Erkan Chen Family Ancestral House Introduction
In Erkan, every house is a Chen family ancient residence. Here, Erkan Village is a single-surname village in Penghu, where all the residents share the surname Chen, making it a rare single-surname settlement in Penghu. Within the Erkan settlement preservation area, there are many traditional buildings, with houses constructed from stone bricks and red tiles everywhere, and the ground is not asphalt but traditional stone paving. At the center is the Chen family ancient residence, located at No. 6, Erkan Village, Xiyu Township. This house was built by the owners Chen Ling and his brother Chen Bang, who were the proprietors of Yuan Yi Pharmacy, hence it is called the Chen Ling Bang Memorial Hall. It originates from Chen Yan Yi, who settled here during the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, and since the founding ancestor Chen Ting Yi's settlement, it has been passed down through nine generations over the past three hundred years. Due to Chen Ting Yi's infrequent contact and transportation with the outside world, Erkan Village gradually became a closed settlement, developing into a single-surname community. Due to the strong northeast monsoon winds in Penghu during winter, the houses are built in low-lying areas, featuring the traditional Minnan five-part ancient house style. The entrance hall, living room, and back hall are all interconnected by courtyards, forming a traditional quadrilateral courtyard layout that creates complex indoor and outdoor movement paths. The descendants' alley in front of the main hall connects with neighbors through small arches, which also serve as an evacuation system for defense purposes. The Chen Ling Bang Memorial Hall uses local Penghu stone and basalt for its walls to support the roof structure, and features traditional architectural decorations such as calligraphy and painting, pottery, painted tiles, and clay sculptures, showcasing the beauty of traditional craftsmanship in Penghu. It was designated as a third-level historic site on April 25, 1988. The entire ancient residence, while structured as a Minnan-style home, incorporates a large number of South Asian and Western elements. Currently, the entire ancient residence is a national third-level historic site that is still inhabited by descendants. Visitors can purchase tickets to admire not only the complete architectural styles and cultural relics but also to imagine and conceive the living situations of that time. [Recommended visit duration] 1 hour.
Chen Ling-Bang Memorial Hall Entrance
Chen Family Ancestral Hall
