Tamachi Funeral Hall, Historic funeral hall in Gushan District, Taiwan
Tamachi Funeral Hall is a historic structure in Gushan District built in 1933 that originally occupied about 114 ping of land and could accommodate around 500 people during ceremonies. The building was later adapted into the Gushan Second Public Market while retaining its original architectural framework beneath the market additions.
The structure was built in 1933 during the Japanese colonial period and served its original purpose until the 1960s. Its conversion into a public market afterward marked a significant shift in how the site functioned within the city.
The hall reflects a blend of Japanese funeral customs with local Taiwanese practices, showing how mourning traditions adapted during a transformative period for the city.
The site sits along Gushan Second Road and is accessible within Kaohsiung city, and received official historic designation in 2017. Keep in mind that the area functions primarily as a market space today, with historical elements integrated beneath contemporary additions.
This is the only surviving example of Japanese-era mortuary architecture in Taiwan today. This rarity makes it a valuable witness to a specific building type that has vanished elsewhere.
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