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Mona Rudao

1880 – 1930

Taiwanese chief of the Seediq tribe

Traditional leader or chiefMahebo
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About Mona Rudao

Lived 1880 – 1930 (aged 50). Mona Rudao was a traditional leader or chief and mahebo.

Mona Rudao, sometimes Mouna Rudao or Mona Ludaw (1880–1930; ), was the son of a chief of the Seediq tribe of Taiwanese aborigines. In 1911, he made a visit to Japan. He succeeded his father as a chief of the village of Mahebo (, in present-day Ren'ai, Nantou) and became one of the most influential chiefs of the area of . Mona Rudao was from the Tgdaya group of the Seediq.

He became famous for orchestrating the Musha incident in what is now Nantou County in 1930 against the Japanese authorities. He ended up committing suicide by shooting himself with a pistol during the revolt to prevent the Japanese from capturing him alive. His remains were found in a forest in 1933, and were taken to the Department of Archaeology of the Taihoku Imperial University (now called National Taiwan University) where they were exhibited as a warning to future rebels. The bones were "identified" by his daughter and not positively confirmed by DNA. After the arrival of the Kuomintang the bones were placed in a warehouse until 1974 when they were reburied near the tribe at the Wushe Incident Memorial Park. The Taiwanese viewed him as a hero for carrying out a revolt and he is now one of the figures on New Taiwan Dollar coins.

In 2005 the Kuomintang displayed a massive photo of Mona Rudao at its headquarters in honor of the 60th anniversary of Taiwan Retrocession Day.

Mona Rudao has been part of Taiwanese popular culture, appearing in books and manga. His character took the part of protagonist in the 2003 TV Drama Dana Sakura and the 2011 Taiwanese film Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale.

Mona Rudao's daughter Mahung Mona became known as the "woman who washed her face with tears" because all members of her immediate family—including her parents, siblings, uncle Tado Mona, first husband Sapu Pawan, and their children—died as a result of the Wushe incident.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Traditional leader or chief, Mahebo
Nationality
Taiwan under Japanese rule, Seediq people
Also known as
Mouna Rudao

Family & relationships

Parent
Luhe Rudao

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Mona Rudao's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Mona Rudao?

Taiwanese chief of the Seediq tribe (1880-1930)

When was Mona Rudao born?

Mona Rudao was born on 21 May 1880 in Musha.

When did Mona Rudao die?

Mona Rudao died on 5 November 1930 in Musha.

What was Mona Rudao's occupation?

Mona Rudao was a traditional leader or chief and mahebo.

What nationality was Mona Rudao?

Mona Rudao's recorded nationality: Taiwan under Japanese rule, Seediq people.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Mona Rudao

· Wikidata: Q697065

· DBpedia: Mona Rudao

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mona Rudao. https://biography.guide/mona-rudao/

MLA: "Mona Rudao." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mona-rudao/.

Chicago: "Mona Rudao." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mona-rudao/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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