Xiao Men Cai Zhai Introduction
Walking on the trails of Xiaomen Isle, you can see the local特色 of Penghu, including the stone gods used for warding off evil spirits, and the unique agricultural cultural landscape of the Penghu Archipelago known as "cai zhai," also called "zhai nei" or "wei zai." These structures use stone walls to shield crops from wind and cover them, with most cai zhai built from local materials using volcanic and granite stones. In some areas with abundant water sources, reed is also used as wind protection. The construction of cai zhai is quite unique, where basalt and granite stones are sun-dried to remove impurities, and large stones are used as the foundation while smaller stones fill the gaps. During the stacking process, no cement or lime is used; instead, the sharp edges of the stones interlock to create a sturdy windbreak. This construction method may appear rough but can withstand strong northeast monsoons. In the cai zhai, crops primarily planted in spring and summer include pumpkin, Penghu cucumber, and Penghu beans; in autumn and winter, they mostly grow cabbage, tomatoes, and peashoots. Besides seasonal vegetables, the main crop cultivated is sweet potato, locally known as "zai mu." However, this technique requires a long time to accumulate knowledge, and due to the difficulty in sourcing materials, this traditional craftsmanship is slowly fading and is often replaced with modern materials for constructing cai zhai today.
Xiao Men Cai Zhai
Xiao Men Cai Zhai
