臺灣是個多族群的社會，要了解臺灣歷史，不可避免的需要了解各族群在其開發過程中的互動關係。在族群的議題中，有關於客家人移墾的部份通常是比較弱的一環，而本文即針對客家人在苗栗地區的移墾做一個普遍性的整理與分析，希望對於客家人在苗栗地區的活動脈絡能夠有所貢獻。 首先，對於苗栗地區的自然環境、水文、氣候做一個整理，接著便敘述荷蘭與鄭氏時期苗栗地區開發的狀況，而後便將清朝統治後的海禁政策造成的偷渡問題做一個闡述。接著由客家人進入苗栗地區的先後順序與地區做一個整理，試圖釐清客家人來到此一地區落腳的地方，以觀察其群體聚落的生存環境與空間。當然期間少不了與其他族群的互動關係，如客家人與原住民、平埔族的關係，在在影響到這土地上的人文活動。 生活除了土地、水源更是地區生活開墾不可缺少的要素，因此藉由水源的開發與水圳的興建，看到土地開發的擴張。之後和人們習習相關的便是賴以維生的產業活動了。本文將對於客家人在內山的茶葉與樟腦產業對於客家人經濟的影響與客家大族的興起做一個觀察與連結，試圖闡述產業的興盛與族群繁盛的關係，更可以了解到族群在這生活空間中為了利益競逐而產生的合作、衝突等問題。 Taiwan is the societies of many ethnicities, find out about history in Taiwan, and understand the relation of each ethnicity while it develops in unavoidable need.
In the topic of the ethnicity, it is usually a weaker ring to discuss about the Hakka. This research is about the Hakka who cultivating and making arrangement in the area of Miaoli. We wish the research can bring some contribution to the Hakka.
First of all, we introduce the environment, hydrology, climate of Miaoli, then narrate the state that the area of Miaoli develops of Holland and Zheng period, and then explain in illegal immigration policy causing the problems of Ching Dynasty. After that we observe the priority of Hakka and the other ethnicities in order to find out who come first and which area they like to live. Through the research, it distinguish Hakka favorite place to like and in order to observe his colony gather living environment and space that set to attempt. Certainly we can’t ignore the interaction between Hakka and other ethnicities, such as aboriginals and Pingpu tribes, and their culture in this land.
Except land, source of water are that the regional life cultivates the indispensable key element even more for life, so with the development of the source of water and construction of the ditch between fields of water, saw the expansion of land development.
This research will discuss tea and camphor in order to find out the influence of Hakka and the rise of big clan of Hakka. Finally we can also understand the collaboration and collide between economy and benefit.
