Taiwan Literature Base Introduction
The Taiwan Literature Base is located within the Japanese dormitory complex on Qidong Street, making it one of the few areas in Taiwan where historical buildings are preserved in their entirety. It is one of the first groups of Japanese dormitories to be preserved as a whole under the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act. The area includes one designated historical site and nine historical buildings, which not only contain rich local stories and connections with the experiences of the citizens but also highlight the contemporary significance of revitalizing and reusing the remaining Japanese dormitory historical cluster in Taipei City. In the chessboard-like layout of central Taipei, Qidong Street acts as a casual smile, cutting across Jinshan South Road and Zhongxiao East Road. Behind this smile lies a long history — over two hundred years ago during the Qing Dynasty, this area was an ancient road known as "Sanbanqiao Street," which led to Songshan and connected to Keelung. At that time, the land was filled with endless rice fields and ponds. Amid the irrigation ditches, rice fields, and ponds, the yet-unnamed Qidong Street meandered into existence, taking on the significant responsibility of transporting rice, coal, and other daily necessities. From 1920 to 1940 during the Japanese colonial period, the Governor-General's Office successively built Japanese civil servant dormitories here, which now form the current Japanese dormitory complex on Qidong Street. At the same time, various industrial associations, factories, and institutions gradually gathered in this area, leading to increasingly prosperous commercial activities and the establishment of the "East City Association," which often organized community lectures, dramatic performances, cultural performances, and film screenings, creating a cultural and artistic experience surge of that era. After the war, the government continued to use this area as a dormitory for central government officials. Major General Wang Shuming, then Deputy Commander of the Air Force, also resided at No. 27, Section 2, Jinshan South Road, and later held titles such as “Commander of the Air Force” and “Chief of Staff of the Ministry of National Defense” until his departure from the official residence in 1992, marking this old Japanese house as the "General's Residence." After 2000, due to its location in the city center and the rapid urban development, the Japanese dormitories faced the threat of demolition. Fortunately, local residents who valued the architectural cluster, old trees, and environment formed the "Qidong Cultural and Historical Workshop" in 2002, leading to the preservation of the nine connected historical buildings nearby with the efforts of residents and experts. This was seen as "an important and invaluable historical and cultural asset for the citizens of Taipei City." With urban development, new houses, schools, and factories emerged, "Sanbanqiao Street" gradually disappeared from the map, leaving behind a gentle arc between Jinshan South Road and Zhongxiao East Road as a reminder of its former existence. In 2011, the Ministry of Culture commissioned the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taipei City Government to repair the Japanese dormitory on Qidong Street (No. 25 and 27, Section 2, Jinshan South Road) and named this historical building "Qidong Poetry House." In July 2014, the National Taiwan Museum of Literature began to manage and plan exhibitions and literary promotion activities. With the completion of the restoration of five historical buildings on Alley 53 of Qidong Street, the "Taiwan Literature Base," dedicated to innovation and cultural heritage, officially opened in 2021 along this winding, smiling alley! (Source: Taiwan Literature Base Official Website)
