Li Residence in Zhongzhuang, Huatan Introduction
The Li Residence in Zhongzhuang, Huatan was built by its ancestor Li Shangbo from the third branch of the Li family. It is a styled traditional courtyard house. The wooden structure and most of the painted decorations in the main hall have largely maintained their original appearance, holding significant artistic value. The main hall serves as the place for worshipping deities and ancestor tablets, where the Li family conducts ancestor worship. The main hall consists of three sections, and the main entrance features a six-panel door design that allows for the entire door to be opened during ancestral rites for easier access. The main hall adopts a braced-frame structure, and the octagonal windows on the side rooms convey meanings of warding off evil and bringing good fortune. Decorations above the main hall's door lintel and the octagonal windows include paintings of "Eight Immortals," "Weishui Invites Talents," and "Shun Plowing Lishan," which have been severely damaged over time. The 921 Earthquake in 1999 caused damage to the Li Residence, resulting in the collapse of the gate tower and courtyard walls, with the roof tiles shifted and damaged. In 2001, it was further devastated by a typhoon, leaving only the main hall relatively intact. On April 10, 2002, the main hall of Li Residence was registered as a historical building, and the protective dragons on both sides were rebuilt using reinforced concrete while following the original architectural style. Source: Changhua County Cultural Bureau.
