Butokuden halls were constructed throughout Taiwan while the island was under Japanese rule. The activities of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai which was originally with the aim of reviving Nihon-budo were active in Taiwan. By the 1930s, however, these activities had spread through all of Taiwan. As such, Butokuden halls became larger in both size and number, with those built in Taichung and Tainan and the Hualien Port prefectures being especially large and luxurious. Butokuden halls were also successively built in the branch offices of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, which were established in district under prefectures in local administrative districts.
Construction costs were originally covered through a membership fund established by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (support money). However, this changed when construction costs soared during the 1930s. At that time, the Butokuden halls were constructed solely through donations, which were not limited to members. In fact, many donations were recruited from the general public and, in some cases, collected through levies (taxes). This shows that Butokuden halls were recognised as facilities that were widely shared by residents. Indeed, local administrations such as prefectures and districts took the lead in construction efforts.
Further, local administrative engineers were responsible for designing the Butokuden halls. Specifically, the civil engineering divisions of Taichung and Tainan prefectures played central roles in designing halls for their own prefectures and districts. At that time, facilities were modelled after the Butokuden hall in Taichung prefecture. While Taiwanese Butokuden halls were originally built with Irimoya-style carriage porches and roofs. In addition, their exterior walls were made with exposed pillars and beams that were accompanied by long vertical windows. Another notable design feature was the implementation of a stay pillar with three corner pillars. These styles and designs were followed by many Butokuden halls that were later built in the districts.
The Butokuden halls which were built in Taiwan by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai which was established to restore the martial arts traditions, played the role as symbols of Japanese culture and colonial rule. However, this paper argues that the Butokuden halls also served as communal facilities that were necessary for prefecture and district residents. As such, the resulting designs do not carry the same symbolic and spiritual meanings as shrines.
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