X-Basic Planning designer Chang Heng-hsuan (right) and staff members preparing the “Health First” special exhibition.

For nearly a century since its founding in 1925, Changyuan Hospital has watched over Lukang. Now, it transforms these layered memories into a fresh momentum, preparing for its next great evolution. During its renovation, X-Basic Planning has repurposed the arcade of its three main buildings into an exhibition tracing Taiwan’s century-long medical trajectory, thus extending the old building’s vitality. Through three major themes—”Medical Development in Taiwan during the Japanese Rule Period,” “Clinic Recreation,” and “Contributors to Lukang’s Grassroots Healthcare”—the exhibition traces the path from public health initiatives introduced by the colonial government to the reforms in medical education that trained a generation of local practitioners.

The arcade exhibition opens with a Changyuan Hospital treatment table. Medical instruments—syringes, grinding mortars, vaccination boxes—alongside period photographs, recreate a familiar local medical space. This setup also tells the story of Dr. Hsu Tu, tracing his path from secondary school and medical college to his hometown practice. His career embodies the development of Taiwan’s early local medical talent, a process deeply tied to its Japanese-rule-period modernization.

In the “Clinic Recreation” section, a display of Changyuan Hospital’s medical artifacts is presented alongside a detailed account of Dr. Hsu Tu’s education and medical career.

X-Basic Planning’s inquiry extends beyond public health history to examine how modern medicine spatially transformed the urban landscape. The exhibition examines the architecture of Japanese-rule-period shophouse clinics and the evolution of Lukang’s grassroots medical facilities like Baichuan Hospital and Kunyuan Hospital.

“Health Comes First: Training of Taiwanese Doctors during Japanese Rule” A special exhibition at the Changyuan Hospital Lukang Historical Image Gallery.

Venue: Changyuan Hospital Lukang Historical Image Gallery (No. 194, Zhongshan Rd., Lukang Township, Changhua County)

Opening Date | August 14, 2024 (Wednesday)

Opening Hours | 12:00-18:00 Wednesday to Sunday

Ministry of Culture, Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau

Curating Units | Honorary Director Dr. Hsu Cheng-yuan, X-Basic Planning Co., Ltd.