Daxi Wood Art Ecomuseum (traditional Chinese: 大溪木藝生態博物館; simplified Chinese: 大溪木艺生态博物馆; pinyin: Dàxī Mùyì Shēngtài Bówùguǎn) is a museum complex located in Daxi District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan. It is an open-air ecomuseum based on the Scandinavian concept that emphasizes the integration of local communities with the preservation of cultural assets.
History
The establishment of the museum began in 1996 with the renovation of historic buildings in the area and their incorporation with local old streets. The first museum building opened to the public is Number One Hall (House No. 1), a Japanese-style house constructed in the 1920s that originally served as the residence for the principal of Daxi Elementary School. In 2014, the museum building underwent renovation. In 2015, the renovation of the first hall and Wude Temple were completed and the two buildings reopened. In 2016, the Craftsman Story House and the Crafts Exchange Hall also reopened.
Architecture
The museum complex is divided into two main themes: Daxi Wood Art Industry and Daxi Resident Lifestyle. Public buildings include a martial arts training center (Butokuden) and a cluster of 22 Japanese-style buildings. The buildings are renovated in different stages according to their age, incorporating local historical streets and houses to transform Daxi into a cultural museum.
Notable buildings include:
- Daxi Butokuden (武德殿) – a martial arts dojo
- Lee Teng-fan's Ancient Residence (李騰芳古宅) – a national historic monument built in 1864
- House No. 1 (壹號館) – built around 1920, originally a dormitory for elementary school principals
- Children's Woodcraft Learning Center – a historic Japanese-style dormitory of Daxi Elementary School, restored in 2025 and operated as a children's wood education space
- People Daxi Pavilion (大溪創生館) – a community exhibition space
Concept
As an ecomuseum, the Daxi Wood Art Ecomuseum operates without physical walls, integrating multiple historic sites, local streets, and community spaces across the Daxi District. It functions as a platform for preserving Daxi's woodcraft heritage, promoting local craftsmanship, and fostering community-driven cultural regeneration. The museum also houses a research library, artist files, and organizes traveling exhibitions and international residency programs.
