Minguo

Minguo (民國) is a Chinese term that refers to the Republic of China period as well as to the calendar era used in Taiwan. The name literally means "Republic Era" and is associated with the regime established after the Xinhai Revolution, which led to the founding of the Republic of China in 1912.

Historically, Minguo denotes the era of the Republic of China on the Chinese mainland from 1912 to 1949, including the Nanjing decade and the wartime years. After the Chinese Civil War, the ROC government retreated to Taiwan in 1949, where it continued to govern Taiwan and some outlying islands.

In Taiwan, the term also designates the Minguo calendar, which is used for year numbering in official documents, passports, and many civil records. The calendar treats 1912 as Minguo Year 1; in general, Minguo year equals the Gregorian year minus 1911. For example, 2023 corresponds to Minguo Year 112. The calendar is widely used in civil contexts, alongside the Gregorian calendar.

In contemporary usage, Minguo is primarily associated with Taiwan, where it denotes either the historical period of the ROC or the civil calendar system. On the mainland, the term appears mainly in historical discussions about the era of the Republic of China, as the People’s Republic of China governs the mainland. The ROC government continues to operate in Taiwan, governing the island and several nearby outlying areas.