Taiwan Chiayi Old Prison

Visit experience Walking into the Chiayi Old Prison is like traveling through time and entering a space where history has settled. This prison, built during the Japanese colonial period, is not only one of the few intact prison buildings still in existence in Taiwan, but also a witness to the changes in the social system. Meditations on history and architecture The architectural structure of the old Chiayi Prison is unique, with a pentagram-shaped radial design. This design allows supervisors to observe each cell from the center, demonstrating the planning and order of prison management at the time. The mottled marks on the walls, the heavy iron doors, and the narrow cells all make people imagine the days that the prisoners spent here in the past. How do they cope with lengthy prison sentences? How does the mood change? Imprisonment versus freedom The existence of prisons makes people think deeply about the meaning of freedom. Being trapped in a small cell, able to only see the outside world through a tiny slit, the feeling of being restricted makes people realize the value of freedom. I also thought about the restrictions I face in life—maybe not prison, but are our hearts sometimes also trapped by some invisible shackles? Observe quietly and feel the space During the visit, I tried to slow down and quietly feel the atmosphere of the space. When the sunlight shines through the iron bars onto the ground, and when the wind blows gently through the corridor, the tranquility brings a wonderful feeling, like a silent narration. Prison is not just a place of punishment, it can also be a turning point in some people's lives. Here, some people lose their freedom while others find themselves. Conclusion The visit to the old Chiayi Prison gave me awe for history and made me reflect on the value of freedom. When I walked out of the prison, the sunshine and broad vision made me cherish every moment even more, because true freedom is not only the liberation of the body, but also the freedom of the mind.