Qinshan River Hehe Doctor Monument Introduction
In May 1902, Dr. Kawai Shutaro, a forestry professor at the University of Tokyo, was invited by the Taiwan Governor-General's Office to conduct a survey in Alishan, Chiayi. He discovered that the forest ecosystem of Alishan was exceptional, with high-quality wood and abundant resources. In his report on the actual condition survey, he advocated for development, which drew attention from the Governor-General's Office. In subsequent important inspections and planning for forestry management, Dr. Kawai's opinions had a crucial influence, making him the greatest contributor to the development of Alishan forestry; thus, a monument was erected in his memory after his death, designating him as a County-designated Historic Site. Kawai Shutaro, Ph.D. in Forestry from the University of Tokyo, was appointed by the Governor-General's Office on February 8, 1903, to oversee the development of the Alishan Forest and the survey of the forest railway route. On October 3, 1904, a large exploration team consisting of over thirty officials, including Governor-General Goto Shinpei, Director of the Bureau of Industry Shuku, Chiayi Prefect Okada, Chief Engineer Hase, and Dr. Kawai Shutaro, along with sixty food porters, arrived at Wansui Mountain in Alishan after three days, marking the beginning of efforts to promote the development of the Alishan forest. However, during that period, the Japanese-Russian War caused financial difficulties for the Japanese government, delaying the formal promotion until 1906. The development process experienced setbacks; it was originally conducted by the private Fujita Group but was interrupted and then continued under government operation by the Governor-General's Office. Dr. Kawai Shutaro, as an advisor on forestry to the Taiwan Governor-General's Office, committed himself to exploration planning for a long time, contributing significantly to Alishan's forestry development. On March 14, 1931, Dr. Kawai Shutaro passed away in Tokyo, Japan. To honor his achievements, the Kawai Monument was erected in Alishan in November 1932, and it was officially unveiled on February 3, 1933.
