Mattingly House - Ching Tian 76 Introduction
Located at No. 6, Alley 7, Qingtians Street, Taipei City, this area is also known as "Qingtian 76". It is the most concentrated area of historical Japanese-style residences, known as "yingzhai". Built in 1931 by Professor Jin Adachi, the entire structure is primarily made of cypress wood. The left side of the house features a reception room, study, and dining room, with furnishings such as bookshelves, glass bay windows, and outdoor European-style flowerbeds and front courtyards adopting Western styles. In contrast, the right side includes bedrooms and children's rooms designed in traditional Japanese tatami style, blending the advantages of both Japanese and Western architecture. In 1945, it was occupied by Professor Ma Ting-ying, a friend from the Department of Geology at National Taiwan University. In 2006, the Taipei City Government officially designated it as a city historic site, and in 2011, it was leased to the management authority by alumni of National Taiwan University and opened to the public. Currently, it offers free guided tours and educational activities, and the living room, dining room, and study also provide meals and cultural creative products for sale. Professor Ma Ting-ying, born in 1899 in Jin County, Liaoning Province, was a renowned geologist, paleontologist, and marine geologist. He was known for his rigorous scholarship and meticulous thinking, conducting research worldwide and validating theories through field investigations, making significant contributions as a pioneer in current geological theory. After Professor Ma's passing in 1979, President Chiang Ching-kuo awarded him a commendation in February 1980. The Geological Society of China established the "Ma Ting-ying Young Thesis Award" on July 16, 1987, to commemorate this geological master and honor his lifetime contributions to geological research. From 1945 to 2007, the Ma family continued to reside here after Professor Ma Ting-ying moved in. Additionally, in the fall of 1947, Qi Bangyuan, who came to Taiwan from Shanghai and served as a teaching assistant in the Department of Foreign Languages at National Taiwan University, briefly lived here as well. On May 2, 2006, the Taipei City Government announced that Qingtian 76 officially became a designated city historic site, named "National Taiwan University Japanese Dormitory - Ma Ting-ying Residence".
