Erkan Chen Family Ancestral House Introduction
In Erkan, every house is a Chen family ancestral home. Here, Erkan Village is a single-surname village in Penghu, where everyone has the surname Chen, making it a rare surname village in Penghu. The Erkan settlement preservation area features many traditional buildings, with houses made of stone bricks and red tiles everywhere. The ground is not paved with asphalt but with traditional stone bricks. At the center of this area is the Chen family ancestral home, located at No. 6, Erkan Village, Xiuyu Township. This house is named after its owners, the brothers Chen Ling and Chen Bang, who ran the Yuan Yi pharmacy. It originated from Chen Yan Yi, who settled here during the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. Since the founding ancestor Chen Ting Yi settled here, it has been over three hundred years, passing down nine generations. Due to Chen Ting Yi's infrequent contact with the outside world, Erkan Village developed into a closed settlement, evolving into a single-surname community. The ancestral home, built at a low elevation due to the strong northeastern monsoon in Penghu during winter, follows the traditional Minnan five-section layout, with the entrance hall, living room, and rear hall interconnected by courtyards, allowing for intricate indoor and outdoor flows. The descendant alley in front of the main hall connects with neighbors through small arched doors while serving as an escape route, providing defensive functions. The Chen Ling Bang Memorial Hall is constructed with local rock from Penghu and basalt for its walls, supporting the roof structure, and is adorned with traditional architectural decorations such as paintings, pottery, painted tiles, and clay sculptures, showcasing the beauty of traditional Penghu craftsmanship. It was designated as a third-grade historical site on April 25, 1988. The entire ancestral home not only retains the structure of a Minnan residence but also incorporates a significant number of elements from Southeast Asian and Western styles. Currently, the entire ancestral home is a national third-grade historic site with descendants still living there. Tickets are required to enter and appreciate the complete architectural style and artifacts while imagining and conceptualizing the living conditions of the time. [Recommended stay time] 1 hour.
Chen Ling-Bang Memorial Hall Main Entrance
Chen Family Ancestral Hall
