Formosa
About Formosa
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, lies between the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south. It has an area of 35,808 square kilometres, with mountain ranges dominating the eastern two-thirds and plains in the western third, where its highly urbanized population is concentrated. The combined territories under ROC control consist of 168 islands in total covering 36,193 square kilometres. The largest metropolitan area is formed by Taipei, New Taipei City, and Keelung. With around 23.9 million inhabitants, Taiwan is among the most densely populated countries.
On the show — 18 mentions total
In the early 1700s the most popular British guide to the history, language and culture of Taiwan, then Formosa, was written in 1704 by a man who did not speak the language, had never been there, and knew nothing about it.
from 261: No Such Thing As A Chocolate Train · read transcript
More facts about Formosa
The fake guide to Formosa was written by George Psalmanazar, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Frenchman who had never left Europe.
No Such Thing As A Chocolate Train · listen
Psalmanazar's Formosa hoax was so believed that he was invited to lecture on Formosan culture and language at Oxford, having invented an entire alphabet and language.
No Such Thing As A Chocolate Train · listen
He claimed Formosans walked naked except for a gold or silver plate over their privates, and executed murderers by hanging them upside down and shooting them full of arrows.
No Such Thing As A Chocolate Train · listen
Coordinates: 24.0000, 121.0000