Daxi Butokuden

　　The butokuden was one of the halls within the Daidairi (the ancient imperial palace complex in Kyoto) during Japan’s Heian period, used for events such as horse racing. It was situated roughly to the west of the Daidairi, visible through the area between the Right Guards and the Right Division of the Middle Palace Guards, with the Imakumon Gate in sight. To the east of the butokuden, there were typically facilities such as horse training grounds and En’yū no Matsubara (a scenic pine field for banquets). During the era of the Japanese Empire, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, a public interest foundation established in Kyoto in 1895, promoted martial arts (including kendo, judo, and kyudo) as core values of the Japanese people. To achieve this, they set up dojos to spread martial arts across Japan and around the world. These dojos adopted the name “butokuden” in line with the historic hall from the Heian period.

　　The Daxi Butokuden is located in Daxi Township, Taoyuan County, Taiwan. Completed in 1935, it is one of the butokudens built during the Japanese colonial period. The building was constructed using modern materials such as reinforced concrete, with its exterior finished in exposed aggregate to mimic the appearance of a rain-shedding board wall. Inside, directly facing the main entrance, there was originally a shrine. Half of the interior space was fitted with tatami mats for judo practice, and the other half had wooden flooring for kendo practice. Later, however, the shrine was removed to accommodate the needs of garrisoning military police, and the wooden floor was replaced with a reinforced concrete one.

　　Today, the Daxi Butokuden serves as a family activity center and library. On January 13, 2004, it was designated as a historical building in Taiwan, becoming a well-known attraction in Taoyuan County that welcomes large numbers of domestic and international visitors every day.

　　Touliao Butokuden Must-visit reason: One of the most renowned historical buildings in Taoyuan County