Red Hair Well Introduction
Historical Trajectory - Hong Mao Well This well was dug by the Dutch 300 years ago and is thus called "Lan Well". Due to the red hair of the Dutch, it is also known as "Hong Mao Well". In 1636, during the ninth year of the Ming Chongzhen era, shortly after the Dutch East India Company subdued the Zhu Luo Mountain indigenous community, they stationed officials and pastors near the county government in the Qing dynasty period to collect taxes from the indigenous and Han people around Zhu Luo Mountain and to spread Christianity to the indigenous residents. They dug this well as a water source necessary for daily life. During the Zheng period, General Wu Zhiwu garrisoned and farmed in Zhu Luo Mountain, established a camp north of this well, and restored it. After the Qing took control, there is no record of repairs. In the 27th year of the Qianlong era, the magistrate of Zhu Luo, Wei Keyu, praised this well for its sweet water, ranking it top among all the sources in Zhu Luo Mountain, and listed "Lan Well Spring's Sweetness" as one of the eight scenic spots of Zhu Luo. In the late Qing period, the Jinshi Xu Deqin from Chiayi praised the water from this well, saying, "Clears and washes away worries like jade, sweeter than fine nectar, suitable for brewing tea, stored in silver pots, who fetches water as pure as snow." The literature states: "Hong Mao Well is located to the left of the county office. It was opened by the Dutch, hence the name. It is six feet wide and about two zhang deep, with spring water purer than other wells. It is said that residents drinking this well water will not fall ill. During the Zheng period, there was a Wu Zhiwu guarding this place, who restored it." "Lan Well Spring's Sweetness" was once listed as one of the eight scenic spots of Zhu Luo. In the 74th year of the Republic of China, before the Ministry of the Interior's evaluation of monuments, this place was temporarily listed as a third-level historic site for preservation. However, during the evaluation, due to the dirty surroundings of the well and the well enclosure being newly built in the 59th year, it was removed from the list of historic sites. Nevertheless, Hong Mao Well remains the earliest historic site within Chiayi City.
