Yigu Hall Introduction
Yigu Hall is located within the Qionglin settlement and was built around the 20th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1840), making it nearly two hundred years old. Initially serving as a community school for local villagers, it later became a primary school and an office for the National Army's division, eventually transforming into a childcare center during harvest seasons. Unlike typical ancestral halls, temples, or traditional residences, Yigu Hall features a courtyard layout separated by a central wall, with an entrance highlighted in a recessed form. The building adopts a Xieshan style, adorned with mud sculptures of Kuilong on the ridge. The design mimics the shape of flowing water, presenting a pleasing aesthetic with its exquisite craftsmanship. Despite being surrounded by walls that give a sense of enclosure, the interior space is lively and dynamic. Considering it as an ancient residence, it is truly a unique creation, showcasing a variety of distinctive window designs that are creatively conceived and worth exploring in detail. The pomegranate window symbolizes fertility and joy, the round window signifies harmony and hope, the scroll window encourages the youth to pursue knowledge with the implication of familial legacy through education, the fan-shaped window shares a homophonic relation with the word for "good" and represents the auspicious act of doing good deeds, while the bamboo-segment window reflects a garden-inspired design admired by both refined and popular tastes, symbolizing aspiration for continuous elevation. The water bottle window signifies safety and peace.
