Fanjiang Old House Cluster Introduction
The famous Fan Jiang Old House Cluster in Xinwu consists of five old houses characterized by Hakka simplicity, featuring the traditional sanheyuan layout, surrounded by brick walls, forming a "口" shape overall. The 9th house is designated as the Fan Jiang Ancestral Hall, a city-designated historical site. The inscription "陶渭流芳" (Tao Wei Liu Fang) on the plaque and the incense burner and clay jars in the ancestral hall are valuable cultural relics, while the painted door walls, wood carvings, and brick sculptures are also noteworthy. The 6th house, with the plaque "陶渭高風" (Tao Wei Gao Feng), exhibits bookish window decorations, white walls, and stone sculptures in the front yard, creating a tranquil and pleasing atmosphere. The 3rd house, noted for its intricate carvings on the roof ridge, eaves, and both sides of the main entrance, stands out. Next to it, the 2nd house combines white walls and red bricks with a pebbled entrance wall, representing a composite architectural style. The red-brick 1st house, adorned with a swallowtail on the roof ridge, evokes a sense of the past grandeur as if time has paused here. The ancestral hall hosts significant gatherings and sacrificial activities on the 5th day of the 4th lunar month and the 1st day of the 8th lunar month each year. The Fan Jiang Old House Cluster fully showcases the features of traditional Hakka courtyards and serves as a popular photo spot for visitors interested in history. The horizontal house cluster was restored in 2021, themed "Horizontal House Points," planning six revitalization areas, including the Eight Music Classroom, Reading Time, Crafting Classroom, Small Art Gallery, Cultural Tea House, and Living Book House. Among these areas, the Eight Music Classroom showcases traditional eight-tone musical instruments for public experience, allowing people to try the instruments commonly seen and heard at temple fairs. Additionally, the Fan Jiang family has produced many talented calligraphers and painters; contemporary artist Fan Jiang Minghua's oil paintings are displayed in the Small Art Gallery, reflecting vibrant local cultural themes through the motif of shadow puppetry. Furthermore, the Cultural Tea House has made enjoying tea in the old houses a trendy experience for cultural enthusiasts, while the open Living Book House facilitates shared reading for families; Reading Time and the Crafting Classroom enhance visitors' engagement with the historical site.
