Hua Tan Zhong Zhuang Li Residence Introduction
The Li Residence in Huangtan Zhongzhuang was built by its ancestor Li Shangbo from the third branch of the Li family. It is a traditional Sanheyuan (three-section courtyard) structure. The wooden framework and most of the painted decorations in the main hall have mostly retained their original appearance, showcasing their artistic value. The main hall enshrines deities and ancestor tablets, serving as the place for ancestral worship by the Li family. The main hall consists of three rooms, and the main entrance features a six-panel design that allows all doors to be fully opened during ancestral rites for easy access. The main hall adopts a braced frame structure, and the octagonal windows in the adjacent rooms symbolize the warding off of evil and bringing good fortune. The painted beams above the main hall's lintel and octagonal windows feature motifs such as "Eight Immortals," "Weishui Recruits Talents," and "Shun Ploughing Mount Li," but due to age, they have been severely damaged. The 921 Earthquake in 1999 caused damage to the Li Residence, collapsing the gatehouse and courtyard wall, and displacing roof tiles. In 2001, it suffered further destruction from a typhoon, with only the main hall remaining relatively intact. On April 10, 2002, the main hall of the Li Residence was registered as a historical building, while the protective dragons on both sides were rebuilt in a manner resembling the original structure using reinforced concrete materials. Source: Changhua County Cultural Affairs Bureau.
