Tongpan Island Residential One-Character Seal Introduction
Tongpan Island is entirely composed of basalt, which the local residents have utilized as building materials for their houses. In fact, the Penghu region is relatively flat, close to a lava plateau, and lacks high mountains to block the intense winter northeastern monsoon winds. Therefore, on Penghu Island, stone walls made of coral are developed to shield crops from the strong northeastern winds during winter. However, Tongpan Island, belonging to the southern part of Penghu, not only faces the fierce northeastern winds in winter but also encounters the southwestern air currents from the south in summer. This has led to a unique architectural style known as "Yiziyin" in the Tongpan Island region. The Yiziyin architectural style is a distinctive feature of Tongpan Island. The materials used in Yiziyin structures are similar to those in other parts of Penghu, primarily basalt or coral, and the direction of the buildings is also determined by wind direction. However, unlike homes in other regions, Yiziyin structures do not have coral walls enclosing a courtyard; instead, they stand independently like a seal and have two doors on each wall, which is a unique characteristic of Yiziyin. Furthermore, a typical Yiziyin wall usually has only a small window, as the northeastern monsoon winds are indeed too strong! Although Tongpan Island is located in the south, it cannot escape the fierce intrusion of northern winds. The Yiziyin residential buildings of Tongpan Island have been listed as precious heritage by the government and are being actively protected, with hopes of preserving this cultural historical site. 【Suggested stay time】 0.5 hours; Tongpan is mostly for cruising or short stops, but it is recommended to stay overnight at a local guesthouse on the island.
The Ruins of the Imprint of the Characters on the Residential Houses of Tungpan Island
