Evolutionary History of Dongmen Police Station Architecture
Impressions of Social and Political Landscape during Japanese Colonial Period
The Dongmen Police Station, originally known as the “Dongmen Police Station of the Chiayi Police Bureau,” was established in 1923 (Taisho 12) and is currently located at No. 236 Gongming Road in the East District of Chiayi City. The original building suffered severe damage during the Chiayi Earthquake of 1930 (Showa 5) and was subsequently rebuilt in 1931 (Showa 6). In addition to the police station, the premises also included the chief’s dormitory and a two-story dormitory for police officers.
The evolutionary history of the Dongmen Police Station architecture encompasses architectural, political, and historical dimensions. By exploring the changing process of the architectural complex, one can gain insights into the architectural style of the police administration during the Japanese colonial period and the influence of local gentry on society. Through historical documentation, it offers impressions of the social and political system and urban landscape during the Japanese colonial era.
1904
Expansion of Defense, People's Donation
for the Construction of Police Station
Around 1901 (Meiji 34), during a period of defense expansion, the number of police stations increased significantly. However, the financial strain on the struggling Government-General of Taiwan could not bear the burden. Therefore, “kifu” (donations) became the primary source of funding for police station construction, a practice that continued even after the war. Among these donations, monetary and labor contributions were predominant. Monetary donations were typically measured against the amount of local taxes residents were expected to pay annually.
From historical documents such as the “Report on the Acceptance of Land Donations for the Construction of the Dongmen Police Station and Office in Chiayi,” it is known that the initial buildings of the Dongmen Police Station, including the main body and the restroom, were funded by donations from residents within its jurisdiction.
1905
Gathering of Literati and Scholars from
Poetry Societies Impact Local Development
The Dongmen Police Station was situated in a pivotal area for economic and entertainment development of Chiayi, where many literati and scholars gathered. According to historical records, among the donors who contributed to the construction of the Dongmen Police Station were two local gentlemen, OUYANG Jun-Wei and XIE Bao.
OUYANG Jun-Wei was a Han Chinese physician in Tainan Prefecture at the time, who practiced medicine at the Tiam-a-khau in Chiayi. He was also a member of the local poetry society “Luoshan Poetry Society.” Established in 1911 (Meiji 44), the “Luoshan Poetry Society” held monthly poetry gatherings and often engaged in poetic exchanges and gatherings with fellow poets from Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, and Tainan. Some of his poems include “Thoughts of the Old Jhuluo,” “WU Ji-Zi Hangs His Sword,” “Rice Field,” and “Asking Heaven,” but many were lost due to the turmoil of war. As for XIE Bao, he was likely a local influential figure who frequently served as a witness or committee member in local mediation proceedings.
On another note, according to the records of the layout of the restroom found in the survey documents, the original location of the restroom at the Dongmen Police Station was in the northeast corner of the site, which is the current location of the chief’s dormitory.
1923
Relocation of the Dongmen Police Station to
the New Building
The original Dongmen Police Station was constructed of bricks and with the size of about twenty tatami mats. On March 13 of the same year, the construction of the new building was completed, and a completion ceremony was held on March 15, followed by a Liyuan theatre performance to celebrate the occasion.
1930
Damage from the Chiayi Earthquake, Reconstruction Completed with a
Beam-Raising Ceremony
In 1930, Chiayi experienced a severe earthquake, causing significant damage to the buildings of the Dongmen Police Station. After raising sixteen hundred yen from local residents, reconstruction work began using earthquake-resistant wooden construction methods, resulting in its present-day structure using king post truss. A “beam-raising ceremony” was held on March 12, 1931, with prayers for blessings.