Introduction
Duiyue Gate, also known as the Coral Stone Gate, is a historic city gate located at the intersection of Wenxian Road and Xinyi Street in the West Central District of Tainan City, Taiwan. Constructed in 1836 during the Qing Dynasty, it stands 4 meters tall, with an arched entrance 3 meters wide, and walls approximately 3 meters thick. The gate's name, "Duiyue," is derived from the "Dui" trigram of the I Ching, representing the west.
Originally, Tainan had several outer city gates, including Dian Kun Gate, Don Guo Gate, and Gong Qian Gate. However, during the Japanese colonial period, most were dismantled, leaving Duiyue Gate as the sole surviving outer gate. The gate was primarily constructed using coral stone, leading locals to refer to it as the "Coral Stone Gate" or "Old Stone Wall." Its design features a narrow exterior and a wider interior, facilitating the outward opening of the gate. Inside, a staircase on the left allows access to the top of the gate, where the weathered walls narrate its storied past.
Xinyi Street, which passes through the gate, was historically known as "Coral Stone Street" and was once a bustling thoroughfare. Today, it remains an active passage, making Duiyue Gate the only city gate in Tainan still in regular use. The surrounding area is characterized by traditional red brick houses, enhancing the gate's historical ambiance.
