Houpu Chen Clan Ancestral Hall Introduction
The Chen family is widely distributed across Kinmen and is the largest clan in Kinmen, known for their abundant population and referred to as "Thirteen Chens." The main ancestral hall of the Chen family, Yingchuan Hall, serves as the overall shrine for the "Thirteen Chens" in Kinmen, with the lantern sign reading "Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince." Yingchuan Hall was proposed for construction in the 26th year of the Guangxu era (1900), and the initial building was completed in the 30th year of the Guangxu era (1904). It was renovated in the 63rd year of the Republic of China and in the 86th year, a stone archway with four columns and three openings was constructed at the entrance by Chen Chongguang, using stone and craftsmanship sourced from the mainland. The intricate carvings and the decorative stone platform donated by the secretary-general of the clansmen's association enhance the grandeur and impressive stature of the ancestral hall. The Chen family's main ancestral hall is built in traditional wooden structure, featuring a layout of two sections, nine beams, and three openings. The main walls are made of brick walls with dou-gong brackets and flat stone walls; the front gate pillars and interior are inscribed with couplets. The roof is made of green cylindrical tiles, and the stone carvings are mostly in Quanzhou white stone and blue dou stone, while the wooden parts feature openwork carvings and paintings. Among these, the gilded couplets on the Jinjin Pillar, completed in the second year of the Xuantong era (1910), are considered the finest in Kinmen. Additionally, there were 13 Jinshi (highest degree holders) from the Chen family during the Ming and Qing dynasties, with plaques hanging in the Zhongxian Hall, which is a notable characteristic.
