Ming Hsin University of Science and Technology Introduction
Ming Hsin Academy is a traditional Sanheyuan architectural structure, featuring a main hall with three open bays and surrounded by red brick walls on three sides. The academy was established in the early Guangxu era due to the influence of the development of the Central Mountain Range and the booming camphor industry, leading to a prosperous street market and vibrant cultural signs. As a result, local gentry advocated for the establishment of Ming Hsin Academy in Chaiqiao Village. In the ninth year of Guangxu, many large trees were washed down by the flooding of the Zhuoshui River, and wood from the mountains was utilized to build the academy. The shrine primarily venerates the deity Wen Chang Di Jun, with accompanying deities including Sheng Zhi Zi and Zi Yang Fu Zi, along with the revered Confucius. The shrine, plaques, entrance hall, and side corridors all feature couplets that highlight the grand aspiration of Ming Hsin Academy in inheriting the teachings of Confucian masters. In recent years, the academy has integrated traditional festivals and cultural events, which not only serve literary and artistic functions but also promote local cultural industries and tourism. The main hall of the academy serves as a teaching venue, towering above with a roof ridge adorned with a young boy riding a Qilin, vividly detailed. A pair of dragons, along with floral and four-legged decorations, are symmetrically placed on both sides, adding to the lively expressions. Ming Hsin Academy was officially recognized as a Level 3 historic site by the Ministry of the Interior in the 74th year of the Republic of China, with repairs made according to traditional materials. Its Japanese architectural style serves as evidence of the Japanese colonial history, yet its simple and rustic layout embodies the spirit of Han Chinese settlers.
