Daxi Wood Art Eco Museum - No. 1 Exhibition Hall Introduction
The concept of the "Ecological Museum," which originated in Northern Europe, advocates that the "residents" are the core players, subverting the stereotypical image of museums. It is not only Taiwan's first museum to bear the term "ecological" but also the first open-air museum in the western part of Taiwan, apart from Yilan and Kinmen. In Daxi, one can find a microcosm of over two hundred years of history. The woodworking industry took root here as early as the 1810s, and after two centuries of development, many woodworking shops 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 hub for Taiwan's woodworking industry. Furthermore, the Daxi Sub-branch office was established here after reorganization in 1901, and the police dormitory complex built in the vicinity of Pu Ji Road has created a unique living circle for police officers, witnessing a century of police development in Daxi. The Woodcraft Ecological Museum is dedicated to preserving cultural assets and integrating local communities, introducing two main themes: "Daxi Woodcraft Industry" and "Daxi Common People's Life." The public facilities have been renovated, covering spaces including the Wude Hall and 22 Japanese-style dormitories, with phased renovations open year by year. This initiative connects various historical streets, transforming the entire Daxi area into a cultural museum. The first facility opened to the public is named "No. 1 Hall," a Japanese elevated wooden building constructed in the 1920s, which also served as the residence of the principal of Daxi Elementary School. The former owner was an English teacher at Daxi Junior High School, Chen Maolin, whose wife, Ms. Chen Wang Cuiwu, taught sewing in the house. The scene of "Xiguang Sewing School" hanging at the entrance evokes many shared memories among the women of Daxi; the transformation from a private living space into a public area has breathed new life into the old house. To recreate the glory of Daxi's woodworking, No. 1 Hall retains its wooden Japanese exterior and displays content centered around "woodcraft," covering aspects of folk life culture such as woodworking, food, and religion. Outdoors, there is a long wooden bench designed in the style of Daxi Old Street's "Xinyu Qing Woodworking," while indoors features new wooden tables and chairs crafted by "Xie Da Woodworking," complemented by vibrant audio-visual guides narrating the historical culture of Daxi. In addition to exploring the cultural history of the museum itself, if time allows, visitors can step outside to visit the corner pavilions located in the alleys. These 15 corner pavilions collaborate with the museum to showcase the beauty of local craftsmanship in Daxi, with each corner pavilion functioning as a small themed branch, such as the Da Vinci Watermelon Arts Museum, Xinyu Qing Woodworking, Xie Da Woodworking, Xiajie Forty Workshop, and Xie Sheng Woodworking, all situated on He Ping Old Street. Moreover, at the end of Daxi Old Street lies Daxi Zhongzheng Park, which has a history of over a century and retains the ruins of the Daxi Shrine from the Japanese colonial period. Crossing to the other side of the park leads to Daxi Cultural and Arts House (Chiang Kai-shek Villa), which includes the distinctive "Public Hall" and "Chiang Kai-shek Villa" built during the Japanese rule. An in-depth exploration of the streets and alleys of Daxi will vividly recreate its past splendor. For details on guided services, please refer to the official website of the Daxi Woodcraft Ecological Museum.
