In the 28th year of Emperor Meiji (1895) the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed, which China ceded Taiwan to Japan. On June 17 in accordance with the administrative regions of the Cing rule, the entire island of Taiwan was divided into Taipei, Taiwan and Tainan counties and Penghu Island Ting. Chiayi County was restructured as Chiayi Branch Ting under Taiwan County. On August 20 local administrative regions were reorganized; Tainan County became Tainan Auxillary Department for Civil Affairs. Chiayi Branch Ting became Chiayi Administrative Office under Tainan Auxillary Department for Civil Affairs.
In March of the 29th year of Emperor Meiji (1896) Taiwan was re-divided into Taipei, Taichung and Tainan counties and Penghu Island Ting. Chiayi Branch Ting was under the rule of Taiwan County.
In May of the 30th year of Emperor Meiji (1897), local administrative regions were again redefined into 6 counties and 3 tings. The branch ting became administrative agency. Chiayi Branch Ting and Yunlin Branch Ting were merged into Chiayi County. The county government was established in Chiayi and given charge over 14 administrative agencies. There were 5 administrative agencies within the territory of Chiayi County (including Chiayi City): Jhungpu, Meitzejhuang, Damao, Chiayi and Putzejiao.
In June of the 31st year of Emperor Meiji (1898), local administrative regions were once again restructured into 3 counties (Taipei, Taichung and Tainan) and 3 tings (Yilan, Taidong and Penghu). Tainan County was in charge of 8 administrative agencies. Those within the territory of Chiayi County (including Chiayi City) were: Chiayi, Damao and Putzejiao.
Local administrative regions underwent another redefinition in the 34th year of Emperor Meiji. Administrative agencies were abolished; the counties were cancelled and 20 tings were instituted. Chiayi became a ting, and there were branch tings under each ting.
Chiayi Ting Government was established in Chiayi Town of Chiayihsi administrative region and given charge over 7 branch tings: Putzejiao, Dongshigang, Hsingang, Damao, Jhungpu, Meitzekang and Dapulin. It also ruled Chiayihsi administrative region, Chiayidong administrative region, Damugun ?administrative region, Damaodongding administrative region (the portion that belonged to the old Chiayi County), Damaodonghsa administrative region, Damaonan administrative region, Damaobei administrative region (the portion that belonged to the old Chiayi County), Damaohsi administrative region, Nioudiaohsi administrative region, Dakanglanghsi administrative region, Niaosong administrative region (the portion that belonged to the old Chiayi County), Daciutianhsi administrative region, Dakanglangdonghsia administrative region, Lutzetsao administrative region, and Tsaitougang administrative region.
In the 42nd year of Emperor Meiji (1909) the 20 tings were consolidated into 12 tings, and Chiayi remained a ting with 19 “aboriginal villages.” With its head office located in Chiayi Town, Chiayi Ting was in charge of 36 administrative regions, 12 branch tings, 63 regional offices and 555 towns.
There were 5 branch tings within the territory of Chiayi County (including Chiayi City): Jhungpu, Jhutouci, Damao, Putzejiao and Dongshigang. The area directly under the rule of Chiayi was located where Chiayi City is today, including Shuijuetou (Shuishang Township today).
In the 9th year of Emperor Taisho (1920), local administrative regions were restructured with the 9 tings on the west turned into 5 states and the 2 tings on the east remaining unchanged. Under the states there were counties and cities; under the counties there were townships.
Taiwan State ruled 1 city and 10 counties. Those within the territory of Chiayi County (including Chiayi City) today were: Chiayi County and Dongshi County. Chiayi County was given charge over 1 town, 10 villages and “aboriginal area”; Dongshi County was given charge over 1 town and 6 villages.
On January 20 of the 5th year of Emperor Showa (1930), Chiayi Town became a city. Chiayi County Government was still in Chiayi City.
Chiayi County was given charge over 10 villages and “aboriginal area”: Shuishang Village (Shuishang Township today), Minhsiung Village (Minhsiung Township today), Hsingang Village (Hsingang Township today), Hsicou Village (Hsicou Township today), Dalin Village (Dalin Township today), Hsiaomei Village (Meishan Township today), Jhuci Village (Jhuci Township today), Fanlu Village (Fanlu Township today), Jhungpu Village (Jhungpu Township today), Dapu Village (Dapu Township today) and “aboriginal area” (Alishan Township today).
Dongshi County was given charge over 1 town and 6 villages: Putze Town (Putze City today), Liaojiao Village (Liaojiao Township today), Dongshi Village (Dongshi Township today), Budai Village (Budai Township today), Lutsao Village (Lutsao Township today), Taibao Village (Taibao Township today), Yijhu Village (Yijhu Township today).