Traces of post-disaster reconstruction~
Taiwan is earthquake-prone and there were many severe earthquakes during the Japanese period. A great earthquake (with tremors lasting for more than four minutes) took place around six in the morning on March 17, 1906 AD (39th Year of the Meiji Era) with the epicenter between Minsyong and Meishan. Many people and livestock were killed or injured, and buildings were badly damaged. Aftershocks continued to take place leading to more than 1,200 casualties. Most of Chiayi City’s streets and buildings were left in ruins. After the disaster, the authorities took the opportunity to re-plan the city, laying the foundations for today’s downtown Chiayi.
The “Record of the Earthquake” stone stele erected afterwards may have been the first earthquake memorial in Taiwan and the inscription was drafted by Bo-rong Jhuang. It was renamed “Youth Recreation Center” after World War 2 and the original name was eventually restored in March 2001 by the Cultural Affairs Bureau.
Construction:
Inscription: 39th Year of the Meiji Era (1906 AD)
Restoration: March 2001
