Side gate of the Confucian shrine in Tainan (Taiwan)

The Confucian Shrine of Tainan (Tainan Koshibyo), founded in 1665, is the oldest Confucian temple in Taiwan and was a recurring subject for Japanese printmakers during the colonial era (1895–1945). This print frames a side gate rather than the principal entrance — a peripheral view that emphasizes weathered masonry, curved southern Chinese roof tiles, and the quieter perimeter architecture. The composition likely uses simplified planes and flat color blocks rather than detailed architectural draftsmanship, characteristic of Onchi's reductive approach even when working representationally. Onchi engaged with subjects beyond the Japanese mainland, and Taiwanese landmarks appeared in the work of several sosaku-hanga artists who visited the island. The mokuhanga technique here would involve multiple blocks for color separation, hand-rubbed with a baren on washi, with deliberate registration variations distinguishing the sosaku-hanga aesthetic from the mechanical precision of commercial workshops. This print sits between Onchi's lyrical landscapes and his architectural studies, where built form is treated as compositional geometry.