Lin An-tai Historic House and Museum

The Lin An-tai Historic House was first built in 1783 and boasts a history of over 200 years. This traditional single-story, two-courtyard, four-sided compound, built in the Southern Min (Minnan) style, was constructed in accordance with folk geomancy (feng shui) customs. Its ridge structure adopts a single-ridge 'one-dragon' style, featuring swallowtail curves that present a natural and gentle appearance. The outer courtyard is paved with red 'pu stones', which were originally used as ballast in the hulls of Chinese merchant ships coming to Taiwan to prevent instability. Also known as ballast stones, their advantages include being moss-resistant and non-slip. Fuzhou fir was extensively used in its construction, while Guanyin stone was used for masonry, and bamboo and wooden pegs were employed for mortise and tenon joinery. The crescent-shaped pond in front of the historic house, true to its name ('Moon Crescent Pond'), is considered a form for accumulating wealth and good fortune in Chinese feng shui. It not only serves functions such as defense, fire prevention, water supply, and cooling, but also greatly enhances the environment of the historic house. A visit to observe the historic house, both inside and out, reveals countless essences and wisdom of traditional architectural culture, and offers a glimpse into the lifestyle and atmosphere of the past.