Bingwu Earthquake Monument Introduction
The Trace of Post-Disaster Reconstruction - Taiwan frequently experiences earthquakes, and during the Japanese occupation, there were multiple significant tremors. At dawn on March 17, 1906 (Meiji 39), a major earthquake occurred (The total shaking lasted more than four minutes), with the epicenter located between Minxiong and Meishan. There were many casualties among humans and livestock, and buildings were severely damaged. Continuous aftershocks subsequently caused the deaths of over 1,200 people, and most of the buildings in Chiayi City were destroyed by the earthquake. In the aftermath, the administrative authorities seized the opportunity to plan for urban redevelopment, which laid the foundation for present-day Chiayi City. A monument called "Earthquake Memorial" was erected in memory of this earthquake, possibly the first earthquake memorial in Taiwan, with the text written by Zhuang Borong. After World War II, it was renamed the "Youth Recreation Center," and in March 2001, the Cultural Affairs Bureau restored it. Construction of the site: Erected in Meiji 39 (AD 1906), restored in March 2001.
