Yifangju Historical House Introduction
Yifangju Ancient House was built by the Chen clan, early pioneers from Taipei. The Chen family originally hails from Anxi County, Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, their ancestor crossed the sea to Taiwan to cultivate the land. They previously had dwelling houses, but it wasn’t until the early Guangxu period that they invested heavily to construct Yifangju. This traditional three-compartment courtyard house is a typical ancient residence of the Taipei basin. The main entrance features a recessed longevity design, and both the main body and the protective walls are made of solid brick and stone, with fewer openings for doors and windows. Additionally, there are two-story gun niches built into the outer protective wall for defense against bandit incursions. The windows are mostly made of stone, sourced from the sandstone produced in Taipei, reflecting local characteristics. The door frame is inscribed with "Yifangju" and is dated to the Bingzi year, estimated to be constructed in the second year of Guangxu. In modern times, Taipei has developed rapidly, and ancient residences from the Qing Dynasty, like Yifangju, are becoming increasingly rare, serving as a historical testament to the pioneering of Taipei.
