Houpu Chen Family Ancestral Hall Introduction
The Chen family is widely spread across Kinmen and is the largest clan on the island, known as the "Thirteen Chens." The Chen's Great Ancestral Hall, Yingchuan Hall, located in Houpou, serves as the main temple for the "Thirteen Chens" in Kinmen, with the lantern sign "Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince." The construction of Yingchuan Hall was proposed in the 26th year of the Guangxu era (1900) and was completed in the 30th year of Guangxu (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 openings was built at the entrance by Chen Chongguang, funded by him. The materials and craftsmanship were sourced from the mainland, and the intricate carvings, along with a stone platform donated by the general secretary of the clan association, make the temple even more imposing and grand. The Chen Great Ancestral Hall adopts traditional wooden structure architecture, with nine beams in two sections and a three-opening layout. The main walls are made of brick and stone, and couplets are carved on both the front doorposts and inside the building. The roof is covered with green tiles, and the stone sculptures are mainly made of Quanzhou white stone and green bricks, while the wooden parts feature openwork and colorful paintings. Notably, the gilded couplets completed in the 2nd year of the Xuantong era (1910) on the golden pillar are considered the finest in Kinmen. Additionally, there were 13 candidates who became Jinshi during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and their plaques are prominently displayed in the Loyalty and Virtue Temple, which is a significant feature.
