Wufeng Lin Family Kuanghua Garden Introduction
Wufeng Lin Family is one of the five prominent families in Taiwan, named after its origins in Wufeng (formerly known as Azhaowu, now Wufeng District, Taichung City, Taiwan). Since the mid-19th century, the Lin family gained influence by assisting in the suppression of the Taiping Rebellion, the Dai Chaochun Incident, and participating in the Sino-French War, amassing thousands of skilled soldiers, acquiring vast lands in central Taiwan, and holding rights such as the monopoly on camphor trade, thus becoming one of the most influential families in Taiwanese society since the Qing Dynasty. During the Japanese colonial period, Wufeng Lin Family was alongside Keelung Yan Family, Banqiao Lin Family, Lukang Gu Family, and Kaohsiung Chen Family, known as the "Five Prominent Families of Taiwan." The National Historic Site, Wufeng Lin Family Residence and Garden, refers to the gardens and residence buildings of the Wufeng Lin Family located in the Azhaowu area, which includes the lower complex, upper complex, and Lai Garden. The open area of the Wufeng Lin Family Gongbao-Di Park includes three building clusters: Gongbao-Di, the large flower hall, and the straw house belonging to the lower complex. "Gongbao-Di" is one of the lower complex’s building clusters of the Wufeng Lin Family Residence, first built by Lin Wenchai (1828-1864) in the eighth year of the Xianfeng era (1858) with the existing third courtyard and protective dragon decorations. It was named Gongbao-Di after Lin led Taiwanese troops to attack Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in Changzhou and was posthumously awarded the title "Prince Shaobao" in the third year of the Tongzhi era (1864). The architectural layout is symmetrically designed with five courtyards and eleven rooms. The first and second courtyards were expanded by Lin Chaodong from the ninth year of the Tongzhi era (1870) to the ninth year of the Guangxu era (1883), with further additions to the fourth and fifth courtyards completed before the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki in the 21st year of the Guangxu era (1895). "Gongbao-Di" is the only surviving official residence of a first-class official from the Qing dynasty in Taiwan. "The Large Flower Hall" is another building cluster in the lower complex of the Wufeng Lin Family Residence, featuring a three-courtyard, five-room layout with a Fuzhou-style stage and distinctive vaulted ceiling, being the only one in Taiwan. It is adorned with peonies, known as the king of flowers, symbolizing wealth and prosperity, blooming in the central mirror position, hence named "Large Flower Hall." Construction started in the sixteenth year of Guangxu (1890) and was completed in the twentieth year (1894) while Lin Chaodong served as the director of the Land Reclamation Bureau, built for military meetings and public banquets, representing a space for hosting guests and performances, akin to a modern "guesthouse" or "private opera house," symbolizing the pinnacle of the Wufeng Lin Family. "The Straw House" is another building cluster in the lower complex of the Wufeng Lin Family Residence, known as the original family dwelling. The straw house structure is a sanheyuan (three-sided courtyard) composed of the main house and protective dragon, featuring a granary and gate tower, with a large garden outside. It began construction around the 17th year of the Daoguang era (1837) and was an important early living space for the Wufeng Lin Family. It symbolizes the family's humble beginnings, and although some parts were destroyed during the Japanese occupation, restoration efforts involved thorough research, comparison with old photos, and computer simulation to determine the restoration method, using a 1930 photograph as a basis. The restoration utilized original construction techniques and materials, with the main hall, formerly used as the "Mother Hall," restored in 2020 with a thatched roof as a historical testament to the original dwelling, showcasing the craftsmanship and cultural heritage in a rare restoration technique for heritage sites.
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