Changyuan Hospital - Lugang Historical Image Museum Introduction
The century-old Changyuan Hospital, located in Lugang, Changhua, is adjacent to the First Market and sits at the intersection of Zhongshan Road and Minzu Road, standing tall despite the passage of time. This old residence was once where renowned local doctor Xu Du lived and practiced, and it also served as the starting point for realist photographer Xu Cangze to gaze upon his hometown. The street house, a blend of old and new, as well as Han and Western styles, not only carves out the texture of the ancient town's development but also embodies the aesthetic qualities and character of the Xu family. The story began in 1920 when grocery merchant Xu Liang purchased this old residence, transforming it into the family’s ancestral home, thus opening a century-long chapter of the Xu family's watch over Lugang's streets. In 1925, Xu Liang's son, Xu Du, returned after completing his studies and opened "Changyuan Hospital" in the old residence, which not only marked the modernization of healthcare in the Lugang area but also reflected the features of local clinics that combined medical, residential, and social functions at that time. Xu Du, who graduated first in his class from Taichung High School (now Taichung First Senior High School) and was admitted to the Taiwan Governor-General's Medical School, often cared for patients on the first motorcycle in Lugang, commuting through lanes and alleys. He was fondly remembered by locals as "Xu Du Xian," and his wide-ranging interests in photography, Western music, and other fields introduced modern lifestyles to the community. This modern spirit is also reflected in the building's design: in the 1930s, due to urban renewal plans, the first courtyard space was replaced by a Western-style building reconstructed on the Minzu Road side, heavily influenced by Western modernism, while the family bedrooms retained traditional Japanese-style tatami rooms; murals left behind by famous painter Guo Xinlin and calligrapher Wang Xiping further enriched the cultural depth of the space. In 1962, local photographer Xu Cangze, recognized as "a first-class foreigner" after winning the annual first prize in the monthly competition of "Camera Japan," developed a passion for photography influenced by his father, Xu Du. He not only documented his family's daily life but also often turned his lens towards the streets of Lugang, capturing ordinary life with instant photography techniques. Xu Cangze formed the "Banana Club" with Zhang Shixian and Chen Longsan, gathering monthly to jointly purchase photography magazines and hone their skills. In the 1970s, in response to the rise of local cultural trends across the island, he, along with photographers Zheng Sangxi and Xu Qingbo, founded the "Local Cultural Photography Group," rekindling the deep connection between images and the land at a time when beautiful and romantic salon photography was mainstream. The 250,000 film negatives and detailed notes accumulated over Xu Cangze's lifetime not only serve as important historical documents but also provide rich reference materials for the future renovation of Changyuan Hospital. Renovation and Regeneration Records In 2018, the Changyuan Hospital, standing for nearly a century, inevitably showed signs of aging. The team from Xiongben Old House, who came for inspection, proactively reached out to Xu Cangze's son, Dr. Xu Zhengyuan, to understand the family's concerns and hopes regarding the old residence. Based on their expertise in historical research, spatial restoration, and operational planning, the team proposed a comprehensive restoration and reuse plan. Between 2018 and 2023, following a five-year restoration project, the old residence continued to maintain its cultural warmth through multiple themed exhibitions. In the future, after its reopening, it will appropriately introduce commercial functions and collaborate with local organizations to revitalize the old house with a mindset of "sustainable mutual benefit."
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