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Then Jhuluo
Modern Tōmonchō from Qing Dynasty to Japanese Colonial Period

The premises of the Dongmen Police Station were once the center of development in the Chiayi area. First, let’s go back to Chiayi before the Japanese colonial period. Chiayi was originally called “Jhuluo Mountain,” with “Jhuluo” being a transliteration of the local Plains Indigenous tribe “Jhuluo Mountain Society.” With the influx of Han Chinese settlers, the establishment of Jhuluo County, and the construction of city walls, it gradually developed into a predominantly Han Chinese settlement. After Japan’s rule over Taiwan, Chiayi became the sugar industry center for surrounding towns and a transit hub for the development of the Alishan Forest Plantation, emerging as a focal point for economic and entertainment development in the modern era.

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During Qing Dynasty: East Gate Inner Street –

 

Jingshan Silk Road Facilitating Economic
and Trade Connections

During the Dutch and Cheng Regimes, the development of the Chiayi area gradually commenced, but with scattered population distribution, there was no large-scale construction. In 1684 (the 23rd year of the Kangxi reign), even after Taiwan came under Qing rule, the Chiayi area remained in the initial stages of development, with no city walls or urban streets. It was not until 1704 (the 43rd year of the Kangxi reign) that substantial construction began, with the establishment of city walls and military defenses, transforming Chiayi into the political and military center north of the capital city of Taiwan. With the improvement of infrastructure, economic activities flourished, attracting merchants and affluent individuals to settle within the city, accelerating the development of urban streets.

Japanese Colonial Period

After Prosperity: Yukaku District Amid Political
and Economic Development

During the Japanese colonial period, the administrative center of Chiayi shifted from the southwest side of the old city wall during the Qing Dynasty to the north side within the city.

With changes in administrative divisions, the Chiayi Office was transformed into the Chiayi County Government Office, and the Chiayi Street Government Office under county administration was also established in this area, forming a new administrative center for the Chiayi region.

Economically, with increased infrastructure development and the opening of the North-South Railway, the Chiayi Station was established in the west of the old city area, gradually attracting merchants to move westward. As a result, the business opportunities in the vicinity of East Gate in the old city declined, and commercial activity shifted to both sides of the newly constructed road from the Central Fountain to the Chiayi Station.

From the Qing Dynasty to the Japanese rule era, the political center of Chiayi shifted from south to north, while the economic center moved from east to west. The once bustling area around East Gate, northwest of which lies the famous scenic spot “Reflection of Ten Thousand Mountains,” attracted literati and scholars for leisure and gathering. The Inner Street of East Gate developed into a “yukaku” district, which was a concentration of “kashi-zashiki” businesses, housing officially recognized brothels, akin to today’s red-light district.

The history of Chiayi's yukaku can be traced back to 1897 (Meiji 30) when the Chiayi County Government was established. Many kashi-zashiki businesses appeared near the “Reflection of Ten Thousand Mountains,” commonly known as the “pond end.” At that time, the area was designated as Chiayi's yukaku, frequented mostly by stationed soldiers, with few opportunities for the general public to visit.

By 1906 (Meiji 39), due to the severe damage caused by the Chiayi Earthquake and the urban improvement plan, the yukaku area in Chiayi was relocated to the area outside the West Gate. During the Taisho era, with the development of the sugar and timber industry, a large number of male workers entered the Chiayi area, making the West Gate yukaku a comfort station and earning Chiayi the nickname “Land of Beauties.”

Although there is no definitive historical evidence, many scholars speculate that in the mid-Japanese colonial period, the Dongmen Police Station was located near the “Reflection of Ten Thousand Mountains” and the yukaku, for the convenient management of the red-light district and densely populated areas.

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