Wisteria Tea House Introduction
Wisteria House is a teahouse, but it is not just a teahouse; it is the first designated municipal historic site in Taiwan and the first living historic site in Taipei designated for its cultural, historical significance and public space. It serves as a gathering place for Taiwan's democratic movements, opposition movements, and free scholars, exuding a cultural atmosphere that carries educational, cultural, and political functions and characteristics, strongly reflecting the significance of civic life and possessing preservation value. Wisteria House is an elegant wooden building located in a concentration of Japanese-style residences, built in the 1920s, featuring a private yard in a tranquil and graceful environment. After World War II, it was taken over by the Ministry of Finance and later turned into a teahouse by descendants of its residents. The name "Wisteria House" comes from the old wisteria vine that stretches along the eaves of the house. The entire historic house is filled with an artistic atmosphere, attracting many political activists, avant-garde cultural figures, and artists who often gather here, gradually making it a symbolic space for liberalism and social and political reform movements. To highlight the cultural value of Wisteria House, after efforts by individuals in the arts and culture community, it was designated as a historic site in 1997 for preservation, not because the tree is old, nor the house, but because of its spiritual significance. (Source: Wisteria House)
