Fort Provintia facts for kids
Fort Provintia is a historic defense base in Tainan, a city in southern Taiwan. It was built by the Dutch in 1653. Today, it stands as an important historical site.
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Fort Provintia: A Look at Its History
The Dutch Arrive (1624-1662)
In 1624, the Dutch took control of southern Taiwan. They wanted to trade with mainland China. Before the fort was built, this area was already a busy trading spot. The Dutch built Fort Provintia to stop more uprisings. This was after local people, led by Guo Huai-yi, fought against them in 1652. The fort was still used for trade. The Dutch built it with red bricks and a special mix. This mix included water, sugar, sticky rice, and oyster shells.
Koxinga Takes Over (1662-1683)
In 1662, Koxinga, the ruler of the Zheng dynasty, forced the Dutch to leave. He then used the fort as his government building. He gave it a new name: Chen-Tien Fu. But by 1664, the fort was no longer used for government. Instead, it became a place to store gunpowder.
The Qing Dynasty Era (1683-1895)
In 1683, the Zheng dynasty gave up control to the Qing. In 1721, the fort was damaged. This happened during an uprising led by Zhu Yigui. Over the next years, several earthquakes also destroyed parts of the fort. Only a few walls were left.
Later, in 1886, a leader named Sheng Shou Qien built the Penghu Academy. This building is in the Qing style. It is located on the west side of the fort. In 1879, two temples were built by the emperor's administrator, Shen Baozhen. These were the Wunchang Pavilion and the Hai-She Temple. They are in the central part of the fort. The Wunchang Pavilion honors Wun-Chang, the God of Literature. The Hai-She Temple honors the God of the Sea.
Japanese Rule (1895-1945)
In 1895, the Qing dynasty lost the First Sino-Japanese War. They gave Taiwan to Japan. The Japanese then used the fort as an army hospital. In 1944, the Japanese began to fix up the buildings. This included the old Dutch walls, the Hai-Shen Temple, the Wunchang Pavilion, and the Penghu Academy.
After World War II (1945-Today)
After WWII, Japan left Taiwan. The fort was then renamed Chihkan Tower. It became a place for exhibitions. In 1960, stone statues of tortoises were moved here. Also, stone tablets with old writings were brought from the Great South Gate. This gate was part of the original Tainan City Wall. These items were placed at the south Chihkan Tower.
Geographic data related to Fort Provintia at OpenStreetMap
Images for kids
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Remains of the wall of the original fort
