盲人通常被視為經濟弱勢且行動上較多障礙，因而活動能力與範圍較為有限。然而自十九世紀末開始，臺灣的盲人因為西洋傳教士的派遣而往來於中國與臺灣之間；日本殖民統治時期，由於基督教積極鼓勵接受新式教育，因此開始有臺灣盲人到日本唸書、中國盲人到臺灣唸書。二十世紀上半葉，日本內地許多明眼人加入鍼灸按摩工作，導致當地盲人失去養活自己的能力。由於當時殖民地臺灣只有盲人可以到學校學習鍼灸與按摩，一般人不易取得執照許可，而傳統抓龍又遭到禁止和取締，因此吸引許多日本人前來臺灣工作，也鼓勵臺灣盲人加入按摩這個在臺灣新興的行業。這些跨國或島內移動，與傳統社會盲人的移動方式和目的有明顯的不同。

People with visual impairment are often considered economically disadvantaged, restricted in mobility and consequently limited in range of activities. In fact, towards the end of the 19th century, the blind from Taiwan shuttled across the Strait under the auspices of Western Christian missionaries. During the Japanese colonial period, the blind from Taiwan travelled to study in Japan, while their Chinese counterparts came to study in Taiwan, again under the encouragement and assistance of missionaries. The then colonial employment policy is another important factor contributing to the mobility of the blind. Since the mid-19th century, many people with normal vision began working as masseurs and acupuncturists in Japan, jeopardizing the livelihood of the local blind. On the contrary, in Taiwan only the blind could learn massage and acupuncture in schools for the blind. With the banning of traditional Taiwanese massage in colonial Taiwan, many Japanese blind relocated to Taiwan for work during the first half of the 20th century.

盲人;流動;按摩;鍼灸;基督教

Blind; Movement; Massage; Acupuncture; Christianity