Spectral Codex

Waipu Airfield
Waipu Airfield (福興外埔飛行場)
Minxiong Liu Mansion
Minxiong Liu Mansion (民雄劉家洋樓)
Shanghai Municipal Council Slaughterhouse
Shanghai Municipal Council Slaughterhouse (上海公共租界工部局宰牲場)
Daxi Jianxin Theater
Daxi Jianxin Theater (大溪建新大戲院)
RSEA Marble Factory
RSEA Marble Factory (榮民大理石工廠)
Profile photo of Alexander Synaptic, founder of Spectral Codex
Alexander Synaptic
Curator, Spectral Codex

Welcome to Spectral Codex, a digital garden, a travel journal, photography portfolio, and geospatial database curated by Alexander Synaptic. This site is completely ad-free and features no sponsored content, though you’re welcome to support my work via Patreon if you like what you find here. Read a little more about my background and motivations, or start browsing the collection!

Currently this project features 6,499 locations (1,304 with images), 115 posts, 513 regions, 99 themes, 8,050 images, 20,240 outbound links, and 964,969 words, mostly covering topics related to Taiwan. Gathered below are some of the better and more recent links from around the site to get you started…

Recent Updates

Yuanlin Credit Union

Yuanlin Credit Union(員林信用合作社)

Changhua
Yuanlin
Ershui Public Hall

Ershui Public Hall(二水公會堂)

Changhua
Ershui
Karenko POW Camp

Karenko POW Camp(花蓮戰俘營)

Hualien
Hualien City
Jinzi Theater

Jinzi Theater(金紫戲院)

Tainan
Houbi
Ōhashi-gumi Supervisor’s Dormitory

Ohashi-gumi Supervisor’s Dormitory(豐里移民村大橋組指導官舍)

Changhua
Beidou
Putuoshan White Temple

Putuoshan White Temple(普陀山白衣道場)

Tainan
Nanhua
Dongtaizigong Salt Transfer Station

Dongtaizigong Salt Transfer Station(東太子宮鹽運聯合轉運臺)

Tainan
Xinying
Qigu Saltworks Dingshan Production Area

Qigu Saltworks Dingshan Production Area(七股鹽場頂山生產區)

Tainan
Qigu
Eguchi Ryōzaburō Monument

Eguchi Ryozaburo Monument(江口氏紀念碑)

Hualien
Hualien City
Shirakawa Shinto Shrine

Shirakawa Shinto Shrine(瑞穗白川神社)

Hualien
Ruisui
Fuxing Fishermen’s Association Welfare Store

Fuxing Fishermen’s Association Welfare Store(彰化縣福興區漁會漁民福利社)

Changhua
Fuxing
Mailiao Jincheng Theater

Mailiao Jincheng Theater(麥寮金城大戲院)

Yunlin
Mailiao
Lincuo Anti-Airborne Fortifications North Section

Lincuo Anti-Airborne Fortifications North Section(林厝反空降陣地北段)

Taichung
Daya
Lincuo Anti-Airborne Fortifications South Section

Lincuo Anti-Airborne Fortifications South Section(林厝反空降陣地南段)

Taichung
Xitun
Tianmu US Military Housing

Tianmu US Military Housing(天母美軍宿舍群)

Taipei
Shilin
Dahu Little Tianmu Villas

Dahu Little Tianmu Villas(大湖小天母別墅)

Miaoli
Dahu

Themes

Many different themes are explored on this site, generally as a way of making sense of history and socioeconomic change. Each theme features posts, field notes about specific locations, and a map to help navigate the geospatial dimension of a subject. I recommend having at least a glance at my most ambitious project, an extensive overview of nearly 1,200 movie theaters across Taiwan.

Theaters in Taiwan

Theaters in Taiwan(台灣老戲院)

Locations: 1,169
Posts: 5
Animal Spirit Monuments in Taiwan

Animal Spirit Monuments in Taiwan(台灣畜魂碑)

Locations: 24
Confucian Academies in Taiwan

Confucian Academies in Taiwan(臺灣書院)

Locations: 32
Zhaijiao in Taiwan

Zhaijiao in Taiwan(台灣齋教)

Locations: 30
Koxinga’s Legacy

Koxinga’s Legacy(國姓爺的歷史影響)

Locations: 30
Alishan Forest Railway

Alishan Forest Railway(阿里山森林鐵路)

Locations: 32
Luodong Forest Railway

Luodong Forest Railway(羅東森林鐵道)

Locations: 22
Postcards From Taiwan

Postcards From Taiwan(台灣明信片)

Posts: 15

Series

Complete series of photo essays and field notes from some of the many road trips and bicycle journeys I’ve undertaken over the years, mostly around Taiwan. If you prefer more of a narrative structure to explore the many places documented on this site you might like to start here.

Huadong Valley Ride 2018

Huadong Valley Ride 2018

Locations: 6
Posts: 6
Nantou Road Trip 2015

Nantou Road Trip 2015

Locations: 4
Posts: 5
Southern Taiwan Ride 2015

Southern Taiwan Ride 2015

Locations: 10
Posts: 7
Taiwan Summer Road Trip 2017

Taiwan Summer Road Trip 2017

Locations: 32
Posts: 5