1st Educational Hall

Traditional education was divided into the public schools, private schools, and “Shuyuan” (academy), which fell in between. Schools established by local governments were called Confucianism, students of which could only receive their qualification after 3 exams. The imperial examination system was not only a method to select talents, but also affected school education. During the Japanese Rule Era, all public schools were abolished, with only private schools left. Only because those private schools taught Chinese had the traditional culture managed to be preserved.

This building was Chang Tai-Yan’s residence in Taiwan when he took refuge in Taiwan for political reasons. Because of that, exhibitions centering traditional and modern education were organized here, providing information about the development of education system in Taiwan, changes of the school system and the imperial examination system.

2nd Educational Hall

In the Japanese Rule Era, the Japanese government implemented a modern education system with modern materials. “Governmental schools” were set up for Taiwanese children, in which knowledge as well as life skills were taught. In 1941, both “governmental schools” and the schools Japanese children went to were all changed into “public schools,” a name that continued to be used after the war. Only1968, when the “9-year compulsory education system” was implemented, did “public elementary schools” appear. The prevalence of schools made education universal, and its content also has great impacts.

Exploring Confucian Temples and academies

The temple of Confucius and an academy were places where knowledge was imparted and talents are fostered. Nowadays, Confucian temples and academies can still be seen everywhere in Taiwan.

Three stages of the imperial examination

Back in the old days, one needed to pass several rounds of the imperial examination in order to become a civil servant, from child exam, township exam, conference exam to court exam. One could only return home proudly when one passed all the exams. Let’s read about Wang’s student, and experience in person how it feels to be the top thesis author.

Class 5A

Traveling back in time to Class 5A in a public school. What did our father and grandfather study in school? What toys did they hide in their drawers? And what educational activities did the public education system include, which put an equal emphasis on all five ways of life?