Zhuang Gongsheng Old House Introduction
Zhuang Tingcan, whose ancestral home is in Kuei Yang Township, Nanjing County, Zhangzhou, Fujian, had his great-grandfather Zhuang Chaoxin move to Taiwan in 1756. His father, Zhuang Yuanzhu, relocated to Shuangxi in 1851 (the first year of the Xianfeng era), continuing the family tradition of farming and education. Zhuang Tingcan became a scholar in 1877 (the third year of the Guangxu era) and received an official stipend in 1888 (the fourteenth year of the Guangxu era). In 1895 (the year of Yiwai), he returned to Zhangzhou to avoid the Japanese army, and in 1901 (the twenty-seventh year of the Guangxu era), he went to Zhangzhou to participate in the provincial examination, later returning to Shuangxi to live out his old age. After becoming a scholar, Zhuang Tingcan established a private school called "Meizhu Garden" near his ancestral home, dedicating himself to Confucianism and nurturing talented individuals. During the Japanese occupation, the locals referred to him as a relic from the Qing dynasty. His elder brother, Jinbo, also took the examination, and the brothers earned respect, thereby linking the "Zhuang Gongsheng" family to the historical development, traditional Confucianism, and cultural growth of the region. This century-old ancestral home is built in the traditional Minnan architectural style and is one of the ancient houses still in use in the Shuangxi area. The overall structure of the house has not changed significantly, and even the walls inside have not undergone any modern decoration, preserving the original stone appearance. Despite weathering over the years, the intricate carvings on the exterior remain clearly visible, particularly the camellia relief, which symbolizes prosperity, located on the left wing of the house, that is well-preserved and definitely worth seeing. The Zhuang Yesheng Ancient House is located across from the Camellia Zhuang Educational Farm.
