The Amis people referred to the area as Marimu, meaning upslope. Previously, this was a densely wooded area featuring a spiraling plant called magnolia that grew on trees, and it is shaped like a phoenix with wings spread wide. When the Han people arrived to reclaim land, they named the region Fenglin (feng and lin are homophonous with phoenix and forest, respectively). The population consists of mostly Hakka people, making it a classic Hakka village. Due to the Hakka people’s diligence, thriftiness, and emphasis on education, the region is well-known for nurturing numerous scholars such as school principals and teachers.