太魯閣族與日本人在日治初期的接觸，乃因應日軍的侵犯與攻擊行動所做的回應，並非主動接觸，且其中往往有漢人通事參與其中，這樣的情形在相良長綱時期可以很明顯地看出來。相良長綱是日治初期東臺灣地區重要的地方首長，當政時期日人仍在摸索如何統治太魯閣族，在無法直接與太魯閣族人接觸時，會透過漢人通事李阿隆居中拉攏。而太魯閣族仍依自己的力量、行為法則，與外來的入侵者互動，當對自己族社有利益或需要時，則與之和平互動，或提供協助，完成交代的任務；但一旦日方侵犯到族人個人，或是入侵傳統領域時，則自然地給予強力的反擊，這從「新城事件」及之後日方發動的三棧溪、九宛社的攻擊，都以嚴重傷亡落幕，即可明顯看出。本文即以日本官方檔案、歷來研究文獻等，探討相良長綱當政的8年期間（1896-1904），太魯閣族人與日本人的互動情形。

The contacts between the Taroko (Truku) People and the Japanese during the early colonial period was a response against Japanese invasion and attack, rather than a voluntary activity. A Tungshu (通事) belonged to the Hans was usually involved in such incidents which became obvious during the Sagara Nagatsuna period. Sagara Nagatsuna was an important regional governor in East Taiwan during the early Japanese colonial period. While groping for the way to rule the Taroko People, instead of directly contact, the Japanese sought for some help from a Tungshu (通事), Li Along (李阿隆). The Taroko people followed their nature to interact with intruders - providing appropriate assistance when the interaction brought benefits to their community and fighting back strongly when the interaction went against their tradition. A typical example was the Hsincheng Incident, followed by the Sanchanhsi (三棧溪) and the Kauwan (九宛社) Battles, all of which brought lots of casualties. By studying Japanese official documents and literatures, this work attempts to discuss the interactions between the Taroko People and the Japanese during the Sagara Nagatsuna period (1896-1904).