Yifang Residence Introduction
Yifangju Ancient House was built by the Chen clan, early pioneers of Taipei originally from Anxi County, Quanzhou, Fujian Province. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, their ancestor crossed the sea to Taiwan to cultivate the land. Although they already had residences, it was not until the early Guangxu period that they invested heavily in constructing Yifangju. This traditional three-section courtyard house is a typical ancient residence of the Taipei basin, featuring a sunken entrance and robust brick and stone thick walls for both the main building and the protective dragon walls, with fewer door and window openings. Additionally, a two-story gun cabinet was built on the outer protective wall to defend against potential robbers. The windows are mostly made of stone, utilizing locally sourced sandstone from Taipei, which adds a regional characteristic. The plaque above the door inscribed with "Yifangju" is dated to the Bingzi year, which calculates to the second year of Guangxu's reign. With the rapid development of modern Taipei City, ancient residences from the Qing Dynasty like Yifangju have become increasingly rare, serving as historical testimony to the pioneering efforts in Taipei.
