Taiwan Literature Base Introduction
The Taiwan Literature Base is located within the Japanese dormitory complex on Qidong Street, which is one of the few areas in Taiwan where historical buildings have been preserved to such an extent. It is also among the first batch of Japanese dormitory groups to have been designated for preservation under the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. The area includes one officially designated historic site and nine historical buildings that not only embody rich local stories and connections with the experiences of the citizens but also highlight the contemporary significance of revitalizing and reusing Taipei's remaining groups of Japanese dormitories. In the neatly arranged center of Taipei, Qidong Street is like a casual smile, stretching between Jinan Road and Zhongxiao East Road. Behind this smile lies a long history—over 200 years ago, during the Qing Dynasty, this area was an ancient path known as "Sanbanqiao Street" leading to Songshan and connecting to Keelung. At that time, it was filled with endless rice fields and ponds. Amidst the irrigation channels, rice fields, and ponds, the unnamed Qidong Street wound its way through, taking on the heavy responsibility of transporting essential goods like rice and coal. During the Japanese colonial period from 1920 to 1940, the Governor-General began to build Japanese-style civil servant dormitories here, which are now the Qidong Street Japanese dormitory complex. At the same time, various industry associations and factories gradually gathered in the area, leading to increasingly prosperous commercial activities and the establishment of the "Chengdong Association," which frequently organized community lectures, drama performances, arts appreciation, and film screenings, creating a cultural wave at that time. After the war, the government continued to use this area as the residence for central government officials. Major General Wang Shuming, the then Deputy Commander of the Air Force, also resided at No. 27, Section 2, Jinan Road, and later held positions such as "Chief of the Air Force" and "Chief of Staff of the Ministry of National Defense," until he moved out of the official residence in 1992. This Japanese-style old house was marked as the "General's Residence." After 2000, due to its central location, Qidong Street faced the threat of demolition in the context of rapid urban development. Fortunately, some local residents, recognizing the value of the architectural complex, old trees, and the environment, formed the "Qidong Cultural and Historical Workshop" in 2002. Through the efforts of residents and experts, they successfully preserved the nine adjacent historical Japanese dormitories, which are regarded as "important and invaluable cultural assets of Taipei's citizens." As urban development progressed with new houses, schools, and factories being built, "Sanbanqiao Street" gradually disappeared from the map, leaving behind a smiling arc between Jinan Road and Zhongxiao East Road to remind us of its former existence. In 2011, the Ministry of Culture commissioned the Taipei City Government's Cultural Affairs Bureau to renovate the Qidong Street Japanese dormitories (No. 25 and 27, Section 2, Jinan Road), naming this historical building "Qidong Poetry House." In July 2014, the National Taiwan Museum of Literature began managing, planning exhibitions, and promoting literary activities. With the restoration of the five historical buildings on Alley 53 of Qidong Street completed, the "Taiwan Literature Base," committed to innovation and cultural heritage, officially opened in 2021! (Source: Taiwan Literature Base official website)
