Lin Family Mansion and Garden
Encyclopedia
The Lin Ben Yuan Family Mansion and Garden (林本源園邸) is located in Banqiao District
, New Taipei City, was a residence built by the Lin Ben Yuan Family, of Banqiao
, Taiwan
, and is currently Taiwan's most-complete surviving example of traditional Chinese garden architecture. Also known as the Lin Family Gardens. The Lin Family Mansion and Garden, along with Tainan Wu Garden
(台南吳園), Hsinchu Beiguo Garden (新竹北郭園), and Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden
(霧峰林家宅園), are collectively known as The Four Great Gardens of Taiwan (台灣四大名園). This residence can be traced back to 1847, when at that time a "rent house" (租館) for the Lin Ben Yuan Family in the north, and was later expanded by the two brothers Lin Guohua (林國華) and Lin Guofang (林國芳), becoming the residence of the Lin Ben Yuan Family. In 1977， the Lin Ben Yuan Family donated a portion of the garden to then-Taipei County Government, and in 1982 it opened to visitors. Currently, the Lin Family Mansion and Garden is under the joint-responsibility of the Executive Yuan
Cultural Construction Committee, Ministry of the Interior
, Ministry of Transportation and Communications
Tourism Bureau, Taiwan Provincial Government, and now New Taipei City Government for protection and restoration work, who have additionally designated it as a Class-2 Historical Site.
The Lin Family Mansion and Garden has a total surface area of approximately 20,000m^2, and can be divided into two portions, Garden and Mansion: The Garden is also referred to as Banqiao Lin Family Garden (板橋林家花園), specifically the garden area outside of the living quarters, which contains Laiqingge (來青閣), Yueboshuixie (月波水榭), Dingjingtang (定靜堂), etc. structures and man-made scenery; Mansion refers to the Lin Ben Yuan Family residential area, which is the Three-Courtyard Mansion, located to the west of the garden. Currently, the Three-Courtyard Mansion still belongs to the Lin Family Sacrificial Trade Association, and it is necessary to have a tour guide lead in order to enter the Mansion's interior.
Up to between 1846 and 18481, in order to make the storing up of rent crop more convenient, Lin Pinghou's third son, Lin Guohua, and fifth son, Lin Guofang, built Biyiguan (弼益館) in the Banqiao
area as a "rent house" (租館). This building had a surface area of roughly 150坪, with a uniquely shaped, quadrangular courtyard, also sporting pavilions to both its front and back, and served as a center for the collection of rent crop.
2, and in the same year constructed the Three-Courtyard Mansion (三落大厝) in order to serve as the family's residence. Since at this time, immigrants from Zhangzhou
(漳州) and Quanzhou
(泉州) were at at arms with one another, the extremely wealthy and powerful Lin Benyuan family naturally became the main leaders of the Zhangzhou immigrants, and the Mansion also became their erstwhile headquarters, and because of this, the Mansion was not only when it was being built incorporated no small number of defensive designs, and also several hundred militiamen would ordinarily be stationed here to stand guard, which was maintained until the start of the Japanese occupation of Taiwan.
After1949, Lin Family Garden was lent by the head of the Lin household to the government to temporarily shelter soldiers from every corner of the mainland, and the Gardens were harmed by the illegally-built squatters' establishments, and weren't restored until 1986.
, and contrast with the pavilions along its periphery, rich with artistic merit. Xiangyuyi emerges from the winding corridors and then spreads out; the surface area is not large, and as it is a place for admiring flora, there is flower patch in front of it, planted with strange varieties of flowers and plants. Each blooming season, the master would invite guests to come admire them together. At this time, the gorgeous spectacle contrasts well with the pavilions in the distance, extremely rich in artistic quality.
Banqiao District
Banqiao District is the city seat of New Taipei in northern Taiwan . It has the third highest population density in Taiwan. It was formerly the 22nd densest city in the world, with over 24,000 people per square km...
, New Taipei City, was a residence built by the Lin Ben Yuan Family, of Banqiao
Banqiao District
Banqiao District is the city seat of New Taipei in northern Taiwan . It has the third highest population density in Taiwan. It was formerly the 22nd densest city in the world, with over 24,000 people per square km...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and is currently Taiwan's most-complete surviving example of traditional Chinese garden architecture. Also known as the Lin Family Gardens. The Lin Family Mansion and Garden, along with Tainan Wu Garden
Tainan Wu Garden
Wu Garden, known at the time of its creation as "Purple Spring Garden ," is located in Zhongxi District, Tainan, Taiwan...
(台南吳園), Hsinchu Beiguo Garden (新竹北郭園), and Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden
Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden
Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden is the general name for the former residence and grounds of the Wufeng Lin family at its Wufeng District, Taichung ancestral home. Owing to the great size of the Lin family clan, the site can be divided into two branches, the Upper and Lower Houses. Because...
(霧峰林家宅園), are collectively known as The Four Great Gardens of Taiwan (台灣四大名園). This residence can be traced back to 1847, when at that time a "rent house" (租館) for the Lin Ben Yuan Family in the north, and was later expanded by the two brothers Lin Guohua (林國華) and Lin Guofang (林國芳), becoming the residence of the Lin Ben Yuan Family. In 1977， the Lin Ben Yuan Family donated a portion of the garden to then-Taipei County Government, and in 1982 it opened to visitors. Currently, the Lin Family Mansion and Garden is under the joint-responsibility of the Executive Yuan
Executive Yuan
The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China , commonly known as "Taiwan".-Organization and structure:...
Cultural Construction Committee, Ministry of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior (Republic of China)
The Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China is a cabinet level executive yuan agency responsible for home affairs and security throughout the Free Area of the Republic of China...
, Ministry of Transportation and Communications
Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Republic of China)
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of China is a cabinet-level governmental body of the Executive Yuan. It is in charge of all policy and regulation of transportation and communications networks and administration of all transportation and communications operations...
Tourism Bureau, Taiwan Provincial Government, and now New Taipei City Government for protection and restoration work, who have additionally designated it as a Class-2 Historical Site.
The Lin Family Mansion and Garden has a total surface area of approximately 20,000m^2, and can be divided into two portions, Garden and Mansion: The Garden is also referred to as Banqiao Lin Family Garden (板橋林家花園), specifically the garden area outside of the living quarters, which contains Laiqingge (來青閣), Yueboshuixie (月波水榭), Dingjingtang (定靜堂), etc. structures and man-made scenery; Mansion refers to the Lin Ben Yuan Family residential area, which is the Three-Courtyard Mansion, located to the west of the garden. Currently, the Three-Courtyard Mansion still belongs to the Lin Family Sacrificial Trade Association, and it is necessary to have a tour guide lead in order to enter the Mansion's interior.
History
An ancestor of the Lin Ben Yuan Family, Lin Yingyin (林應寅), arrived in Taiwan in 1778, initially settling in the Xinzhuangarea. Afterward, his son, Lin Pinghou (林平侯), sold rice to earn a living, and through it, he was able to gain a fortune, bought up a large quantity of arable land, and more or less established the future Lin Ben Yuan Family fortune.Up to between 1846 and 18481, in order to make the storing up of rent crop more convenient, Lin Pinghou's third son, Lin Guohua, and fifth son, Lin Guofang, built Biyiguan (弼益館) in the Banqiao
Banqiao District
Banqiao District is the city seat of New Taipei in northern Taiwan . It has the third highest population density in Taiwan. It was formerly the 22nd densest city in the world, with over 24,000 people per square km...
area as a "rent house" (租館). This building had a surface area of roughly 150坪, with a uniquely shaped, quadrangular courtyard, also sporting pavilions to both its front and back, and served as a center for the collection of rent crop.
Move to Banqiao
In 1851， the Lin Benyuan family clan moved to BanqiaoBanqiao District
Banqiao District is the city seat of New Taipei in northern Taiwan . It has the third highest population density in Taiwan. It was formerly the 22nd densest city in the world, with over 24,000 people per square km...
2, and in the same year constructed the Three-Courtyard Mansion (三落大厝) in order to serve as the family's residence. Since at this time, immigrants from Zhangzhou
Zhangzhou
Zhangzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Fujian province, People's Republic of China. Located on the banks of the Jiulong River , Zhangzhou borders the cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou to the northeast, Longyan City to the northwest and the province of Guangdong to the southwest.Zhangzhou...
(漳州) and Quanzhou
Quanzhou
Quanzhou is a prefecture-level city in Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two and faces the Taiwan Strait...
(泉州) were at at arms with one another, the extremely wealthy and powerful Lin Benyuan family naturally became the main leaders of the Zhangzhou immigrants, and the Mansion also became their erstwhile headquarters, and because of this, the Mansion was not only when it was being built incorporated no small number of defensive designs, and also several hundred militiamen would ordinarily be stationed here to stand guard, which was maintained until the start of the Japanese occupation of Taiwan.
After1949, Lin Family Garden was lent by the head of the Lin household to the government to temporarily shelter soldiers from every corner of the mainland, and the Gardens were harmed by the illegally-built squatters' establishments, and weren't restored until 1986.
Gardens
Jigushuwu (汲古書屋)
The imitation-Ming dynasty building was named after Mao Zijin, a famous book collector of the 17th century, whose pen name was "Jiguge" (汲古閣). Previously there had several thousand scrolls of books within their collection here and there was no lack of good volumes from the Song and Yuan dynasties, and so it served as a study for the boys of the Lin Family. To the front there is a rain-pavilion with a bizarre construction. It is a three jian (間) pavilion, in both front and back are placed partitioned, lattice doors in order to ease ingress and egress, and it was made into a study, its window styles all using relatively simple and tasteful styles. In the front courtyard flower pots are arranged, in which are placed bizarre and unique flora, livening up the ancient feeling of Lin Family Garden with a feast for the eyes.Laiqingge (來青閣)
Leaving Fangjianzhai (方鑑齋), the scenery turns more upbeat, and welcoming you in is Laiqingge, startlingly standing in the center of the courtyard, villages also used to call is "Xiulou" (繡樓) or "Shuzhuanglou"(梳粧樓), and at that time, it served as a guesthouse. Observing from the top of the tower, nearby flat, green divisions of fields and both Datunshan (大屯山) and Guanyinshan (觀音山) command a panoramic view, perhaps of this receiving the name "Comes Green" (來青)! The building is visibly made entirely of Nanmu (楠木) and Huamu "樺木", and visible everywhere are splendid carvings. The roofs of the building are built with gables and hipper roofs, with upturned, high eaves, and exquisitely detailed and carved windows and doors, making it the architectural crown of the Lin Family Garden. In front of the building there is also a theatrical stage, with an horizontal inscription reading, "Open the windows with a smile (開軒一笑)" The Lin Family Garden in that year invited an operatic troupe to entertain their guests, and as the audience were not from family members, but guests, there would not be many people in attendance, and so the stage is not very large. In former days, it was an area for entertaining guests. Looking out from the tower in four directions, verdant hills and green fields in the panorama，and therefore it is called "Comes Gree n(來青)". In front of the building there is a theatre, with the horizontal inscription above the door reading, "Open the windows with a smile (開軒一笑)", from which it derives its name.Xiangyuyi (香玉簃)
"Yi" (簃) carries the idea of a small room to the side of a larger building; This is a place for admiring flora as in front of it there is a flower patch, and each Jade Flower Season (玉花季), everywhere like brocadeBrocade
Brocade is a class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabrics, often made in colored silks and with or without gold and silver threads. The name, related to the same root as the word "broccoli," comes from Italian broccato meaning "embossed cloth," originally past participle of the verb broccare...
, and contrast with the pavilions along its periphery, rich with artistic merit. Xiangyuyi emerges from the winding corridors and then spreads out; the surface area is not large, and as it is a place for admiring flora, there is flower patch in front of it, planted with strange varieties of flowers and plants. Each blooming season, the master would invite guests to come admire them together. At this time, the gorgeous spectacle contrasts well with the pavilions in the distance, extremely rich in artistic quality.
Guanjialou (觀稼樓)
Oriented in accordance with the Three Courtyard Mansion, with which it has a very close relationship; it is possible that it is a relatively older building within the garden, and at the time, from here, it was possible to observe farmers tending their fields beneath distant Guanyinshan (觀音山). The building also has the function of obscuring the scenery, blocking the large pond and rockery walls from view. Using Guanlulou (觀碌樓) as the center, with the sides also having crooked corridors, following this corridor down its path, each having a disorienting, meandering feeling, and then upon turning around, there is also a small, secluded courtyard also appearing before your eyes. The enclosure of the little courtyard to the front of the tower has scroll-shaped, carved wall, as is a folk saying "Open the door to see the mountain (開門見山)", this however is more like "Open the door to read the book," probably a metaphor for "There are advantages to reading (開卷有益)"! Even more enchanting is what is on the walls: fruit-shaped openwork windows, borrowing pomegranates, pumpkins, immortality peaches, and persimmons as the patterns, which respectively carry connotations of fortune (福), emolument (祿), longevity (壽), and happiness (喜). Looking out from atop the tower, one faces a field beneath Guanyinshan, where the footpaths between paddies join together, and bucolic scenery exhausts the eyes, as if were in "Duojiaruyun (多稼如雲)" at Yuanmingyuan, from which the tower derives its name.Dingjingtang (定靜堂)
The name of Dingjingtang (定靜堂) finds its root in the line "...and that, being determined, a calm unperturbedness may be attained to. (定而後能) " from the Great Learning, and the placard carrying the hall's name was personally titled by Lin Weiyuan (林維源) in Guangxu 1 (光緒元年). Dingjingtang, a siheyuan, occupies the widest space within the garden, and there are pavilions linking the front and rear courtyards together. Two corridors are installed with neither windows nor doors, directly facing a patio (天井). At the time, it was intended for holding banquets, and in the middle of the hall, one can feast in the exposed galleries and pavilions, and it can hold more than one hundred diners. The external appearance of Dingjingtang shares some semblance with a residence, and the enclosures at either end use octagonal tiles and openwork windows shaped like butterflies and bats on the walls, which represent "bestowing fortune" (賜福).Yuboshuixie (月波水榭)
A Xie (榭, xiè) is a building constructed along the water, and this building's external appearance is in the shape of a double-caltrop, and because it extends from the surface of the water, therefore it is joined to the shore by a little bridge; the roof also has a platform, allowing people to observe the moon. Because the moon reflects in the water, it is therefore named "Moon Tide Water Pavilion (月波水榭)".Rongyindachi (榕蔭大池)
Constituting the largest body of water within the garden, at the banks of the pond many old banyan trees are deeply rooted, and on the north banks, stones from the Lin Family Longxi (龍溪), Zhangzhou ancestral village are arranged into an artificial hills. Encircling the pool are various pavilions, such as Diaoyuji (釣魚磯) and Yunjincong (雲錦淙). Rongyindachi is an irregularly-shaped zigzag pond, facing Guanjialou along the bank is a dock, allowing for the docking of boats. To the periphery of the pool are distributed pavilions of all shapes and sizes, including an octagonal pavilion, caltrop-shaped pavilion, and a rhombus-shaped, folded pavilion, also in accordance with topography makes changes changes, ingenuity.Jingziting (敬字亭)
At the edge of Rongyindachi lies a paper furnace, and usually paper that had been written on would be brought here for incinerating, with a reverence for the written word and an appreciation for the culture of the people. "Treasuring the Written Word"（敬惜字紙), thus is the virtue of compatriots, whose purpose lies in reverence of the written word and cherishing the culture of the people. Jingziting is the only facilities on the grounds built for the purpose of "Treasuring the Written Word," which from the past to the present has been pursued to the utmost.External link
- 林本源園邸官方正體中文版網站 (Chinese)
- 林本源園邸官方簡體中文版網站 (Chinese)