Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden Introduction
Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden is a general term for the garden and mansion complex located in A-Zhao-Wu. It consists of three main parts: the Upper House, the Lower House, and the Lai Garden. The Lai Garden, where Ming Tai High School is located, was built by the literatus Lin Wen-Chin to serve his mother, and it has since gained fame as the Wufeng Lin Family Garden. The Lin Family Garden was constructed during the mid-Qing dynasty and has undergone various changes in architectural styles over the years, including the emergence of new buildings and gardens that blend Chinese, Western, and traditional styles. Established in 1893, the Taichung Wufeng Lin Family Garden suffered severe damage during the 921 earthquake; however, as a significant cultural heritage site, the descendants of the Lin family continue their efforts to restore the historical appearance of the garden. The Lin Family Garden was originally built by the first-generation owner, Mr. Lin Wen-Chin, as a filial piety garden for his mother, Madam Luo, and is currently located in Lai Garden of Ming Tai High School. In its early days, the garden had 12 scenic spots, with the Wugui Building being its most important structure. According to historical records, the Wugui Building was first constructed in 1887, initially named "Bu Chan Pavilion," and is a two-story wooden building in the Minnan style with a pointed gable design. The first floor served as a living room, while the second floor was the residence of Madam Luo. The second-generation owner, Mr. Lin Xian-Tang, played a key role in promoting the spirit of Lai Garden and rebuilt the Wugui Building in 1905, transforming it into a building that combines Chinese and Western styles. The first floor is made of red bricks with a Baroque-style arch, while the second floor is a wooden structure topped with a traditional hard-gabled roof, incorporating both Western and Taiwanese aesthetics. During the Japanese occupation, the Wugui Building served as a gathering place for poets of the Li Society, a classroom for the "summer school" of the Cultural Association, and was also a venue for activities of the "Yi Xin Society" and "Yi Xin Academy," making it a significant site for Taiwanese elites to preserve Han culture. The Lin Xian-Tang Memorial Museum was established in 2000 and expanded in 2019 to become the Wufeng Lin Family Garden Lin Xian-Tang Museum. The museum is located within the Wufeng Lin Family Garden - Lai Garden (Ming Tai High School), and currently displays the original diary of Lin Xian-Tang, personal letters, calligraphy and paintings, as well as precious artifacts such as old photographs, furniture, and clothing. The history of the Wufeng Lin Family is a microcosm of Taiwan's century-old history, and through exhibitions and promotional activities, the public can gain a deeper understanding of the historical culture of this important family legacy in Taiwan. After the 921 earthquake, with ten years of dedicated research and perseverance, the Wufeng Lin Family Garden received support and assistance from the Cultural Assets Administration. Finally, the Wugui Building of Lai Garden could be reconstructed, employing traditional woodcraft master Lai Qi-Lin, carver Cao Ren-Sheng, and cement master Shi Kun-Yi to collaborate on using precious materials such as Taiwan's thousand-year-old cypress and handmade bricks, combining modern technology with traditional methods to restore the Wugui Building to its 1905 appearance.
