Yuemei Pond Liu Residence Old House

At the foot of Bagua Mountain, next to Shanjiao Road (County Road 137) in Nanya Village, Shetou Township, Changhua County, lies Taiwan's most extensive complex of traditional houses: the Qijiao Liu Residence and the Yuemei Pond Liu Residence. The former features 16 ancillary wings, while the latter has 13. This clustered, defensive architectural style emerged during early settlement, as the Hoklo-Hakka and other vulnerable groups sought refuge at the foothills amidst ethnic conflicts. One part of the complex was identified by a geomancer as a 'hairy crab's acupoint.' This led to a unique design for its left and right inner ancillary wings, which are built as 'back-to-back houses' (Xiang Bei Cuo), with rooms connected front-to-back, forming the 'two large pincers' of a hairy crab. The outer ancillary wings represent the 'crab legs,' and the main hall is the 'crab body.' This section is named 'Ningyuan Hall' and faces slightly south of west from east. Another part, named 'Tuanyuan Hall,' was initially deemed a 'catfish acupoint' by a geomancer during its construction. Consequently, a large crescent-shaped pond was built in front of this residence to nourish it, and interconnected ditches run between each ancillary wing. This section faces west from east.