日本領臺初期清代臺灣方志成了官方研究臺灣的重要依據，方志中 的客家書寫，以及乙未之役日人對客家的抗日行為，使官方對於客家產 生了負面書寫。日本領臺50年期間，日本對客家描述也有不同的變化， 在地日本警察的實際客家記錄明顯與官方有落差。 民間日人對客家的認知原則上仍建立在官方論述的基礎上，但民間 對客家觀察面向則較官方廣泛。當時的媒體曾對客家做持續性報導，描 繪出客家的社會現況，期間雜誌則有深入性報導，顯示日人對客家的生 活、文化、產業等感興趣。 本文分析日人對於客家印象的來源概分為兩大類：一、為史料文 獻，二、為實際接觸的經驗。早期日人對於客家認知沿襲清代方志及西 方文獻的看法，日警則依實際管理客家聚落的經驗而有較完整的客家記 錄。日治時期臺灣客家社會印象是由日本殖民者以選擇、形塑、收編等 方式所形成。

During the early Japanese colonial period in Taiwan, the Taiwan Chronicle from Qing Dynasty has become an important source for the Japanese officials to understand about Taiwan. The facts and matters about the Hakka ethnicity that the Chronicle transcribed has also been the basis of their understanding on Hakka people. Later during the 50 years of Japanese colonial period, depictions on Hakka ethnicity in the official records that the Japanese made change over time. Records made by the Japanese police that reign over the Hakka people describe a much different picture than what the government officials thought about the Hakka ethnicity. As for Japanese citizens that lived in Taiwan, their understandings about the Hakka ethnicity were based on impressions derived from government officials, but then grown to be more comprehensive and diverse after interacting with the Hakka people. The newspapers and journals back then has made continuous reports on the Hakka ethnicity, portrayed what Hakka society in general was like, which evidently showed Japanese’s broad interests in the daily lives, cultural & business activities of the Hakka society. This research looks into the two main sources which Japanese get their impressions on the Hakka ethnicity from：historical documentations and daily experiences in living with the Hakka people. Early Japanese colonialists were relying on historical documentations like the Taiwan Chronicle and those from the West, Japanese police on the other hand were replying on daily experiences with the Hakka people in acquiring a much more complete record on their lives and culture. The Japanese hold positive impression about the Hakka society, such were been selected and shaped by the Japanese colonialists in forming an upbeat image on the Hakka ethnicity.

客家概念、客家印象、清代方志、新竹州警察、義民祭

Hakka concept, Hakka impression, The Qing Dynasty Taiwan local chronicle, police, the Yimin festival