Daxi Wood Art Eco Museum - No. 1 Exhibition Hall Introduction
Originating from the Nordic concept of "Eco-Museum," which emphasizes that "residents" are the core players, this museum subverts the stereotype of traditional museums. It is not only the first museum in Taiwan with "ecology" in its name but also the first open museum in western Taiwan, excluding Yilan and Kinmen. In Daxi, one can discover the historical microcosm of over 200 years; the woodworking industry has been rooted here since the 1810s. 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 Daxi a significant hub for Taiwan's woodworking industry. Additionally, following its transformation in 1901, the Daxi Branch Office was established here, and the police dormitories built around Puji Road formed a unique police living circle, witnessing the development of public security in Daxi over the past century. The Wood Art Eco-Museum, guided by the principles of preserving cultural heritage and connecting with local communities, has launched two core themes: "Daxi Woodworking Industry" and "Daxi Everyday Life." The public facilities have been renovated, encompassing the Military Boxing Hall and a group of 22 Japanese-style dormitories, opened in phases and connecting various historical buildings throughout Daxi, thus transforming the whole area into a cultural museum. Currently, the first facility open to the public is named "No. 1 Hall," a wooden elevated Japanese-style building built in the 1920s, which also served as the Japanese dormitory for the principal of Daxi Elementary School. The former owner was Chen Mao-Lin, an English teacher at Daxi Junior High School, whose wife, Ms. Chen Wang-Cui-Wu, taught sewing in this house, creating a shared memory for many women in Daxi, with the sewing class sign "Xi Guang Sewing Tutoring Class" hanging at the front door. The transition from a private living space to a public area has given the old house renewed vibrancy. To recreate the splendor of Daxi's woodworking, this No. 1 Hall retains its wooden Japanese appearance and showcases culture centered around "woodworking," including common life aspects such as woodworking, food, and religion. Outdoors, a long wooden bench designed in the style of Daxi Old Street by "Xin Yu Qing Woodcraft" is available, while indoors, "Hsieh Da Woodcraft" has created new wooden tables and chairs. With dynamic audio-visual tours, the history and culture of Daxi are vividly narrated. Besides appreciating the cultural history of the museum, if time permits, visitors can explore the street corner galleries collaborating with the museum. These 15 street corner galleries guide tourists to appreciate local craftsmanship, with each gallery serving as a themed branch; places such as Da Vinci Watermelon Art Gallery, Xin Yu Qing Woodcraft, Hsieh Da Woodcraft, Xia Jie Si Shi Fan Di Workshop, and Hsieh Sheng Woodcraft can all be found along He Ping Old Street. Furthermore, at the end of Daxi Old Street lies Daxi Zhongzheng Park, which has a history of over a century and preserves the ruins of Daxi Shrine from the Japanese colonial period. Crossing to the other side of the park leads visitors to Daxi Art and Cultural House (Chiang Kai-shek Residence), which includes the distinctive buildings "Public Hall" and "Chiang Kai-shek Residence" from the Japanese rule. Walking through the streets and alleys of Daxi, visitors can relive its past glory. For detailed information on guided services, please visit the official website of the Daxi Wood Art Eco-Museum.
