Yifangju Historical House Introduction
Yifangju Ancient Residence was built by the Chen clan, early pioneers of Taipei, whose ancestral home is in Anxi County, Quanzhou, Fujian Province. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, their ancestor came to Taiwan to cultivate the land. Previously, they already had residences, but it was not until the early Guangxu period that they invested heavily to construct Yifangju. This traditional three-sided courtyard house is a typical ancient residence of the Taipei Basin, featuring a recessed Shou-style entrance. The walls of the main building and the protective dragon wall are made of sturdy brick and stone, with limited openings for windows and doors. Additionally, a two-story gun cabinet was built in the outer protective dragon wall for self-defense against robbers. Many of its windows are made of stone, sourced from the sandstones produced in Taipei, reflecting local characteristics. The plaque above the door reads "Yifangju," dated to the Bingzi year, which is estimated to be built in the second year of Guangxu. The rapid development of modern Taipei has led to a decrease in Qing Dynasty ancient residences like Yifangju, which serves as a historical testament to the development of Taipei.
