Camphor Administration Office Introduction
Camphor, along with sugar and tea, is known as one of the three treasures of Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty, and the initial prosperity of the Jiji market is closely related to camphor extraction. The term "chuzhang" originally means business trip in Japanese. During the Showa period of Japanese rule, the government implemented a camphor monopoly system and established the "Jiji Camphor Chuzhang Office" in 1898 (the 31st year of Meiji) to manage the camphor extraction and sales in the designated area. At that time, camphor was primarily produced by a method called "naozao," where camphor trees were distilled using firewood, taking about 24 hours. After cooling, the camphor steam formed a white solid called camphor sand and camphor oil, which was sent by porters to the chuzhang office and then transported to the main factory in Taipei using the Jiji line for refinement, before it became the final product. After the Nationalist government relocated to Taiwan, the camphor industry declined, and the chuzhang office lost its original function, briefly serving as a dormitory for employees of the Forestry and Natural Conservation Agency. Now over a hundred years old, it is the only remaining camphor chuzhang office in Taiwan and is an architectural building of significant historical and cultural value. The building of the camphor chuzhang office is divided into three parts: the office building on the right and the dormitory or hall on the left, both in traditional wooden Japanese architectural style. The symmetrical and simple main entrance features a "yubi," which is a pavilion-style entrance structure with a wooden roof supported by two columns. The main gate is a double-opening door, characterized by a sleek and minimalist architectural style, while the left-side dormitory features a traditional Japanese hall style. These buildings are connected to each other, forming a Japanese architectural style that emphasizes the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, resulting in a simple, bright, and open space. Currently, the camphor chuzhang office is managed by the Jiji Township Office on behalf of the National Property Administration. The office will continue to seek funding for phase-based restoration of the park and has already planned the area as the "Jiji Cultural and Industrial Park." Various cultural activities will be exhibited periodically, and efforts are being made to invite artists to revitalize the cultural and artistic significance of the park.
