A group of traders from Okinawa ran into a storm and were blown ashore near Pingtung. After landing they stumbled unwittingly into Mutan Village and more than 50 were killed by the Aborigines. The Japanese had always considered themselves to have suzerainty over Okinawa and, additionally, had long harbored designs on the island of Taiwan.
原來，有一批琉球商人乘船途中，遭遇暴風雨漂流到屏東附近，上岸後誤闖牡丹社，五十多人遭原住民殺害。