The Lin Family Mansion and Garden are two relict's of rich family clans during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 ACE). And is located in modern Banqiao (板橋) in Taipei county.The Lin family moved to Taiwan in 1778 they moved to Taiwan from the opposite shore in Mainland China`s Fujian Province (福建省). The Lin clan was involved in trade between Fujian and Taiwan (by the time there was no question about the Taiwan strait), later they were also active in the salt trade throughout Taiwan.
In 1851 the next generation of the Lin clan built the first house on today`s area. They invited famous scholars to teach their own sons and expanded their buildings further. The joint of three
hard working generations of the Lin clan made the family the richest family during the reign of the Qing emperors. My source, the tour guide of the famous garden does not tell me why or whether their family wealth declined or not. So I cannot provide that information...The "Three Courtyard"
Right beside the Mansion and the Garden is the so-called "The Three-Courtyard". The estate is privately owned today, and the owners do not agree that tourists take pictures inside the
buildings. The estate owes its name to the fact that it consists of three separate courtyards, two walkways and "protecting dragons", as well as parallel buildings on each side of the house. The entire complex consists of 52 rooms. The buildings are constructed according to some traditional Chinese sayings.
When still in use, every single room had its own function in the strongly hierarchical society. The two Lin brothers were both living in the complex, one on the left side, one on the right side. This explains, why all the rooms look similar, from lay-out to interior design.
Right beside the Mansion and the Garden is the so-called "The Three-Courtyard". The estate is privately owned today, and the owners do not agree that tourists take pictures inside the
buildings. The estate owes its name to the fact that it consists of three separate courtyards, two walkways and "protecting dragons", as well as parallel buildings on each side of the house. The entire complex consists of 52 rooms. The buildings are constructed according to some traditional Chinese sayings.When still in use, every single room had its own function in the strongly hierarchical society. The two Lin brothers were both living in the complex, one on the left side, one on the right side. This explains, why all the rooms look similar, from lay-out to interior design.
Personal impression
The garden and buildings look very beautiful. When you walk around there and don`t raise your head, you can feel the live how it must have been a few hundred years ago. Only when you look up in the sky, the surrounding housing complexes will remind
you of the actual time period you are in right now. The buildings and park express a great deal of power, money and intellectuality which must have been present there, when the Lin family was still in charge.
you of the actual time period you are in right now. The buildings and park express a great deal of power, money and intellectuality which must have been present there, when the Lin family was still in charge.Special discovery
When we were walking around in the garden, there was a group of arts students shooting a film. It looked really interesting, so I talked to them. They promised me to send me a copy upon completion of their "comedian look on the old times". I am really excited to have a look at it.
