Wufeng Lin Family Garden and Lin Hsien-tang Museum Introduction
Lin Hsien-tang Museum Mr. Lin Hsien-tang lived in an era of transition between old and new thoughts, possessing the strengths of both traditional and modern intellectuals. This fusion of characteristics made him one of the most remarkable figures in Taiwan during the first half of the 20th century. The museum displays documents, historical materials, ancient manuscripts, the original diary of Lin Hsien-tang, his calligraphy, manuscripts, archives, postcards, and daily necessities, furniture, and important literary works used by the Wufeng Lin family in their early years. Walking into this museum to appreciate Taiwan's handicrafts and exquisite culture is akin to reading a biography of Mr. Lin Hsien-tang and a vividly woven three-dimensional history of Taiwan. Lai Garden, regarded as the foremost of Taiwan's Four Great Gardens, is the rear garden of the Wufeng Lin family. After Mr. Lin Wen-chin passed the imperial examination in 1893, he built the garden to honor his mother's nurturing, naming it "Lai Garden" after the anecdote of Lao Lai Zi in colorful garments entertaining his parents. Lai Garden is a beautiful landscape by the mountains and water, featuring the national historic site Wugui Building, the Feishang Drunken Moon Pavilion, the Small Xi Pond, and the Kapok Bridge, which together create a perfect blend of nature and culture, making it a renowned scenic spot throughout Taiwan. Rongjing Study was established in 1838, initially serving as a residence. In 1887, Lin Wen-chin remodeled it into a private study (commonly known as "New Learning"). It was named "Rongjing Study" after the anecdote "Under the Lotus Mirror" from "Youyang Zazu." This place was where Mr. Lin Hsien-tang learned traditional Chinese studies with his family from a young age. The architectural style adopts the traditional scholar's hall layout, with a courtyard resembling that of a Confucian temple, a pond in the front, a lecture hall for the main hall, and an elegant pavilion at the front, making it the most complete private academy in Taiwan and the most important center for Sinology education in central Taiwan at the time. Jingxun Building is the main residence of the Dingcuo Lin family and the former home of Lin Hsien-tang. The main structure consists of three courtyards with nine openings, commonly referred to as "the big house has nine bundles and five, three falls with one hundred and two doors," representing a traditional compound-style residence. Construction began in 1864 under Lin Dian-guo, and by 1867, Lin Wen-feng completed the first section, including the internal and external protective dragons, as well as the main entrance to Jingxun Building; in 1883, Lin Wen-chin completed the primary structure and some of the third section. Later, during the Japanese occupation, Lin Hsien-tang renovated and expanded the front grape trellis of the main hall, reconstructing the original gate tower to form the scale we see today. The main hall features movable "Bagua Door" and "Four Happiness" carvings, a double-sided view of "Eagle and Hero Independence," and bracket designs symbolizing "the fish leaping over the dragon gate." The large vase doors on either side of the main hall symbolize peace throughout the four seasons, showcasing a wide variety of traditional architectural styles. The above information and images are provided by the Wufeng Lin Family Garden Lin Hsien-tang Museum.
