Friday, April 13, 2012

Chen Family Abode

W does not talk much about her family and the history of the family. At a few occasions, she has talked about the family house, which was taken by the goverment at some point and later turned into some kind of museum.

Last year I spent new year in Taiwan and we were at a road trip with the family, celebrating the new year together and with friends. On our way back to Taaaichung, I suddenly realized, that there had been some decision made to make a detour to this house, which I was happy to her. Finally I got to see, from where the family came from, the root of my wife, even she never lived there herself, only her father did.



Once we arrived at the place there was quite a few people standing outside on a big parking place, it just happened to be, that the museum was closed for the holiday. This did not stop my family, who approached the gate and knocked the door. As the door opened, it was clear, that the intention was to tell us that it was closed, but as they saw the face of my wifes broither, the totally changed their attitude and opened the gate and let us all in, allthough only our family. Welcome home....

The inner main yard
During my stay in the house I learned more about the family than I ever knew before. The family came to Taiwan 1792 as business men and settled in this area. Later after the war with England  in 1842 they got the emperors official title as the ruler of the area, due to bravery in the war. He was the mayor of the area so to speak at that time and this was when they build the estate, in total 10.000 square meters. The title was inherited through some generations, then later the title went away, but the property remained on the hand of the family.

Official ancestors in their traditional clothing
Later most of the land had to be released to the farmers of the area, due to some laws after arrival of Chiang Kai-shek administration, allthough the main building remained on the hands of the family. Later in 1985 the main building the house was turned into a national historic monument, due to the historic value of the building

One of the many inner yard
Walking in the building complex gave me a extreme feeling, as the history was so present as I looked at the houses.

Entrance to one of the inner yards

Another inner yard



Garden behind the house

Another inner yard

If you read Chinese, you can read more here



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