Erkan Historical House, Xiyu Township, Penghu County, Taiwán
Chen Family Historical House is the top representative for Erkan Historical Houses it was built in 1910. Chen Ling and Chen Bang two brothers moved to Tainan to run a Chinese Herb Medicine store and became rich. They came back home to refurbish their old house to honor their family. The grand scale of “Two rows of three rooms and four rooms each on either side (forming a rectangular shape)” makes it the one and only historical house in Penghu, currently listed as National Grade Three Historic Site.
The expert in charge of designing and refurbishing the historical house was only 29 years old then. He was from Chihdong Village; observing the details of the Chen Family building, you can see that the expert was very creative and brilliant. With his daring use of color, vivid yet elegant wood carvings, painted tiles, stone carvings, the format,and the increasing discreteness of design from outside to the inside he followed the traditional methods of residential building. It is also very safe, truly making this the representative piece of work of Eastern-Western combination on the island.
Epic Taiwan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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