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History

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1900-1920, Tainan County Magistrate Residence and Multi-Purpose Period

The Tainan County Magistrate Residence was initially planned to serve as the residence for the governor at that time, Imai Konichi (今井艮一). In November 1901, after the Chō administrative system was established, the ministers of Tainan was thus moved to the nearby Tainan Minister’s Residence. During this period, the former magistrate residence building was managed by Tainan Hall. Its “Made in Japan (building)” part was lent to army for use but was changed to serve as the Brigade Magistrate Residence. One of the uses of the Western-style building was as the Book Club for Tainan Hall Members. However, its main name was Tainan Governor's Residence when the governor visited Tainan, and the Imperial Residence when the royal family visited Tainan. From then on it served as the residence for governors and royal family members. Therefore, royal family members including Prince Kan'in Kotohito and his wife stayed in this building during their visit to Tainan.

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1920-1945, Tainan Prefecture Magistrate Residence Period

In 1920, prefectures changed to counties. Eda Tokuji, the last Tainan minister was assigned to be the first Tainan prefectural governor. Tainan governor's official residence moved back again to the magistrate residence building and was named the Tainan Prefecture Magistrate Residence. Since then, more than 15 prefectural governors have lived in this building. From then on it served as the residence for governors and royal family members. Therefore, royal family members including Prince Kan'in Kotohito and his wife stayed in this building during their visit to Tainan.
With the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War (1937) and Japan’s participation in the Second World War (1941), Taiwan also entered a wartime situation. To prevent air raids, an underground air-raid shelter was built on the southeast side of the building. Its surface was covered with ancient stones which made for a good camouflage. Fortunately, the building was not bombed nor damaged during the war.

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1945-2000, Public Sector Occupation After World War II

After the Second World War, with the National Government of the Republic of China’s institutions gradually moving to Taiwan, the Western building was originally used by the Salt Police. This unit might have been the Taiwan Salt Administration Bureau’s Police Division or the Taiwan Provincial Salt Tax Police Corps. After the Salt Police moved out in around 1951, units such as the Civil Defense, the Land Office, the East District District Office, the Military & Civil Welfare Center, Tainan City Government Agency Employees' Consumer Cooperatives, etc. moved in and out of the building. Most of the time the building was used by multiple units, and in the end the Western building served as the Military & Civil Welfare Center. In 1998, it was declared as a municipal historic site.

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2000-2020, Restoration of the Historical Site

After the Old Tainan Magistrate Residence was declared a municipal historic site, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Tainan City launched a 10-year restoration project, and began outsourcing management in 2010. On October 8, 2011, the Taiwan Artists Ensemble Culture Foundation opened a restaurant and café under the name Magistrate Residence Concert Hall. On February 8, 2015, Koche Development Co., Ltd. opened the 1900 Café, Knowledge Salon, Time of Old Tainan County Magistrate Residence, etc., under the name Magistrate Residence. On October 10, 2020, Antio Design Co., Ltd. will set up exhibitions, lectures, household items, afternoon tea, meals, beverages, etc. under the name Magistrate Residence Living Centre.
Operations Teams: Antio Design Co., Ltd. (external link), Rhema Design Co., Ltd. (external link)

Chronicle of Events

  • 1895s-1920s Early Japanese Colonial Rule

    • 1895

      Early Japanese Colonial Rule Taiwan ceded by the Treaty of Shimonoseki, the beginning of the Japanese Colonial Rule
    • 1900.04.21

      Early Japanese Colonial Rule Munahuda
    • 1900.11

      Early Japanese Colonial Rule Construction of Tainan Magistrate Residence completed
    • 1900

      Early Japanese Colonial Rule First generation of a Baroque semi-circular gable architecture, known to the local residents as The Clock Tower.
    • 1916

      Early Japanese Colonial Rule Second generation of a Baroque arch gable architecture.
    • 1920

      Post-Japanese Colonial Rule Used as the Prefecture Magistrate Residence
  • 1920s-1945s Post-Japanese Colonial Rule

    • 1923.04.20

      Post-Japanese Colonial Rule Crown Prince Hirohito, later became Emperor Showa, stayed overnight
    • 1931

      Post-Japanese Colonial Rule Japanese army of Guantian, Tainan, poses in front of the residence, taken during the second Wushe Incident.
    • 1936後

      Post-Japanese Colonial Rule Third generation of low triangular gable.
    • 1936~1945

      Post-Japanese Colonial Rule World War II - The Pacific War
  • 1945s-2000s Public Sector Usage

    • 1971

      Public Sector Usage Used by the East District Office and the Office of Civil Defense.
    • 1988

      Public Sector Usage Declared as a municipal historic site.
  • 2000s-2020s Vacant Space Activation

    • 2001

      Vacant Space Activation Tainan City Municipal Historic Site, the Old Tainan Magistrate Residence: environment and landscape reconstruction planning and design
    • 2003

      Vacant Space Activation Tainan City Municipal Historic Site, the Old Tainan Magistrate Residence: renovation planning and design is supervised
    • 2005

      Vacant Space Activation Tainan City Municipal Historic Site, the Old Tainan Magistrate Residence: the first phase of the project
    • 2008

      Vacant Space Activation Tainan City Municipal Historic Site, the Old Tainan Magistrate Residence: the second phase of the project
    • 2011~2014

      Vacant Space Activation Managed by the Taiwan Artists Ensemble Culture Foundation
    • 2014~2019

      Vacant Space Activation Managed by Koche Development Co., Ltd.
    • 2020~2025

      Vacant Space Activation Managed by Antio Design Co., Ltd.

Four Main Characteristics

  • The Beauty of Japanese and Western Architectural Styles

    The Beauty of Japanese and Western Architectural Styles

    The magistrate residence is a two-story building with British colonial architectural style. Arcades can be found on all sides of the building and the center and two sides of the building were designed in octagonal style.

  • Historic Wooden Craft

    Historic Wooden Craft

    The interior wooden stairs railings were crafted with exquisite precision. The wooden pelmets of the windows and doors exhibits a rare and unique design.

  • Shining official residence at night

    Shining official residence at night

    Come witness the beauty of the 120 year old Magistrate’s residence as it shines nightly from 18:00 to 24:00.

  • The Return of the Clock Tower

    The Return of the Clock Tower

    A signboard has been put up outside the residence, and the restoration of the initial gable maintains the originality of the clock tower. It feels as if the clock tower has returned from history.