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The Poetic Revival Base – Taiwan Literature Base (Qidong Poetry House)

Poetry is refined language. Writing poetry, reading poetry, and incorporating poetry into songs is a lifestyle aesthetics for the people of Taiwan and the foundation of literature.

In 2009, the Ministry of Culture (formerly the Cultural Affairs Council) entrusted the Taipei City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau to restore the Japanese-style dormitory at No. 25 and No. 27, Section 2, Jinan Road, Qidong Street. Before becoming the head of the Ministry, Dr. Hsu Liao-tai renamed this graceful historical building the "Qidong Poetry House" to transform it into a literary landmark in Taiwan literature. To develop the space functions and design of the poetry house, the previous minister specifically commissioned Mr. Chen Jui-hsuan, and entrusted the National Museum of Taiwan Literature with managing and curating exhibitions.

At the same time, the Ministry of Culture launched the "Poetic Revival" program and engaged private enterprises. Mr. Ouyang Ming, chairman of Cheng Lin Enterprises Co., Ltd., generously donated the first year's funding for the project. Since 2014, the poetry house has promoted the creation and exchange of poetry. Dr. Hsu Liao-tai expressed joy, saying, "The Ministry of Culture reuses historical architecture, which is akin to 'Opening a clear pool'; entrepreneurs supporting poetry creation is akin to 'Source water arriving.'"

Architectural Style
The architecture of the Taiwan Literature Base (Qidong Poetry House) features a "Japanese-Western eclectic" style. The roof is of the "Shiranegi-style gable" (Shiranegi-style being a Japanese term for a hybrid gabled and hip roof), with black Japanese tiles covering the roof and decorative roof tiles ("oni gawara") at the ridge ends. The interior preserves traditional Japanese architectural elements such as kurobokuri (storage chests), noki no ma (partitioned rooms with sliding paper doors), yozuya (attic spaces), furoshiki (room with writing tablets), tokonoma (alcoves), fusuma (sliding panels), amado (outer wooden shutters), enzu no mado (meal-serving windows), shōzō (study spaces), and sōtsume-ki (ventilation windows).

Cultural Heritage Conservation
In 2000, Dr. Hsu Liao-tai, then Director of the Taipei City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau, emphasized the importance of preserving the Japanese-style dormitories and old trees on Qidong Street, initiating related planning. In December 2002, residents of Xingfuli, Xingdong Street, resonated deeply with the historical memory space of the buildings and actively campaigned to protect the area locally, advocating for educational opportunities for future generations to understand Japanese-style dormitory architecture. Through collaborative efforts between public and private sectors, Taipei City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau designated the Qidong Dormitory Cluster and Old Tree District as the "Qidong Street Conservation Zone and Specific Designation Area for Preserving the Community Landscape in Zhongzheng District, Taipei City" in July 2006. This led to a series of cultural heritage conservation and restoration initiatives. In 2020, the "Qidong Poetry House" was officially transformed into the "Taiwan Literature Base," expanding from No. 25 and No. 27, Section 2, Jinan Road, to include Nos. 2–10, Alley 53, Qidong Street, becoming the largest and best-preserved Japanese-style dormitory complex in Taipei.

Historical Background

. Qing Dynasty Period
Qidong Street was originally known as "Sanbanqiao Street." During the Kangxi era, it served as a crucial main road connecting Magong (Wanhua) to Zhulu (Zhonglun), XinKou (Songshan), and Jilong (Keelung). In the Qing dynasty, the area transported essential goods like coal and rice to supply goods for the city. The nearby region was called "Sanbanqiao Village," part of the 16 villages of Dajienan堡 (Dajienan Fortress) in the Dahan administrative area.

. Japanese Colonial Period
The Japanese-style residential area on Qidong Street was called "Sachō-chō (Happy Town) Office Officials' Dormitory Cluster" by the Japanese. Built between the 1920s and 1940s, the district housed government officials at different administrative levels of the Governor-General's Office. The southern part near Section 2, Jinan Road, housed high-ranking civil and military officials in the General Governor Office and military, primarily constructed around 1935. The northern area on Qidong Street developed later, serving low-ranking government staff during the 1940s, representing late Colonial Period administrative officials' housing.

. Republic of China Period
After the liberation, the Nationalist Government continued using the district as government officials' dormitories. Number 27, Section 2, Jinan Road, was occupied by Wang Shu-ming, the Lieutenant General and Deputy Commander of the Air Force General Headquarters, starting in 1949. General Wang subsequently held roles including "Lieutenant General, Deputy Commander," "Lieutenant General of the Air Force," "Chief of the General Staff of the Ministry of National Defense," and "Vice Chairman of the Presidential Strategic Advisory Committee," leaving his residence in 1992. Thereafter, in 2006, Taipei City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau designated it the "Qidong Street Conservation Zone and Specific Designation Area for Preserving the Community Landscape in Zhongzheng District, Taipei City." In 2020, the "Qidong Poetry House" was officially restructured and renamed the "Taiwan Literature Base."

(Source: Qidong Poetry House Official Website)