HAS = 100 of Historical Architectures Series.
The "100 of Historical Architectures Series" are one hundred historical buildings selected by the Cultural Construction Committee of the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China in 2001. The activity was first selected by all counties and cities handle the ten scenic spots in Aug. 2001. At that time, there were 25 districts in the administrative division, so 250 scenic spots should be selected. However, because the tenth place in Taichung City was accompanied by the same ticket, at the same time, a total of 251 scenes were selected. The results were announced at the end of Oct., and a panel of scholars and experts selected 150 scenic spots. Conducting national voting to determine the top 100 attractions from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 of the year. These selected buildings are not necessarily classified into historical architectures in terms of cultural asset management. Some may have been classified as monuments, and some may not be listed as historical and historical architectures in various counties and cities.
The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) is a historical Chinese Association established in various parts of the United States and Canada with large populations of Chinese. It is also known by other names such as Chong Wa Benevolent Association in Seattle, Washington and United Chinese Society in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Taitung Chinese Association is an assembly hall in Taitung City, Taitung County, Taiwan. It is also the remains of the only remaining Chinese Association in Taiwan.
Located at 143 Zhongzheng Road, this is the Taitung Branch of the Chinese Association, originally built in 1927 while Taiwan was under Japanese rule. A plaque out front features historic information in English as well as a direct translation of the name, “Taitung Chunghua Hostel”, but it was more of a clubhouse or assembly hall, not a place to secure lodging for the night. Interestingly, the proper Chinese name is the same one used by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of America. Have a look at the photos on Wikipedia and you’ll see the same characters-as well as the Republic of China flag flying overhead at their historic headquarters in San Francisco!
Presumably the Taitung Chinese Association served a similar purpose to its contemporaries in America, namely to advocate for ethnic Chinese living outside of China, which was in the 1920s nominally controlled by the Republic of China. Concurrent with the full-scale invasion of China in 1937 the Japanese authorities launched the Kōminka Movement, a policy of cultural assimilation designed to assist the growing war effort. As such, the Chinese Association was evicted from the building and outlawed in 1938.
From 1938 until the end of the war the building was occupied by a chapter of the Xīnmín Society(also referred to in English as the New People or People’s Rejuvenation Society), a pro-Japanese organization based in Beijing. This organization was disbanded after the Japanese defeat and the building fell into disuse after a half-hearted attempt to repurpose it for use by another civic group. Finally, after decades of neglect, it was restored to its current condition for Retrocession Day in 1986. Apparently this is the only Chinese Association building remaining in Taiwan, for what it’s worth!
The container is a small canister. Only a log-paper in it. Please bring a pen for this cache.