Spectral Codex

Spectral Codex

Shigang Rice Barn
Shigang Rice Barn (石岡穀倉)
Puli Tuberculosis Sanatorium
Puli Tuberculosis Sanatorium (埔里肺結核療養所)
Caotun Cide Temple
Caotun Cide Temple (草屯慈德宮)
Miaoli Theater
Miaoli Theater (苗栗戲院)
Xiluo Theater
Xiluo Theater (西螺大戲院)
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 6,356 locations (1,186 with images), 100 posts, 513 regions, 98 themes, 7,608 images, 19,730 outbound links, and 934,046 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

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
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
Linkou Shengtai Brick Kiln

Linkou Shengtai Brick Kiln
(林口勝泰磚窯)

New Taipei
Linkou
Yingge Nanmen Market Building

Yingge Nanmen Market Building
(鶯歌南門商場大樓)

New Taipei
Yingge
Changle Theater

Changle Theater
(大樹昌樂大戲院)

Kaohsiung
Dashu
Xinglin General Hospital

Xinglin General Hospital
(杏林綜合醫院)

Tainan City
Tainan West Central
Tainan Guanghua Theater

Tainan Guanghua Theater
(台南光華戲院)

Tainan City
Tainan West Central
Tainan Minzu Theater

Tainan Minzu Theater
(台南民族戲院)

Tainan City
Tainan West Central
Hunei Wenxian Theater

Hunei Wenxian Theater
(湖內文賢戲院)

Kaohsiung
Hunei
Zuoying Qingshui Theater

Zuoying Qingshui Theater
(左營清水大戲院)

Kaohsiung City
Zuoying
Waipu Airfield

Waipu Airfield
(福興外埔飛行場)

Changhua
Fuxing

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: 1,167
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