Taiwan Literature Base Introduction
The Taiwan Literature Base is located within the Japanese dormitory complex on Qidong Street, one of the few areas in Taiwan where historic buildings have been well-preserved. It is also the first batch of Japanese dormitories preserved under the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. The area includes a designated city historical monument and nine historical buildings, rich in local stories and connections to citizen experiences, highlighting the contemporary significance of revitalizing and repurposing this rare group of Japanese dormitories left in Taipei City. In the orderly grid of downtown Taipei, Qidong Street appears like a casual smile between Jinan Road and Zhongxiao East Road. Behind this smile lies a long history—over two hundred years ago during the Qing Dynasty, this place was an ancient road leading to Songshan and connecting to Keelung, known as "Sanbanqiao Street." At that time, the area was filled with endless rice fields and ponds. Between the irrigation ditches, rice fields, and ponds, the unnamed Qidong Street wound its way, shouldering the heavy responsibility of transporting rice grains, coal, and other essential supplies. Between 1920 and 1940 during the Japanese occupation, the Government-General built a series of Japanese civil official dormitories here, which are now the Qidong Street Japanese Dormitory Complex. At the same time, various industries began to gather in the area, with commercial activities flourishing, leading to the establishment of the "City East Society," which regularly organized community lectures, theatrical performances, and film appreciation activities, creating a cultural experience wave of that era. After the war, the government continued to use this area as housing for central government officials; Major General Wang Shuming, then Deputy Commander of the Air Force, also resided at No. 27, Section 2, Jinan Road, and later held positions such as "Commander of the Air Force" and "Chief of Staff of the Ministry of National Defense" until he moved out in 1992, marking the old Japanese house as "General's Residence." After 2000, due to its location in the city center, the Japanese dormitories faced the fate of demolition amid rapid urban development. Fortunately, local residents from Heping Community, recognizing the significance of the architectural cluster, old trees, and environment, formed the "Qidong Cultural and Historical Studio" in 2002. With the efforts of residents and experts, the historical buildings of the adjacent row of nine Japanese dormitories were preserved, regarded as "an important and invaluable cultural asset for the citizens of Taipei City." As urban development progressed, new houses, schools, and factories were constructed, slowly erasing "Sanbanqiao Street" from maps, leaving only the smiling arc between Jinan Road and Zhongxiao East Road as a reminder 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), and this historic building was named "Qidong Poetry House." In July 2014, the National Taiwan Museum of Literature began operating and managing the site, planning exhibitions and literary promotion activities. Following the restoration of five historical buildings on Lane 53, Qidong Street, the "Taiwan Literature Base," dedicated to innovation and cultural heritage, officially opened in 2021! (Source: Taiwan Literature Base official website)
