilitate their communication with and their preaching of the new Christian faith to the Favorlang people?”
As a Christian missionary text composed in the Favorlang language, Doctrine and Sermons stands as a testament of the cultural and religious exchange between the ministers and the Favorlang people. This article further reflects on the local meanings of religious conversion in the colonial context and offers insights into the broader implications of world religions on Indigenous and Taiwanese beliefs during the early modern period.