Daxi Wood Art Eco Museum - Pavilion No. 1 Introduction
Originating from the Nordic concept of "eco-museum", this museum advocates that "the residents" are the core players, overturning the stereotypical impression people have of museums. It is not only the first museum in Taiwan with "ecological" in its name but also the first wall-less museum in western Taiwan, aside from Yilan and Kinmen. In Daxi, visitors can discover reflections of over two centuries of history. The woodworking industry has taken root here since the 1810s, and after two hundred years of development, many woodworking shops and sawmills are still present today along He Ping Old Street, Kang Chuang Road, Xin Yi Road, and Yuan Lin Road, making Daxi a significant hub for Taiwan's woodworking industry. Additionally, the Daxi Branch Office of the Da Xi Ka branch was established here after its restructuring in 1901, and the police dormitory group built around Pu Ji Road has created a unique police living circle, witnessing a century of development in Daxi's police administration. The Woodcraft Eco-Museum is based on the concept of preserving cultural assets and integrating local communities. It features two core themes: "Daxi Woodcraft Industry" and "Daxi Common People's Life". The public building has been renovated, encompassing the Wude Hall and a cluster of 22 Japanese-style dormitories, which are opened in stages by year. This also connects various historical street houses in the area, turning the entire Daxi into a cultural museum. The first exhibition hall open to the public is named "Hall No. 1", a Japanese-style elevated building constructed in the 1920s, which once served as the principal's residence for Daxi Elementary School. The previous owner was Chen Maolin, an English teacher at Daxi Junior High School, and his wife, Ms. Chen Wang Cuiwu, taught sewing in the house, creating a scene where a sign for "Stream Light Sewing Tutorial" hung at the dormitory entrance, evoking common memories among many women from Daxi. Transitioning from a private living space to a public space has breathed new life into the old house. To recreate the glory of Daxi's woodcraft, Hall No. 1 retains its wooden Japanese-style exterior and showcases the theme of "woodcraft," which includes aspects of woodwork, food, religion, and the common cultural life. Outdoor features include a long wooden bench designed in the shape of Daxi Old Street's "New Yuqing Woodcraft" archway, while inside there are new wooden tables and chairs made by "Hua Chiao Woodcraft," complemented by lively audio-guided tours that narrate Daxi's historical culture. In addition to exploring the museum's cultural history, if time permits, visitors may want to step outside and visit the corner museums scattered through alleyways. These 15 corner museums cooperate with the museum to introduce the beauty of local crafts in Daxi, with each corner museum serving as a themed sub-branch. Notable places such as the Da Vinci Watermelon Art Museum, New Yuqing Woodcraft, Hsiang Da Woodcraft, the Forty Workshop on Lower Street, and Hsieh Sheng Woodcraft are all located along 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 era. Crossing to the other side of the park leads to the Daxi Art and Cultural Center (Chiang Kai-shek Residence), which includes characteristic architecture from the Japanese colonial period such as the "Community Hall" and "Chiang Kai-shek Residence." A deeper exploration of the streets and corners of Daxi will vividly recreate its past splendor. Details of the guided services can be found on the official website of the Daxi Woodcraft Eco-Museum.
