八角塔

sketchfab

The eight-sided pagoda was built in 1923 for the founder's son, Lien Teh, who wanted to establish a school in Tamsui. The design was created by Canadian missionary Reuben Hooper Smith, who had assisted with education and building projects in Taiwan. Construction began in November 1923 and took two years to complete, finishing in June 1925. However, Smith left Taiwan in 1924 to care for his ailing wife and educate their children, so he did not see the pagoda's completion or opening. The pagoda's unique design combines elements of Chinese tower architecture with Western-style buildings and Taiwanese shihi courtyard houses, using local materials throughout. After its completion, Tamsui Middle School moved from Oxford School to occupy this new building for 11 years, solidifying it as a spiritual landmark. The building is known for balancing Eastern and Western architectural styles and technical expertise, earning it the title of masterpiece in mixed-architecture construction. According to legend, Smith was inspired by buildings at California Institute of Technology and his own middle school when designing the pagoda.