1874 年牡丹社事件，日本意圖侵占臺灣。清廷派欽差大臣沈葆楨來臺處理臺灣防務，並積極建設臺灣：開山撫番、增設郡縣、鼓舞士氣；鞏固海疆，以杜日本覬覦，為晚清冶臺政策之重大轉捩點。

　　　　　Shen Pao-Cheng, the Imperial commissioner who had been sent to take charge of Taiwan in 1874 and arrange defenses to prevent the occupation of Taiwan by the Japanese, was impressed with the necessity of introducing great reforms and infrastructures, including civilizing the savage aborigines, establishing new counties, and improving morale.