National Taiwan University Museum Cluster - Museum of the Medical Humanities Introduction
The Medical Humanities Museum, formerly the building of the Medical Department of Taihoku Imperial University during the Japanese occupation, began construction in 1907 and was designed by Japanese architect Juro Kondo, with the main structure completed in 1913. Despite being over a century old and having undergone several restorations, the original appearance of the building has mostly been preserved. The function of the building has evolved with the development of the school, serving as classrooms, an administrative center, a hub for medical academic activities in Taiwan, a base for reforms in medical education, and a venue for medical humanities education, until the museum was established in 2008. The museum's exhibitions include permanent and special exhibitions. The permanent exhibitions feature "The Birth of Life," "Where Taiwanese Come From," and "Taiwanese People and Their Struggles with Diseases," while special exhibitions are launched every six months, focusing on the impacts and reflections brought about by the development of medicine, and are showcased in other medical education institutions on a touring basis. The architectural style of the museum belongs to the late French Renaissance, with the lobby, main walls, and columns adorned with beautiful lines and carvings, making it quite grand. The lobby and hallways feature many elegant arches. The original roof was designed as a Mansard style, covered with slate and copper, and had small round windows on the sloped sides. However, in 1930, a fire occurred in the museum, destroying the roof, and it lost its original appearance after restoration.
