In the heart of the West Central District of Tainan, the former Tainan District Court building sits magnificently, effusing the elegance and grandeur of the Japanese Colonial Empire. The building was designed by Japanese architect Moriyama Matsunosuke and constructed in 1914. Tainan District Court would continue as a beacon for the rule of law in Taiwan for 87 years, becoming a National Historic Monument in 1991, until the Court moved locations in 2001.

After the Japanese had won the First Sino Japanese War, China handed what was then known as the Province of Taiwan over to the Japanese in 1895. The Empire established the rule of law, similar to that of their home country, and began organizing and constructing district courts in the major cities of Taiwan. The earliest home of the Tainan District Court lie in a Confucian Temple built during the Qing Dynasty.

Over the years, the building has been through numerous periods of restoration. The building was damaged in WWII, and by 1969 the building fell into disrepair, until a series of renovations saved it. There were also restoration efforts throughout the 90s and 2000s, the most recent taking place in 2016.

The Court was constructed in Baroque style, one of the architectural styles that Japanese architects were influenced by. The grand dome, the most distinct in all of Japanese buildings in Taiwan, was originally juxtaposed by a large tower on the opposite side, making it an asymmetrical building. Each of the two entrances are supported by eight columns with semi-circle windows inside the pediments, the dome side’s columns in Corinthian style and the tower’s side in Doric style.

Furthering its unique, eclectic style is its French Mansard roof and bulls-eye windows (oeil-de-boeuf). These two features combine to create better ventilation in the hot tropical climate of Tainan.

Beautiful porticos line the courtyard and the back of the building.

One of the most interesting exhibits displays a smaller replica of the former tower upside down with the mirrored floor, giving the illusion of the tower standing tall in its former glory. Other exhibits (which are mostly in Chinese) display the history of the law in Taiwan, court and jail setups, all Japanese colonial buildings in Taiwan, and judicial relics and materials recovered through the decades.

Today it is the Taiwan Judicial Museum, educating the public on the history of law in Taiwan. In 2017, the restoration of the building was awarded at Taiwan’s National Cultural Heritage Preservation Awards in the preservation and maintenance category.

Getting there:

The Former Tainan District Court is within walking distance to the Tainan Bus Station and TRA train station. Taxis are affordable and more efficient if you’re staying outside the West Central district.

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