Yifangju Historic House Introduction
Yifangju is an ancient residence built by the Chen clan, early pioneers of Taipei, whose ancestors originally hailed from Anxi County, Quanzhou, Fujian Province. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the founding ancestor crossed the sea to Taiwan for development. Although they had previous residences, it was not until the early years of the Guangxu period that they invested heavily in the construction of Yifangju. This traditional Sanheyuan (three-section courtyard) residence is a typical example of ancient houses in the Taipei basin, featuring a recessed main entrance and robust walls made of thick bricks and stones. The main facade and the protective dragon walls have fewer windows and openings, with two-story gun cabinets built outside the protective dragon to defend against potential bandit attacks. Additionally, many of its windows are made of stone, sourced from the sandstone produced in Taipei, showcasing local characteristics. The entrance plaque reads "Yifangju," dated in the Bingzi year, which is estimated to correspond to the second year of the Guangxu era. With the rapid development of modern Taipei City, ancient residences like Yifangju from the Qing Dynasty are becoming increasingly rare, serving as historical witnesses to the city's pioneering history.
