The Eight Fine Sites of Boko Island: The Autumn Moon of Magong (painting)

Magong City was established in 1887 and originally had six city gates. During the Japanese occupation, Boko Island (Penghu) was under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Fortifications Command. In 1931 after the Manchurian Incident, colonial army officials in an effort to prevent spying on conditions in the harbors strictly prohibited any paintings or photographs of such, resulting in a very limited amount of publications on harbors at the time. This postcard shows a rare painting of the Shun-cheng Gate and its corresponding walls around Magong. Even though the postcard calls this one of the eight fine sites, it is not included in either the new or old lists that are commonly accepted. Even still, the lights on the single-sail boats and the autumn moon in the sky are shining on the thick fortifications of a previous dynasty, like a conversation that transcends space and time.