Taiwan follows its own unique calendar system called the Minguo calendar. This calendar is based on the founding year of the Republic of China, which marks the end of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the republic. Understanding the Minguo year and Taiwan’s public holidays is essential for anyone interested in the culture, history, and everyday life of Taiwan.
Minguo Calendar : What is it?
The Minguo calendar, also known as the Republican calendar, was introduced in 1912 by the ROC government. It replaces the traditional Chinese calendar that dates back centuries. The Minguo calendar starts from the year 1912, with each year being numbered as the number of years that have passed since the establishment of the republic. For example, the year 2026 in the Gregorian calendar corresponds to the Minguo year 115, the year 2025 was the Minguo year 114, the year 2027 will be the Minguo year 116, and so on.
The Last 20 years in Minguo year
To provide a clearer picture of the Minguo year and its relationship to the Gregorian calendar, here is a table showcasing the Minguo year for the past 20 years:
| Gregorian Year | Minguo Year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 92 |
| 2004 | 93 |
| 2005 | 94 |
| 2006 | 95 |
| 2007 | 96 |
| 2008 | 97 |
| 2009 | 98 |
| 2010 | 99 |
| 2011 | 100 |
| 2012 | 101 |
| 2013 | 102 |
| 2014 | 103 |
| 2015 | 104 |
| 2016 | 105 |
| 2017 | 106 |
| 2018 | 107 |
| 2019 | 108 |
| 2020 | 109 |
| 2021 | 110 |
| 2022 | 111 |
| 2023 | 112 |
| 2024 | 113 |
| 2025 | 114 |
| 2026 | 115 |
| 2027 | 116 |
| 2028 | 117 |
| 2029 | 118 |
| 2030 | 119 |
| 2031 | 120 |
| 2032 | 121 |
| 2033 | 122 |
As seen in the table, the Minguo year is typically numerically equivalent to the Gregorian year minus 1911.
The Minguo calendar is widely used in Taiwan for official documents, public records, and historical references. It is also prevalent in everyday life, with the Minguo year often appearing on official documents such as driver’s licenses, identification cards, and government forms. Additionally, some newspapers, magazines, and websites in Taiwan use both the Minguo and Gregorian years to cater to different readers’ preferences.
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