Gong's Old House Introduction
Proceed along the Elderly Road in front of the Chen Family Ancient House, making a right turn at the first fork, and you will soon discover another old building, the Gong Family Ancient House, which is better preserved and has a more quaint and elegant environment. About a hundred years ago, the ancestors of the Gong family, four brothers, moved from Lugu Village in Pingtung County to settle in Elderly Village. The ancient house is a Sanheyuan-style building, covering an area of 3.3 acres and comprising thirty rooms, each connected to one another. In the center of the front yard is an altar dedicated to Guan Yin, and in the center of the back yard is the ancestral hall where the Gong family worships their ancestors. The beams and pillars of the Gong family's building are made from "Fujian Fir," which has remained strong and intact for a hundred years. The walls are approximately 36 centimeters thick, constructed entirely from a mix of stones and lime, without any use of cement. The door and wall are intricately carved with auspicious motifs such as landscapes, dragons, phoenixes, qilins, and cranes, which remain vivid despite enduring a century of weathering. The walls by the windows are sculpted into the shape of books, featuring poetry on them, with each window displaying different content and the calligraphy still clearly visible today. The floors in both the front and back yards are paved with red bricks arranged in a diamond pattern to prevent cracking, showcasing the scientific nature of the architecture.
