The History Of Old Tainan District Courthouse

• Main Author: 柯如蓉
• Other Authors: 吳建昇
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/9bjrk9

碩士 === 國立嘉義大學 === 應用歷史學系研究所 === 106 === The national historic monument –the Old Tainan District Courthouse was built in the 44th year of Meiji period (1911), with the construction fully completed in the 3rd year of Japan Taisho period (1914). Of all the courts in the Meiji era in Taiwan, it was the most representative one and also the only big district court building that survived. It therefore bears with it the values of the time. With regards to its architectural style, Tainan District Court applied a number of modeling glossary commonly seen in the West since the Baroque era. It was once listed with the Office of the President and National Taiwan Museum as the three major buildings in Taiwan under the Japanese rule. With this, its cultural values are clearly manifested. In 1991, the Ministry of the Interior designated Tainan District Court as a Level Two Ancient Monument in Taiwan and Fujian regions. On 1 July 1999, on account of provincial downsizing necessities, it was upgraded as a national historic monument. This thesis focuses on exploring the historical developments and cultural values of the Old Tainan District Courthouse. Aside from the preface and the conclusion, the main text is divided into the following five parts. Part I discusses the conditions prior to the construction of the court. Its construction site was called “Horse Soldier Battalion” in pre-Qing Dynasty period. Legend has it that during the reign of Zheng Chenggong, horse soldiers were once stationed here, approximately from the Dutch-Zheng era towards the early Meiji period. The second part talks about Taiwan’s judicial system under the Japanese occupation and the background that led to the establishment of Tainan District Court. Part Three mainly discusses the establishment procedures of the court under the Japanese rule. It includes “Fay Pavilion” in the backyard of the pre-Qing Dynasty Legislature Court (later the Japanese took over it and established it as Tainan Hall). Then it was initially relocated near the pre-Qing Dynasty Anping County School and Wan Shou Temple on Jenho Street. Its second relocation was then the new building of the Tainan District Court in the original horse soldier battalion. Part Four introduces Moriyama Matsunosuke, the designer of Tainan District Court as well as its architectural features, including the dome, tower, column porches, Greek-style hill, Mansard roof, primary and secondary entrances, and so on. Finally, the thesis focuses on the historical developments of Tainan District Court after Taiwan was restored from the Japanese occupation. It proceeds with the discussion till it reaches the month of January 2001, when the court was relocated in the new Court Building in Anping District. Before the final relocation, the original court has been in use for as long as 56 years. This thesis hopes that through the discussion, it can help readers gain a wider range of knowledge about Tainan District Court.