A name is regarded not only as a symbol for identifying individuals, but also as the foundation for building up families, communities and social relations.

The Indigenous communities had their own naming customs, and even during the Japanization at the late stage of the Japanese colonial period, most Indigenous people still possessed their original names spelt with Japanese katakana characters. In December 1945, soon after the takeover of Taiwan, the Chinese Nati<span style="font-size:16px;">onalist government promulgated the Regulations on Restoration of Names of People in Taiwan Province, in which demanded the Formosans who were using Japanese n</span>ames to "restore the original names." However, the "original names" here refer to the new Chinese names instead of the Indigenous ones.

The renaming policy was imposed on the Indigenous individuals as well as their communities, traditional territories and street names. It did not only seriously affect the identity of Indigenous individuals, but also destroyed their kinship system and obfuscated their cultural memory.

On October 25, 1945, less than two months after the official takeover of Taiwan by the Chief Executive's Office, the Civil Affairs Department of the Office soon drafted the Regulations on Name Restoration for People in Taiwan Province. At first, this draft did not mention the Indigenous Peoples at all. However, just one day before its submission to the Chief Executive Chen Yi, the director of the Civil Affairs Department Chou I-e urgently informed Yuan Chi-je, the chief of the first section of the Department, to add the part of the name restoration of Gaoshan Peoples to the draft. As a result, the phrases and sentences such as "people of Taiwan (including Gaoshan Peoples)," and "Gaoshan Peoples shall submit their applications to the police departments" were included. So was Article 4, which states that "Gaoshan people applying for restoration of names under the conditions mentioned in Article 2 shall submit their application according to the Regulations. If they do not have original names to restore, or their original names are considered inappropriate, they can rename themselves with reference to the Chinese names."

Soon after the Regulations on Name Restoration for People in Taiwan Province were promulgated, the Chief Executive's Office noticed that there were not many people applying for name restoration. Therefore, the Office proposed an Amendment to the Regulations, which was approved by the Executive Yuan on May 6, 1946. The Amendment states that the Taiwanese people who restored the nationality of the Republic of China on October 25, 1945 but still possessing Japanese names, shall restore their Chinese names within a set period of time. Those who fail to accomplish in due time shall be fined.

On June 27, 1946, the Civil Affairs Department of the Chief Executive's Office formally requested Taiwan Shin Sheng Daily News to publish an announcement of the Regulations on Name Restoration for People in Taiwan Province for three days. The draft of the official document issued to the newspaper states:

"It is no doubt that there were many people in Taiwan Province applying for name restoration according to the Regulations; however, there were also a considerable number of people straddling and procrastinating on this matter. It is hereby ordered that within three months commencing from the day of announcement…"

Later, the draft was revised as:

"The restoration of name not only should be regarded as an honour of people in Taiwan Province, but also concerns their rights and obligations. As a result, the application shall be submitted without delay and accomplished in due time. Our Taiwanese compatriots shall…”

It is obvious that the Chief Executive's Office changed its attitude and attempted to persuade Taiwanese people with "warm encouragement" to restore their names as soon as possible.