Erkan Chen Family Ancient House Introduction
In Erkan, every house is an ancient residence of the Chen family. This village of Erkan is notable for being a single-surname village in Penghu, where all the inhabitants share the surname Chen, making it a rare example of a single-surname community in Penghu. Within the Erkan settlement preservation area, there are many traditional buildings, with visible houses constructed of stone bricks and red tiles, and the ground beneath is not asphalt but traditional stone pavements. The centerpiece is the Chen Ling Bang Memorial Hall, located at No. 6, Erkan Village, Xi Yu Township. This house was built by two brothers, Chen Ling and Chen Bang, owners of the Yuan Yi Pharmacy. The origins trace back to Chen Yan Yi, who settled here during the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. Since its founding ancestor, Chen Ting Yi, established roots here over three hundred years ago, it has been passed down through nine generations. Due to the limited contact and transportation with the outside world by Chen Ting Yi, Erkan Village gradually became a closed settlement, evolving into a single-surname community. Due to the strong northeast monsoon during the winter in Penghu, the residence is built on low land, following the traditional Fujian south architectural style. The layout includes a front hall, a living room, and a rear hall, all linked by courtyards, creating an intricate indoor-outdoor flow in a traditional compound configuration. The descendant alley in front of the main hall connects with neighbors through small archways that also serve as an escape system for defense purposes. The Chen Ling Bang Memorial Hall features walls made of local lugou stones and basalt, supporting the roof structure, along with traditional decorative elements such as paintings, ceramics, murals, and clay sculptures that showcase the beauty of traditional Penghu craftsmanship. It was designated as a third-level historic site on April 25, 1988. In addition to the traditional Minnan residential structure, the most significant aspect is the incorporation of a large number of Southeast Asian Western elements. Currently, the entire ancient residence is classified as a national third-level historic site, and descendants still live there. Visitors can purchase tickets to enter and appreciate the complete architectural style and artifacts, allowing them to imagine and envision life as it was during that time. 【Recommended stay time】 1 hour.
Chen Ling-Bang Memorial Hall Entrance
Chen Family Ancestral House
