Chiayi Old Prison National Historic Site Introduction
The only preserved Pennsylvania-style prison architecture in the world – Chiayi Old Prison. Chiayi Prison was completed and opened in the 11th year of the Taisho era (1922) and was originally named Tainan Prison Chiayi Branch. In 1924, it was renamed Tainan Penal Institution Chiayi Branch. After 1945, it was referred to as the Third Prison First Branch. In the 36th year of the Republic of China, it was renamed Taiwan Chiayi Prison, and in March of the 83rd year, it was relocated to Luzhou Township, while the old prison was turned into Chiayi Prison Chiayi Branch. The various facilities inside are well preserved, with complete hardware and equipment providing practical teaching materials for legal education and the evolution of human rights, as well as diverse functions such as a showcase for prison management development. The architectural style, spatial design, and construction techniques of the Chiayi Branch are distinctive, with a fan-shaped radial central control system conforming to the ideal prototype for inmate containment and control. The workshops and dormitories feature high ceilings, and different types of clerestory windows are designed to meet ventilation, lighting, damp-proofing, and aerial patrol needs. The doors, windows, and wall panels are all made from cypress wood from Alishan, specifically requiring durability, strength, and escape prevention in professional construction, making it of significant preservation value.
