Historic Building: Monument Commemorating the Landing of His Royal Highness Prince Sadafusa

This monument commemorates the landing of Japanese Prince Sadafusa at Budai Port and bears witness to the Treaty of Shimonoseki, signed between the Qing Dynasty and Japan, which ceded Taiwan and Penghu to Japan. Due to its significant historical importance, it has been designated as a historic building. On April 17, 1895, the Qing Dynasty and Japan signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki, leading to the Qing court ceding Taiwan and Penghu to Japan. Following the treaty, Japan faced fierce resistance from residents during its initial takeover of Taiwan. The primary force of the invading army, the Imperial Guard Division, was supported by half of the Japanese Navy's standing fleet to assist in the occupation of Taiwan. On May 29 of the same year, Lieutenant General Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa led the Imperial Guard Division to land at Aodi. On October 10 of the same year, Prince Fushimi Sadafusa led the 4th Mixed Brigade to Budai Port. After fierce fighting and braving strong northeast monsoon winds, he ordered a forceful landing. The following day, Lieutenant General Nogi Maresuke commanded the 2nd Division, landing at Fangliao, Pingtung, thereby completing the military operation to occupy Taiwan. In 1923, to commemorate Prince Sadafusa's landing at Budai Port, the Japanese erected this monument at the entrance of today's Jiaying Temple in Budai. The inscription was penned by Baron Den Kenjirō, then Governor-General of Taiwan. At that time, this monument was designated as a local "historic site" by Tainan Prefecture. Subsequently, the monument became a pilgrimage site, where passersby and out-of-town visitors would often pay their respects. Elementary school students, led by their principals and teachers, would also visit to pay homage during the start of the school year or important holidays. In 1933, Prince Hirokuni, Prince Sadafusa's grandson, visited Budaiwan to see the salt pans and Prince Sadafusa's Monument. Later, the Japanese erected a smaller stele nearby to commemorate Prince Hirokuni. However, after World War II ended in 1945, amidst a wave of "de-Japanization," Principal Cai Qing'an of Budai East Public School led dozens of students to pull down the monument with ropes.