Wu Hsiu Tsai's Residence Introduction
Located in the Shangqi Village of the Shangku settlement, the Wu Scholar's Residence is the largest ancient building on Lieyu Island. Built in the 20th year of the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty by Wu Jingshan, who became wealthy through shipping and salt fields in Shangku, it is designed as a large three-section courtyard with dual dragon guardians on either side. After the fifth-generation descendant of the Wu family, Wu Yushan, passed the scholar examination at the end of the Guangxu era, a study and school were established in front of the old residence, providing free education to local children. This act earned him great affection from the neighbors, and thus the residents of Lieyu have referred to the Wu family's large residence as the "Scholar's House," a name that has been carried on to this day. The layout and decoration of the Wu Scholar's Residence are clearly defined, with balanced symmetrical arrangements. The front features a foyer, while the back includes the main hall, which contains a deity altar, ancestral altar, and photographs of the Wu ancestors. Hanging from the beams of the main hall are a Heaven Incense Burner, Heaven Palace Lanterns, and a Fertility Lantern, which features the words "Yanling Yanpai." The left dragon guardian area preserves a "leisure space" for the owner to enjoy tea and perform Nanguan music. The roof design of the Wu Scholar's Residence is the most common "hard mountain with two water splashes" found in Kinmen. The architecture features both phoenix-tail and horse-back ridges, adorned with clay sculptures of figures, animals, and landscapes on the phoenix-tail ridge, which are vividly crafted. This magnificent and intricately constructed old residence is worth careful appreciation.
