(2) Arch Bridge & Taiwan Pond

STONE ARCH BRIDGE IN BEITOU PARK

北投公園 - 石造拱橋

北投公園內，有一座古樸的石造拱橋，靜靜地承載過往的遊客。

There’s an ancient stone arch bridge in Beitou park with people come and go crossing through it.

石造拱橋技術的起源可回溯至古埃及、希臘及古羅馬時代，這種造橋技術由歐洲傳至東方的印度，經由印度傳至中國，之後進而傳入了日本。因此在最接近中國大陸的日本九州地區有不少的石造拱橋，其中多為日本稱為眼鏡橋之雙拱橋。

The origin of the stone arch bridge must have came from ancient Egypt, Greece or the ancient Rome, the structural designed of the arch bridge must have spread from Europe toward the East to India, then from India to China and into Japan. Therefore, to the present you can still see a lots of stone arch bridge in mainland China as well as in Japan, Kyushu region , the Japanese called it a pair of glasses arch bridge.

北投公園興建於1911年左右，相當於日本明治末年至大正初期，當時日本一般的橋樑多為木造橋，但重要的橋樑則多是石造拱橋，另少部分為鑄鐵橋，石拱橋之潮流一直延續到大正末期，但到昭和初期，石拱橋已漸漸被RC拱橋所取代。

Beitou park was built in about 1911, the equivalent year in Japan was of late Meiji era, at that time, most of the Japanese bridge are made of wood, with the exception of some more important bridge made of stone or cast iron, the stone arch bridge trend have been extended until the late Taisho era and into early Showa period, the stone arch bridge was gradually been replaced by RC arch bridge.

其主要原因有二，其一乃因將RC運用在橋樑上是當時最新之技術，其二則是因為關東大地震將多數橋樑震壞，而重建之橋樑多以RC拱橋為主。之後這種RC拱橋的技術就由東京流傳至日本全國各地，同時也傳至台灣，基隆河上的中山舊橋（建於西元1930－1933年）就是這股潮流的遺跡，中山舊橋以當時最新的技術興建，以RC為材料，在結構和外型上則模仿石造拱橋，由橋樑文明史可看出其具有當時才有的特色。

The two main reason for the change was: RC is the newest material that is being used and second it because a major earthquake in Kanto that destroyed many of the bridges, the reconstruction of the bridges uses mainly of RC materials. After then the construction of arch bridge using RC material start to spread from Tokyo into other parts of Japan, it’s also spread to Taiwan, the old Zhongshan bridge in Taipei Keelung river (built in 1930 – 1933) is a relic of this trend, the construction of the Zhongshan old bridge uses the RC material as well, the structure and appearance resemble the stone arch bridge, with the bridge structure it characterize the history of civilization of that period.

北投公園以前有數座石造橋，歷經改建現僅存唯一的一座石拱橋，其規模雖小，但卻深具北投區之地域性文化資產價值。

There used to have a few stone arch bridge in Beitou park before, with the renovation and reconstruction of the park, one last remaining stone arch bridge still intact, even the size was small, but it’s an assets to the cultural value of the Beitou district.

這座石造拱橋，橋側石砌厚重粗獷古樸，造型優雅美麗。在台灣其他地方並未見到同樣造型之古橋，所以是全台造型獨具的石造拱橋，不但是稀有而且是唯一，具有永久保留的價值。

This stone arch bridge are thick and rough, but the structure are elegant and beauty. You can’t find any other such stone arch bridge in any other part of Taiwan, this is the one and only still remain intact and has the value of keeping it permanently.

經訪問北投耆老的說法，石造拱橋應該是與公園同時在1913年建造的，設計者不祥。建造者則應為當時的台北廳長井村大吉。井村大吉先生於明治43年（1910年）至大正3年（1914年）擔任台北廳長。石造拱橋是在當時隨公園建設而跨過公園內北投溪的建物，北投溪上原有「大屯橋」、「七星橋」、「秀實橋」、「湯元橋」等數座日本時代的橋樑，但在陸續拆除與改建後，僅存此一最具歷史的石拱橋，值得我們永久珍惜保存。

After visiting some of old Beitou senior citizens, their recollection about the stone arch bridge and the park must have been built in 1913, the designer is unknown. The contractor should be the then director of Taipei (Chin Chun Da Chi). He was the director of Taipei between Meiji year 43 (1910) until Taisho year 3 (1914). The stone arch bridge must have been constructed along with the construction of the park, the bridge crossed the Beitou river, originally there are other bridges, the “Tatun bridge”, “Seven star bridge”, “Show Shi bridge” and “Tang Yuan bridge” all were the bridge of the Japanese era, with the removal and reconstruction, this stone arch bridge was the last remaining bridge that was being well preserved.

石拱橋是否完全為石塊砌成，或僅是貼石片而已，由於無法進行徹底研究，所以僅通過為比市定古蹟低一位階的「紀念性建築」，1998年3月10日台北市政會議通過，正式定名為「北投石造拱橋」，並於3月25日公告。

Was the stone arch bridge made of solid rock or just pasted rock flakes in the outer layer is hard to determine and the inability to conduct thorough study without damaging the bridge, so the city government can only declare it as a “memorable construction relic”, In March 10, 1988 the Taipei city council passed a resolution naming it as “Beitou stone arch bridge” and go into effect on March 25th after it posting.

這座跨於北投溪上的拱橋弧線優美，橋身以石材疊砌修形，在公園搖曳的葉隙光影下，呈顯出石材特有的質樸原味，長久以來成為遊客們留下倩影的絕佳景點。

The natural beauty of the stone arch bridge and its surrounding, the unique formation of stone arch bridge that crosses beitou river, it become an attractive background to  people taking photograph.

拱橋的原理是利用拱形本身具有的上推力量，來承受橋面上車輛或行人的重力，同時也具有美學作用。但石砌拱橋必須精確計算石材間的接合，來造成上述的推力，一旦計算錯誤，不但無法承重，整座橋更會解體。

The physical appearance, the technicality and accuracy of making the arch bridge require strict engineering calculation, otherwise with minor problem or miscalculation, the whole bridge might disintegrate or collapse under the heavy load above the bridge.

台灣池  Taiwan Pond

池塘的造型是以台灣島型而建  被命名為台灣池

The pond was built in the shape of Taiwan island and was named: Taiwan Chi or Taiwan Pond.

台灣池是以生態工法而建  完全沒有用到水泥

The Taiwan pond was built without using any cement, it was an  engineering process for ecological environment.

池地周圍是完全以石頭堆砌而成

Rocks are formatted around the   surrounding area of the pond.

Seam between rocks and stones in the pond become the hideouts for frogs, shrimp, fishes and other organism.

池內種有睡蓮還有其他藻類

Lilies grown allover the pond with many kinds of other algae’s

放慢您的腳步  在此休息一下 享受美好的景色

Have a nice stroll around the area and enjoy the beauty of nature.