National Taiwan University Museum - Museum of Medical Humanities Introduction
The Museum of Medical Humanities is located in the former campus of the College of Medicine, Taipei Imperial University, during the Japanese colonial period. The earliest construction began in 1907, designed by Japanese architect Juro Kondo, with the main building completed in 1913. Despite undergoing multiple restoration efforts over the past century, much of the original architectural style has been preserved. The building's function has evolved alongside the development of the school, serving as classrooms, an administrative center, a hub for medical academic activities in Taiwan, a base for medical education reform, a place for medical humanities education, and eventually becoming a museum in 2008. The exhibitions are divided into permanent and special exhibits. The permanent exhibitions include "The Birth of Life," "Where Do Taiwanese People Come From," and "The Struggle of Taiwanese People Against Disease." Special exhibitions are launched every six months, presenting the impacts and reflections brought about by the development of medicine and touring other medical education institutions. The architectural style of the museum belongs to the late French Renaissance. The main hall, main walls, and columns are adorned with beautiful lines and carvings, creating an impressive atmosphere. The hall and corridors feature numerous elegant archways. The original roof design adopted the Mansard style, covered with slate tiles and copper, with small round windows on the slanted roof. However, after a fire in the museum in 1930, the roof was destroyed, resulting in the loss of its original appearance after restoration.
