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Historical Relics
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1. Sankeng (三坑) Old Alleys |
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Sankeng (三坑) old alley area generally surrounds Yongfu Temple (永福宮), the center
of the settlement and stretches outward to Heibaisi (黑白洗). Sankeng ’s earlier settlements
could be divided into two types—compact township and scattered township. Agricultural
activities and rice cultivation would result in the formation of a scattered township.
Here, a compact township develops around Sankeng old alleys. The entrance of the
old alley area is narrow and the inside is broader. The main old alley, though as
short as one hundred meters long, is so winding that it creates an almost enclosed
area. During the old times, Sankeng old alley area was lined with shops. At the
center of the alley area, Yongfu Temple served as a center of faith and everyday
activities. During the good old days, there were trading activities of tea and daily
commodities on the square in front of the temple, almost every day.
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2. Longtan Oblation Furnace (聖蹟亭) |
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Built in the first year of Guangsyu Emperor reign, Longtan Oblation Furnace is the
largest jingzihting (敬字亭, the oblation furnace) left in Taiwan and has been rated
as the nation’s third-grade historical relic. The tall and archaic Furnace is eighteen
meters in height, in a shape of a pagoda. Each of the four angles of the pedestal
is carved with chih long (螭龍, a legendary hornless dragon that likes to swallow
its own legs), European-style abalones, decorative flowers and foliage patterns.
The vivid sculptures, accompanied by powerful and expressive handwriting, create
a profound artistic atmosphere of both spirituality and simplicity. The piety and
dedication of craftsmen can be observed from almost every part of the pavilion—a
very precious historical heritage. Longtan Oblation Furnace is in a complete, symmetrical
spatial arrangement, having an outer gate, a gate of the first hall, a gate of the
second hall, a furnace and an alter. The spot is now open to the public. Sizihting
(惜字亭, an alternative name to the furnace) is generally symmetric along a line. It
has a pavilion, a gate of the second hall, a gate of the first hall.
And its appearance
resembles a small pagoda, having the furnace roof, the furnace, a platform as the
base, red-brick railing, an altar, and a stage. The whole structure reflects a design
of extreme fineness. Visitors can’t help gazing at the pavilion with reverence.
The pavilion is also an embodiment of how much people in Longtan respect and treasure
written characters.
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Historical Buildings |
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1.Wude Hall (武德殿, the Hall of Martial Virtue) |
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The short Japanese-style wooden house roofed with black tiles conjures up a picture
of Japanese countryside, which oftentimes makes visitors wonder where they are.
Wude Hall was built in the 1940’s and its design is based on the palace in Tang
Dynasty with gable and hip roofs. The whole structure is supported by RC walls and
roofs with wooden beams. Wude Hall was used to promote the virtue of Japanese martial
arts. During the Japanese colonial era, many Japanese police officers, often in
white garments, practiced wrestling and judo in Wude Hall. The whole building was
raised up above the ground with air vents drilled to reduce moisture. Now, the hall
serves as the police’s dormitory. One of the most impressive parts of Wude Hall
is the protruding objects under the eaves, which is typical of the traditional residence
of the common people in Taiwan. The suspending decorative fish at the tip of the
gable also serves the same purpose.
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Cingciandi (青錢第, the Residence of Blue Money) |
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Turn to the narrow street at the left hand side of Yongfu Temple and head for the
paddies to find a small bushy forest which stands behind the red-roofed, red-walled
Cingciandi. The archaic Cingciandi, the property of a Chang family, is a traditional
three-section compound. Though built a long time ago, Cingciandi is rather well preserved. It is decorated with color paintings. In front of each of the two halls
is a courtyard. The one in front of the first hall is larger while the other in
front of the second hall is smaller. In the walls on both sides of the gate are
gun holes which were used to defend the residence. Next to the Chang’s residence
is a timeworn mud hut, which is now too seriously damaged to be used any more. Cingciandi
in Sankengzih, built in 1895, the time of the First Sino-Japanese War, enjoys a
century-old history. The government once intended to rate it as the nation’s third-grade
historical site but was refused by the owner because if the site was to be rated
as the government intended, the owner could not repair the building at his own will and any damaged part could not be recovered. In fact, the residence was originally
called Cinghetang (清河堂). The ancestors of the Chang family used to live in Cinghe
Prefecture (清河郡) so the descendents named the residence after their homeland. Later
on, some ancestor proposed that tolerance would bring prosperity to the Chang family
so the residence gained an alternative name Bairentang (百忍堂, the Hall of Patience).
This is why Cinghetang is also known as Bairentang.
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