Erkan Traditional Settlement Preservation Area Introduction
Erkan Village was designated by the Ministry of the Interior in 2001 as the first traditional settlement preservation area in Taiwan. In recent years, the restored ancient houses have been put to full use by the Erkan Village Settlement Promotion Association, developing into several small exhibition halls that showcase local cultural characteristics, including the Common Life Hall, Intertidal Zone Hall, Community Museum, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hall, Children's Toy Hall, and Ballad Hall. Entering Erkan, the most eye-catching sight is the ancient house walls adorned with ballads created by local residents, detailing snippets of daily life or expressing romantic sentiments. Try reciting them in Minnan; it's guaranteed to be quite entertaining. When hungry, head to the grocery store for "Turen cake" and "Pumpkin cake," and when thirsty, enjoy a cup of authentic almond tea. Inside the quaint traditional residences, listen to elderly grandmothers sing original ballads, or join in impromptu duets, exchanging verses in a creative and engaging manner, resulting in endless amusement. Around the end of the Ming Dynasty, Mr. Chen Yan-yi traveled from Kinmen to Penghu, landing at the present-day Dachi Village, where he engaged in farming and fishing at the foot of Guishan Mountain, south of Zhuwan. After establishing a family, the number of family members gradually increased, prompting the decision to move and settle in Erkan near Zhuwan. During the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, it gradually developed into a settlement. After the First Sino-Japanese War, traditional livelihoods became insufficient for making a living, forcing many young people to leave their hometowns to work in Taiwan, leading to the village’s gradual decline. The Chen family ancient house is the prime representative of Erkan's ancient residences, built in 1910 by brothers Chen Ling and Chen Bang, who became wealthy operating a traditional Chinese medicine shop in Tainan and returned home to expand their ancestral home, bringing glory to the family. The luxurious layout of the "Three-Section Mansion" is a unique ancient house in Penghu and is currently listed as a county-designated historic site. The master who designed and constructed the ancient house was only about 29 years old and came from Chidong Village. Observing the architectural details of the Chen family house, the overall building, as well as the paintings, beams, and pillars, is rich in creativity; whether in wood carvings, ceramic tile paintings, or stone carvings, all are elegant and vivid. The design gradually becomes more private from the outside in, adhering to traditional residential construction methods while ensuring safety, and is regarded as a representative work of local architecture blending Chinese and Western styles. In the traditional settlement of Erkan, children inside the Chen family ancient house are diligently learning to write Spring Festival couplets, while others carry red kites with the characters "Ji" and "Xiang," weaving through the traditional ancient houses. In the large grassland of Erkan, they run alongside the fluttering kites, with the celebratory red of the new year weaving through the historical alleys of ancient houses, accompanied by the backdrop song "Looking for Plum Blossoms in the Snow," creating a wonderfully harmonious scene. Remember? That’s right! In 2001, McDonald's filmed an advertisement in Erkan, filled with a strong festive atmosphere. The expansive grassland in the MV of "Continue the Fate" by Golden Melody Award winner Zhan Ya-wen is also in Erkan. Additionally, her MV "Penghu Love Song" was filmed in Erkan, with the opening featuring a ballad sung by Grandma Yang A-song from Erkan, using a unique tune and reciting in Minnan: "Sending you to Taiwan at eighteen, your eyes red, mine also red; tears as heavy as a pound, falling to the ground, leaving it bare." It captivates listeners, evoking the poignant feelings of parting as if they are right before one's eyes, with the ballad's transmission offering a nostalgic flavor.
Erkan Traditional Settlement Preservation Area
Erkan Traditional Settlement Conservation Area
