Fort San Domingo Introduction
The Octagonal Tower was completed in 1925 and serves as the spiritual fortress of Tamkang Secondary School, representing architecture from the Mackay era. This building was originally named "Tower of Faith, Hope, and Love," designed by Mr. K. Doawie, a mathematics teacher and missionary. The architectural style is based on the prestigious schools of the UK and the US, integrating both Eastern and Western elements while also reflecting local Taiwanese architectural characteristics. The layout follows the form of a traditional Sanheyuan (three-section compound). The main tower, standing at 60 feet high, is flanked by two floors, with classrooms decreasing in height along the wings. The front classrooms end with wing towers, with a balcony in front and corridors on both sides. Three towers surround the lush front yard, leading into the main entrance through a palm tree-lined path. The main entrance is adorned with a Guanyin stone lintel, carved with sparrow supports and lanterns, highlighting the Chinese influences. Above the lintel of the Octagonal Tower is the school's motto "Faith, Hope, and Love" inscribed in seal script by Wu Ting-fang, which was the school's guiding principle when it was established. The original sign "Tamshui High School" was replaced during the Japanese occupation with "Private Tamshui High School," and two rows of Alexander palm trees were planted in front of the entrance along with a second floor added to the east wing. After the merger of the male and female schools in 1956, a second floor was also added to the west wing, resulting in its current appearance. This charming building not only shapes the refined academic atmosphere of Tamkang Secondary School, providing an inspiring environment for cultivating humanistic qualities, but it has also become a romantic filming location for many current films and advertisements.
