Xiao Men Cai Zhai Introduction
Walking on the trail of Xiaomen Island, you can see the local features of Penghu, including the stone guardians known as Shigandang, and the unique agricultural cultural landscape of the Penghu Islands—the "Cai Zhai," also referred to as "Zhai Nei" or "Wei Zai." This structure utilizes stone walls for shelter and wind protection for crops in the fields. Most Cai Zhai are built using locally sourced volcanic rocks, though in areas with abundant water resources, reeds are also used as windbreaks. The construction method of Cai Zhai is quite unique, involving sun-drying basalt and volcanic rock to remove impurities, and using large stones as a foundation and small stones for filling during the stacking process, without the aid of cement or lime. The angles between the stones act as joints, forming a sturdy windbreak. This seemingly crude construction method effectively withstands the strong northeast monsoon winds. Crops within the Cai Zhai mainly consist of pumpkins, Penghu cucumbers, and Penghu beans in spring and summer. In fall and winter, they typically grow vegetables and fruits such as cabbage, tomatoes, and garland chrysanthemum. While the Cai Zhai is used for seasonal vegetable cultivation, the primary crop is sweet potato, known locally as "Zai Mu." However, the technique for building Cai Zhai requires a long time to master, and with the difficulty of sourcing materials, this traditional craft is slowly fading, leading to the use of other materials for constructing modern Cai Zhai.
Xiao Men Cai Zhai
Xiaomen Caizhai
