Former British Consulate at Takao
Encyclopedia
The British Consulate at Takao is a former British
consulate built in 1865 in the city of Kaohsiung
in south-west Taiwan
and was the first western-style building built on the island. It has been designated as a 2nd Class Historic Site by the Taiwanese Ministry of the Interior.
Located in Gushan District
it lies at the peak of Shaochuantou and overlooks Sizihwan Bay and Kaohsiung Port . It currently serves as a cafe and tourist attraction.
), An-Ping (Anping, Tainan
), Tamsui (Tamsui, New Taipei) and Keelung
to foreign trade. As the largest empire of the time Britain
was one of the first western countries to establish a consulate, appointing Robert Swinhoe
as the first British vice-consul in 1860, although he was unable to physically obtain the post until 1862. Initially the consulate was centred in Tamsui, but in 1864 the office was moved to Takau.
The building itself was built in 1865 by the Tien-li Company (also known as McPhail & Co.) overlooking Takao Harbour and the materials were brought over from the city of Amoy
(now Xiamen) on Mainland China. It was rented by the British Government in 1867. In the same year Swinhoe was appointed as the first Consul General in Formosa a post he would hold until his retirement from government service in 1873.
Following the First Sino-Japanese War
in 1894-95 the Treaty of Shimonoseki
ceded the island of Formosa (as well as the Pescadores
) from China to Japan
. Although the Treaty prompted the Triple Intervention
by Russia, Germany, and France it appears to have had little effect on Britain, and thus no major events took place at the consulate at this time. In 1909, however, the Japanese government of Taiwan claimed the right to all foreign consulates in Taiwan and the British consulate was closed the next year. In 1931 the building was converted into an "Ocean Observatory" by the Japanese viceroy.
Although the walls of the consulate were painted with white cement in 1944 to avoid U.S. bombing attacks, the building saw very little action during the Second World War and does not appear to have been used for any important purpose. It was converted again to a Weather Bureau Observatory in 1945, shortly before the Empire of Japan relinquished all claims to the island and Taiwan was returned to the Republic of China
; it remained in this state for the next forty-one years.
In 1986 the Kaohsiung
municipal government commissioned Professor Li Chien Lang to restore the former consulate as a museum in which to store historic documents and cultural products; it was declared to be a Second Class Historic Site the next year. In 2003 the building was placed under the responsibility of the newly-created Cultural Bureau of Kaohsiung, which appointed the Kingship Continental Hotel Group to finish the restoration and manage the building. An opening ceremony was held in September.
In 2005 the former consulate was the first-place recipient of the prestigious Yuan-Yeh Award and recorded over 400 000 visitors. In 2006 it was the site of over one hundred artistic and cultural activities, including the National Oil Painting Competition and National Photography Competition. In 2007 it was visited by the United Nations Observatory Group as well as leaders and representatives of members of the Democratic Pacific Union
and the restoration of 312 oil paintings in the former consulate and surrounding area was completed.
(now Xiamen) on Mainland China. The architecture is that of the late Renaissance, providing a technical and stylistic basis for later Western buildings in Taiwan, and makes use of many arches. There are two floors
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
consulate built in 1865 in the city of Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
in south-west Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and was the first western-style building built on the island. It has been designated as a 2nd Class Historic Site by the Taiwanese Ministry of the Interior.
Located in Gushan District
Gushan District
Gushan District is an administrative district of Kaohsiung City, Republic of China in southern Taiwan.-Transportation:Gushan is serviced by the Siziwan Station of Orange Line and the Aozihdi Station of Red Line of the rapid transit....
it lies at the peak of Shaochuantou and overlooks Sizihwan Bay and Kaohsiung Port . It currently serves as a cafe and tourist attraction.
History
In 1860 the Treaty of Peking forced the Qing government of Taiwan (then Formosa) to open up the ports of Takao (now known as KaohsiungKaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
), An-Ping (Anping, Tainan
Tainan
Tainan City is a city in southern Taiwan. It is the fifth largest after New Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. It was formerly a provincial city, and in 2010, the provincial city merged with the adjacent Tainan County to form a single special municipality. Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in...
), Tamsui (Tamsui, New Taipei) and Keelung
Keelung
Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
to foreign trade. As the largest empire of the time Britain
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
was one of the first western countries to establish a consulate, appointing Robert Swinhoe
Robert Swinhoe
Robert Swinhoe FRS , was an English naturalist who worked as a Consul in Formosa. He discovered many Southeast Asian birds and several, such as Swinhoe's Pheasant, are named after him.-Biography:...
as the first British vice-consul in 1860, although he was unable to physically obtain the post until 1862. Initially the consulate was centred in Tamsui, but in 1864 the office was moved to Takau.
The building itself was built in 1865 by the Tien-li Company (also known as McPhail & Co.) overlooking Takao Harbour and the materials were brought over from the city of Amoy
Amoy
Xiamen, or Amoy, is a city on the southeast coast of China.Amoy may also refer to:*Amoy dialect, a dialect of the Hokkien lects, which are part of the Southern Min group of Chinese languages...
(now Xiamen) on Mainland China. It was rented by the British Government in 1867. In the same year Swinhoe was appointed as the first Consul General in Formosa a post he would hold until his retirement from government service in 1873.
Following the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
in 1894-95 the Treaty of Shimonoseki
Treaty of Shimonoseki
The Treaty of Shimonoseki , known as the Treaty of Maguan in China, was signed at the Shunpanrō hall on April 17, 1895, between the Empire of Japan and Qing Empire of China, ending the First Sino-Japanese War. The peace conference took place from March 20 to April 17, 1895...
ceded the island of Formosa (as well as the Pescadores
Pescadores
The Penghu Islands, also known as Pescadores are an archipelago off the western coast of Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait consisting of 90 small islands and islets covering an area of 141 square kilometers....
) from China to Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
. Although the Treaty prompted the Triple Intervention
Triple Intervention
The was a diplomatic intervention by Russia, Germany, and France on 23 April 1895 over the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki signed between Japan and Qing dynasty China that ended the First Sino-Japanese War.-Treaty of Shimonoseki:...
by Russia, Germany, and France it appears to have had little effect on Britain, and thus no major events took place at the consulate at this time. In 1909, however, the Japanese government of Taiwan claimed the right to all foreign consulates in Taiwan and the British consulate was closed the next year. In 1931 the building was converted into an "Ocean Observatory" by the Japanese viceroy.
Although the walls of the consulate were painted with white cement in 1944 to avoid U.S. bombing attacks, the building saw very little action during the Second World War and does not appear to have been used for any important purpose. It was converted again to a Weather Bureau Observatory in 1945, shortly before the Empire of Japan relinquished all claims to the island and Taiwan was returned to the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
; it remained in this state for the next forty-one years.
In 1986 the Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
municipal government commissioned Professor Li Chien Lang to restore the former consulate as a museum in which to store historic documents and cultural products; it was declared to be a Second Class Historic Site the next year. In 2003 the building was placed under the responsibility of the newly-created Cultural Bureau of Kaohsiung, which appointed the Kingship Continental Hotel Group to finish the restoration and manage the building. An opening ceremony was held in September.
In 2005 the former consulate was the first-place recipient of the prestigious Yuan-Yeh Award and recorded over 400 000 visitors. In 2006 it was the site of over one hundred artistic and cultural activities, including the National Oil Painting Competition and National Photography Competition. In 2007 it was visited by the United Nations Observatory Group as well as leaders and representatives of members of the Democratic Pacific Union
Democratic Pacific Union
The Democratic Pacific Union is an international non-governmental organization which promotes political democracy, strengthens maritime culture and marine technology, and replaces rigid, aggressive hegemony with the soft powers of love, peace, cooperation and sharing within the Pacific Ocean...
and the restoration of 312 oil paintings in the former consulate and surrounding area was completed.
The Building
The Consulate was designed by a British architect and built by the Tien-li Company (also known as McPhail & Co.) in 1865 using Chinese architects, making it the first European-style building on the island of Formosa. The materials were shipped over from the city of AmoyAmoy
Xiamen, or Amoy, is a city on the southeast coast of China.Amoy may also refer to:*Amoy dialect, a dialect of the Hokkien lects, which are part of the Southern Min group of Chinese languages...
(now Xiamen) on Mainland China. The architecture is that of the late Renaissance, providing a technical and stylistic basis for later Western buildings in Taiwan, and makes use of many arches. There are two floors
External links
- Official Site (English)
- kaohsiungwalking.kcg.gov.tw