Tianxi Cheng's Ancient House Introduction
The Cheng Family Ancient Residence, located in the Tamsui District of New Taipei City, is a well-preserved historical traditional building that showcases the characteristics and cultural atmosphere of Minnan architecture in Tamsui over the past century. The development of the Gongsi Tianxi area can be traced back to the Dutch era, and the Cheng Family Ancient Residence is one of the few remaining agricultural homes in the region. Surrounded by bamboo and reed, with a flowing canal nearby, it is a representative building of the traditional three-compound style of the old agricultural society. It is well-preserved and stands as a testament to the history of development in the Tamsui area. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Cheng Yao-shi settled in Taiwan from Jinjiang County, becoming the ancestor of the Tamsui Cheng family’s agricultural enterprise. The creation date of the residence is uncertain, but scholars estimate it was built before the Sino-French War in 1884, during which Qing troops were stationed here and successfully defeated French forces. The residence is a typical three-compound farmhouse, surrounded by bamboo and reed, and serves as a model of traditional local agricultural homes. Its five fire storages follow a double dragon architectural style, with a ridge adopting a golden horse saddle shape, and the walls constructed with locally abundant andesite combined with earthen bricks. Features like defensive gun ports (to fend off bandits at that time) and external mountain walls with tiled clothing (to protect earthen bricks from rain) are rare among similar buildings in the Tamsui area, fully showcasing the beauty of ancient architecture and the wisdom of ancestors.
