Wufeng Lin Family Garden Introduction
Wufeng Lin Residence is a collective term for the garden and mansion architecture located in Ajou Wu. It consists of three main parts: the Upper House, the Lower House, and Lai Garden. The Lai Garden, where Ming Tai Commercial School is situated, was built by Lin Wenchin, a Jinshi, in honor of his mother, and later became widely known as the Wufeng Lin Family Garden. The Lin Family Garden was constructed during the mid-Qing Dynasty and has undergone many changes in architectural style. In later years, new buildings and gardens featuring a combination of Chinese, Western, and hybrid styles emerged. Established in 1893, the Taichung Wufeng Lin Family Garden was severely damaged in the 921 Earthquake, but as a significant historical and cultural site, the descendants of the Lin family continue their efforts to restore the Lin Family Garden to its historical appearance. The garden was initially built by the first master, Lin Wenchin, to care for his mother, Madam Luo, and is currently located in Lai Garden of Ming Tai High School, serving as a filial piety garden. Originally, there were 12 scenic spots in the garden, with the Wugui Building being the most important structure. According to research, the Wugui Building was first constructed in 1887, originally called "Buchan Pavilion," it is a two-story wooden building in the Minnan style, with a living room on the first floor and Madam Luo's living quarters on the second floor. The second generation master, Lin Xiantang, was the main character in promoting the spirit of Lai Garden, and in 1905, he renovated the Wugui Building, transforming it into a style that combines Chinese and Western architecture, with a red-brick first floor featuring a Baroque-style arch and a wooden second floor topped with a traditional hip roof, embodying both Western and Taiwanese aesthetics. During the Japanese colonial period, the Wugui Building became a gathering place for poets of the Li Society, served as the classroom for the "Summer School" of the Cultural Association, and was an event venue for the "Yixin Society" and "Yixin Academy," making it a crucial site for Lin Xiantang to gather Taiwan's elites and preserve Han culture. The Lin Xiantang Memorial Museum was established in 2000 and expanded into the Wufeng Lin Family Garden Lin Xiantang Museum in 2019. The museum is located within the Lai Garden (Ming Tai High School) and currently displays the original diary of Lin Xiantang, personal letters, paintings, early photographs, furniture, clothing, and other precious artifacts. The history of the Wufeng Lin family represents a microcosm of Taiwan’s century-long history, and through exhibitions and promotional activities, the public can gain a deeper understanding of the historical culture of important family legacies in Taiwan. After the 921 Earthquake, with ten years of diligent research and perseverance, the Wufeng Lin Family Garden received support and assistance from the Cultural Heritage Administration, allowing for the reconstruction of the Wugui Building in Lai Garden. During this process, traditional carpenters such as Lai Qilin, carver Cao Rensheng, and cement worker Shi Kunyi collaborated using precious materials like Taiwan's millennium cypress wood and handmade bricks, employing modern technology and traditional methods to restore the Wugui Building to its 1905 appearance.
