Gong Family Ancestral Hall Introduction
Proceed along the Elder Road in front of the Chen family's ancient residence, turn right at the first fork, and soon you will discover another ancient building, the well-preserved and elegantly rustic old residence known as the Gong Family Ancestral House. About a hundred years ago, the ancestors of the Gong family, four brothers, relocated from Duku Village in Ligang Township, Pingtung County to settle in the Elder Village. The ancestral house is built in the traditional Sanheyuan style, covering an area of approximately 3.3 hectares, with thirty interconnected rooms. In the center of the front courtyard is an altar dedicated to Guanyin, and in the center of the back courtyard is a shrine for the ancestors of the Gong family. The beams and pillars of the Gong family's building are made from "Fujian Fir," which has remained strong and intact for a century. The walls, about 36 centimeters thick, are entirely made from a mix of stone and lime, without any cement used. The door and wall carvings depict auspicious symbols such as landscapes, dragons, phoenixes, unicorns, and cranes, all of which remain vivid after a century of rain and wind. The walls above the windows are carved in the shape of books, with ancient poetry inscribed upon them, each with different content and clearly visible script today. The floors of the front and back courtyards are laid with red bricks arranged in a diamond shape to prevent cracking, reflecting the architectural sophistication.
