Zhuang Gongsheng Ancient House Introduction
Zhuang Tingcan, born in Guizhang Township, Nanjing, Zhangzhou, Fujian, had his great-grandfather Zhuang Chaoxin move to Taiwan in 1756, and his father Zhuang Yuanzhu moved to Shuangxi in 1851 (the first year of the Xianfeng period), continuing the family tradition of farming and education. Zhuang Tingcan became a successful scholar in 1877 (the third year of the Guangxu period) and was appointed to a stipend in 1888 (the fourteenth year of the Guangxu period). In 1895 (the year of Yiyu), he returned to Zhangzhou to escape the Japanese invasion, and in 1901 (the twenty-seventh year of the Guangxu period), he took the county examination in Zhangzhou Prefecture before returning to Shuangxi to live out his later years. After becoming a successful scholar, Zhuang Tingcan established the "Meizhu Academy" near his ancestral home to educate the youth, adhering to Confucian principles. During the Japanese colonial period, the locals referred to him as an elder from the Qing dynasty. His elder brother Jinbo was also a successful scholar, and the brothers were deeply respected, resulting in the "Zhuang Gongsheng" family being closely tied to the historical development, traditional Confucian teachings, and cultural progress of the area. This century-old ancestral home, built in traditional Minnan architectural style, is one of the ancient houses still in use in the Shuangxi District. The overall structure of the house has not changed significantly, and even the interior walls have not undergone any modern decoration, preserving the original stone appearance. Although the exterior of the house shows signs of age, the intricate carvings are still clearly visible, notably the camellia relief on the left wing, symbolizing prosperity, which is well-preserved and worth seeing. The Zhuang Yesheng Ancestral Home is located opposite the Camellia Zhuang Educational Agricultural Park.
