Alishan Sacred Tree Relics

When the Japanese took control of Taiwan in 1895 and began logging the forests in the island’s interior, they discovered this 3,000-year-old cypress tree. They immediately set it apart as a sacred tree due to its size and age and preserved it, even as they logged most of the surrounding old-growth trees.

Though the Japanese transferred control of the island to the Republic of China in 1945, the tree’s sacredness was respected by the island’s new leaders. In 1956, however, the tree was struck by lightning and the inside caught fire. Though the fire was extinguished, the tree did not survive the blaze. But its trunk was kept standing and red cypress saplings were planted on its top so that it still appeared alive.

In 1997, a heavy storm caused half the tree to collapse, and the remainder was eventually felled due to safety concerns. However, the tree was left where it fell, and visitors to Alishan National Forest can still view the relics of the ancient tree.