Houpu Chen Clan Ancestral Hall Introduction
The Chen family is the largest clan in Kinmen, known for its widespread presence and thriving population, referred to as the "Thirteen Chens." The Chen family ancestral hall, Yinchuan Hall in Houpu, serves as the main temple for the "Thirteen Chens" of Kinmen, with the lantern sign "Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince." The initiative to build Yinchuan Hall began in the 26th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1900), and construction was completed in the 30th year (1904). It was renovated in the 63rd year of the Republic of China, and in the 86th year, a stone archway with four pillars and three bays was constructed at the entrance by Chen Chongguang, using stone and carvings sourced from the mainland. The intricate patterns and carvings, along with the stone platform donated by the clan's general secretary and others, enhance the grandeur and magnificence of the ancestral hall. The Chen family ancestral hall adopts traditional wooden architecture with a layout of two floors and nine beams, and three bays. The main walls are made of brick and stone; the front column and interior are engraved with couplets. The roof is covered with green tile, and the stone carvings primarily use Quanzhou white stone and blue stone. The wooden components feature openwork carving and painting. Notably, the gold-embellished couplets completed in the second year of the Xuantong reign (1910) atop the golden column are considered the finest in Kinmen. Additionally, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there were 13 Jinshi graduates from the Chen family, and their plaques are prominently displayed at the Zhongxian Hall, which is a significant feature.
