Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden is the former residence and grounds of the :zh:霧峰林家|Wufeng Lin Family in Wufeng District, Taichung, Taiwan. Owing to the size of the Lin family clan, the vast site can be divided into two sections, the Upper and Lower Mansions. The Lai Garden constructed by :zh:林文欽|Lin Wenqin is commonly known as The Lin Family Garden.
Lin family mansion
Upper Mansion (頂厝)
The Hibiscus-Mirror Studio : A sanheyuan constructed of red kiln-baked bricks, it was rebuilt as the Hibiscus-Mirror Studio for use as a private school around 1887; the semicircular panchi in the front courtyard was dug to resemble those in Confucian Temples.
Tower of Prospective Fragrance Building Group : Work began sometime before 1864. The inner and outer wings of the first courtyard were completed in 1867, as well as the facade and the gatehouse to the Tower of Prospective Fragrance. The second courtyard was completed c.1883. The rear tower was completed in 1899.
New House : In 1916, this addition was built along the southern facade of the third courtyard of the Tower of Prospective Fragrance Building Group.
Nourishment Orchard : Originally an earthen construction, it also served as a guest house and granary. In 1906, it was refitted as a pleasure ground.
Lower Mansion (下厝)
Caocuo : The earliest building in Lin Family Residence, originally a thatchedsanheyuan built in 1837.
Gongbaodi : The central courtyard built by Lin Wencha during his enlarging of mansion in 1858, along with the facade, the left and right, inner and outer wings of the third courtyard following shortly afterward. His son, between 1870 and 1883, completed the mansion's addition with vestibules to the first and second courtyards. After Lin Wencha was killed in battle at Zhangzhou, the Qing court issued an edict, conferring upon him posthumously the title "Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince".
Great Flower Hall : This ceremonial hall, accompanied by an exquisite theatrical stage and outdoor seating, was used to host public banquets. Construction begun in 1890, completed c.1894.
Erfangcuo : Built between 1864 and 1870 as the residence for the second branch of the family.
Laiyuan
Commonly known as the Lin Family Garden, The Lai Garden, along with the Wu Garden in Tainan, the Beiguo Garden in Hsinchu, and the Lin Family Mansion and Garden in Banqiao, are collectively known as The Four Great Gardens of Taiwan. In 1893, Lin Wenqin, having passed the County Examination, constructed Laiyuan on the foothills of Wufeng, and offered performances for the diversion of his mother, Madame Luo. The name of the gardens derives from the story of the filial Old Master Lai, who even after reaching 70 years of age, would still dress in gaudy clothing and entertain his elderly parents. Liang Qichao, during his 1911 stay in Taiwan, composed 20 poems extolling the scenery at Laiyuan, which would late become known as "Twenty Quatrains on Historic Laiyuan". Laiyuan now serves as the campus of Taichung Ming Tai High School.
The ten scenes of laiyuan (萊園十景)
Cotton-tree Bridge : In the early days, a wooden bridge originally spanned Washerwoman's Stream, leading to Laiyuan's entrance; deriving its name from the Ceiba trees that surrounded it. In 1930, the bridge was rebuilt using cement。
Washerwoman's Stream
Five-Cassia Tower : Rebuilt in 1906, it is named after the five cassia trees in front of its gate. The first floor was used as a sitting room for Madame Luo, and the second as Madame Luo's personal opera box. Liang Qichao stayed here during his time in Laiyuan.
Pool of Small Habits
Lychee Isle : An earthen terrace built in the middle of the Pool of Small Habits, topped by a stage for 羅太夫人 to watch opera. Later rebuilt as Flying Goblet Drunken Moon Pavilion.
Thousand-Step Trail : A path leading to Moon-viewing Peak, also known as the Cloud-Traversing Trail「淩雲蹬」。
Pavilion of Vesperal Beauty
Veranda for Contemplating Nirvana
Other attractions
Iron Cannon Tablet : Erected by Lin Hsien-tang, and written by the jinshiChen Wangzeng, commemorating the achievements of Lin Jiazu: repelling the various gangs of the Dai Chaochun Affair, and attacking Azhaowu. According to legend, it originally possessed an iron cannon foil, but it has long since disappeared.
Oak Poetry Society Name Tablet : A concrete monument erected in 1921 commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Oak Poetry Society.
Laiyuan One-Family Stone
Tablet Eulogizing Master Lin Zhushan
The 36 Stairs
Lin Clan Ancestral Cemetery : Served as the family cemetery for the Upper House lineage of the Lin Clan, arranged in a large-scale Zhaomu system.
The Stone Duke
Bronze Statue of Lin Yunqing
Oak Poetry Society Centennial Commemorative Bridge
Post-921 earthquake damage
Upper house
Tower of Prospective Fragrance Building Group
Hibiscus-Mirror Studio: 80% damaged.
New House: Completely destroyed.
Nourishment Orchard: 70% damaged.
Lower house
Grass House: Completely destroyed.
Residence of the Palace Guard: 80% damaged.
Hall of Large Flowers: Completely destroyed.
Two-Roomed House: 65% damaged.
Reconstruction work
The Lin Family Residence, after having suffered through the 921 earthquake, was under the financial support of the Executive Yuan's 921 Rebuilding Committee, the Taichung County Cultural Bureau are currently finished with restoration and reconstructive work in five areas, respectively the Upper House's Tower of Prospective Fragrance and Nourishment Orchard, and the Lower House's Large Flower Hall, Residence of the Palace Guard, and the Two-roomed House. Work is currently undertaking on the restoration and reconstruction of the Upper House's Hibiscus-mirror Studio, the Lower House's Grass House, and Laiyuan's Five-Cassia Tower.
