Li Family Residence in Huatan Central Village Introduction
The Li Mansion in Huatan Zhongzhuang was built by the ancestor Li Shangbo of the third branch of the Li family. It is a traditional Sanheyuan (three-section compound) building. The wooden structure and most of the painted decorations in the main hall have largely retained their original appearance, showcasing significant artistic value. The main hall is dedicated to deities and ancestral tablets, serving as a place for the Li family to worship their ancestors. The main hall consists of three rooms, and its entrance features a six-panel door design that allows all panels to be opened during ancestral worship for easy access. The main hall employs a traditional dougong (bracket set) structure, and the octagonal windows in the adjacent wings symbolize the warding off of evil and bringing good fortune. The painted decorations above the main hall's door lintel and the octagonal windows include motifs like “Eight Immortals” and “Weishui Engaging Scholars,” but they have suffered significant damage over the years. The 921 Earthquake in 1999 caused structural damage to the mansion, resulting in the collapse of the entrance and courtyard walls, with the roof tiles also displaced and damaged. In 2001, the mansion was further affected by a typhoon, leaving only the main hall relatively intact. On April 10, 2002, the main hall of the Li Mansion was registered as a historical building, and the dragon guardians on both sides were rebuilt using reinforced concrete while mimicking the original architectural style. Source: Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau.
