Daxi Wood Art Eco Museum - No. 1 Building Introduction
Originating from the Nordic concept of "eco-museum," it advocates that "residents" are the core role, subverting the general public's stereotype of museums. It is not only the first museum in Taiwan to incorporate the word "eco" in its name but also the first wall-less museum in the western region of Taiwan, apart from Yilan and Kinmen. While visiting Daxi, one can discover traces of over two hundred years of history. The wooden industry has been rooted here since the 1810s, and after two hundred years of development, many wooden workshops and sawmills can still be found today along He Ping Old Street, Kang Chuang Road, Xin Yi Road, and Yuan Lin Road, making it a significant center for the wooden industry in Taiwan. On another note, after its reorganization in 1901, the Daxi branch office was established here, and the police dormitory complex built along Pu Ji Road formed a unique living circle for the police, witnessing the development history of Daxi's police administration over the past century. The Daxi Wood Art Eco-Museum is based on the concept of preserving cultural heritage and integrating local communities, launching two core themes: "Daxi Wood Art Industry" and "Daxi Common People's Life." The public building has been renovated to include space covering the Budokan and 22 Japanese-style dormitory houses, which are opened in phases over the years. It simultaneously connects with various historical houses in the area, turning the entire Daxi into a cultural museum. Currently, the first opened building of the museum is named "Gallery No. 1," which is a Japanese-style elevated bungalow built in the 1920s and once served as the residence of the principal of Daxi Elementary School. The previous owner was Chen Mao-Lin, an English teacher at Daxi Junior High School, and his wife, Ms. Chen Wang Cui-Wu, taught sewing in the house. The sight of the sign “Xiguan Sewing Class” hanging at the entrance evokes shared memories among many women in Daxi; transforming this former private living space into a public space has given new vitality to the old house. To recreate the elegance of Daxi's wooden art, Gallery No. 1 maintains its wooden Japanese exterior and showcases content revolving around "wood art," including daily life culture related to wood art, food, and religion. Outdoors, there is a long wooden bench styled after the Daxi Old Street entrance designed by "New Yuqing Wood Art," while indoors features new wooden tables and chairs crafted by "Hsu University Wood Art," complemented by lively audio-visual guides narrating the historical culture of Daxi throughout the ages. In addition to exploring the cultural history of the museum itself, if time permits, one should step outside to visit the corner houses in the alley, where 15 corner houses collaborate with the museum to guide tourists through the beauty of local craftsmanship in Daxi. Each corner house serves as a thematic sub-gallery, such as the Da Vinci Watermelon Art Museum, New Yuqing Wood Art, Hsu University Wood Art, 40X Factory, and Hsu Sheng Wood Art, all located on He Ping Old Street. Moreover, at the end of Daxi Old Street lies Daxi Zhongzheng Park, which boasts over a hundred years of history, preserving the remains of the Daxi Shrine from the Japanese colonial period. Crossing to the other side of the park leads to the Daxi Arts and Cultural Center (Chiang Kai-shek Residence), which includes the unique Japanese colonial buildings "Public Hall" and "Chiang Kai-shek Residence." Through a thorough exploration of Daxi's streets and alleys, the former glory is gradually being restored. For detailed information about the guided tour services, please visit the Daxi Wood Art Eco-Museum's official website.
