About Meihe Shanzhuang
Explore the history and culture of Meihe Shanzhuang
The ancestral home of the Mei-He Lin Family in Daxi is Longxi County, Zhangzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province. In 1804, the first-generation founding ancestor, Lin Bang-xing (1733–1837), crossed the sea to Taiwan. Along with his cousin Lin San-ju, he was entrusted by his nephew Lin Ping-hou (1766–1844) to sell government-monopoly salt in the Xiaoli area (present-day Bade). Lin Bang-xing’s eldest son, Lin Deng-yun (1815–1888; courtesy name Hong-liang, art name Bu-qing, also known as Qi-hai), served as the manager of the Lin Ben Yuan Estate’s rent collection office in Dakekan. In 1869 (the 8th year of the Tongzhi Emperor), he began the construction of "Meihe Shanzhuang" in Touliao, San-ceng, Daxi, Taoyuan—an area close to Cihu and the Touliao Reservoir. To this day, Meihe Shanzhuang stands as a massive courtyard complex consisting of two main halls and five wings. In January 2004, it was designated as a historic building of Taoyuan City (Document No. 0930534224). The site is located at Plot No. 277, Touliao Subsection, Sanceng Section, Daxi District, Taoyuan City, with a registered area of 5,100 square meters.
Meihe Shanzhuang was built in 1869 (the 8th year of the Tongzhi reign, Qing Dynasty) by Lin Deng-yun (courtesy name Hong-liang, art names Bu-qing and Deng-yun, also known as Qi-hai, 1815–1888), and was originally named "Rong Feng Di" (The Gloriously Ennobled Mansion). Lin Deng-yun, whose ancestral roots were in Zhangzhou, Fujian, originally served as the manager of the Lin Ben Yuan family's rent collection office in Dakekan. After the Lin Ben Yuan family relocated to Banqiao, Lin Deng-yun chose to settle in Daxi. He conducted business under the title "General Manager of the Lin Ben Yuan Firm." His family business subsequently flourished, expanding to include mines, rice mills, brickyards, tea plantations, and trading companies, making them a prominent clan in Daxi.
In 1875 (the 1st year of the Guangxu reign), at the age of 61, Lin Deng-yun petitioned the Qing court to purchase the official title of Sub-Prefect (Tongzhi) and was granted the rank of Fifth-Rank Grand Master. He then hung a plaque reading "Rong Feng Di" over the lintel of the front hall. The building's location faced the access routes used by the indigenous Atayal people, presenting security challenges that required strong family unity; therefore, the architecture incorporated highly defensive designs.
In 1923 (the 12th year of the Taishō era), Daxi literatus Zheng Yong-nan renamed the estate "Mei-He Villa." This new name was inspired by the Northern Song dynasty hermit Lin He-jing and his famous allusion of having "plum blossoms for a wife and cranes for children" (Mei Qi He Zi). Lin He-jing (also known as Lin Bu, 967–1028) was a renowned poet and recluse of the Northern Song dynasty who never married nor sought government office. He spent his life planting plum trees and raising cranes at Mount Gu by the West Lake in Hangzhou, earning him that famous moniker.
The Lin family has now spanned seven generations. Notable descendants include former Daxi Township Mayor Lin Hsi-ta, and Chu Lin-kuei, the mother of former Taoyuan County Magistrate Eric Chu (Chu Li-lun). In 2018, the Taoyuan City Department of Cultural Affairs officially registered the establishment of the "Taoyuan City Daxi Lin Family Mei-He Villa Clan Association."
Restoration work on the villa began in 2016, with the first phase completing the restoration of the main hall (Zhengshen). The second and third phases were completed in August 2021, focusing primarily on the left and right protective wings (Hulong).
Lin Bangxing, the ancestor of the Meihe Lin family, arrives in Taiwan from Fujian Province.
Lin Dengyun (Lin Qihai), the founder of Meihe Villa, is born.
Lin Dengyun purchases land from the Lin Ben-yuan family and constructs the villa, originally named 'Rongfeng Di' (榮封第).
The Lin family of Meihe traces its roots to Tantou Village, Baishi, Longxi County, Zhangzhou, Fujian. In 1804, founding ancestor Lin Bangxing crossed the sea to Taiwan, first opening a small shop in Bade. After local unrest, he moved to Yilan before returning to Bade. His son Lin Dengyun gained the trust of the Lin Benyuan family through an act of chivalry and was appointed steward of the Dakekan estate, gradually amassing a considerable fortune.
In 1869, Lin Dengyun purchased land from the Lin Benyuan family and commissioned a geomancer from mainland China to build a two-hall rammed-earth structure. The ancestral hall bears the plaque 'Jiqing Hall.' In 1875, Dengyun received a fifth-rank title through donation, and the front hall was inscribed 'Rongfeng Di,' with swallowtail ridges added to the gate tower as a symbol of family honor.
Beyond land rents, the family was closely tied to Daxi's coal mining industry during Japanese rule. Lin Yuansong discovered the Touliao Yuantan coal mine in 1906, and Lin Yuantong served as director of the Showa Coal Mine. Coal mines sat just south of Meihe Shanzhuang, and many family members walked the path behind the house to work at the mines on the hill.
The name 'Meihe Shanzhuang' draws from the Song Dynasty hermit Lin Hejing's famous 'plum wife, crane sons' allusion — a literary tribute to the Lin family's pursuit of refinement and harmony with nature.
Lin Hejing (967–1028), also known as Lin Bu, was a renowned hermit poet of the Northern Song Dynasty from Qiantang in Zhejiang. He never married, instead retreating to Solitary Hill (Gushan) at Hangzhou's West Lake for over twenty years, where he cultivated plum trees and raised cranes — calling the plums his wife and the cranes his sons. Posterity honored him with the title 'Plum Wife, Crane Sons.' His celebrated lines on plum blossoms — 'Sparse shadows slant across the shallow clear water; subtle fragrance drifts on the dusk-yellow moon' — established plum blossoms as a lasting emblem of refined solitude in Chinese literature.
Around 1923, Daxi literatus Zheng Yongnan bestowed the name 'Meihe Shanzhuang' upon the Lin family villa in Touliao. The family had originally hoped to inscribe a plaque after eldest grandson Lin Weilong achieved official rank, but as those ambitions stalled with the end of the Qing examination system, they invited Zheng Yongnan to name the villa using this allusion. The shared 'Lin' surname created a literary connection, while the characters 'plum and crane' captured the family's cultivated heritage — bringing the spirit of a Northern Song hermit to this century-old home in Touliao, Daxi, Taoyuan.
For over a hundred years, 'Meihe Shanzhuang' has carried this name. The villa now stands as one of Daxi's most culturally significant historic buildings — a living symbol of seven generations of the Lin family's literary tradition and the broader Qing-era Taiwanese gentry culture. Whenever plum blossoms bloom or cranes pass overhead, the villa seems to echo with the Solitary Hill hermit of a thousand years past.
Born 1773. Crossed to Taiwan from Fujian in 1804, opening a small shop in Bade before moving to Yilan. Through hardship and perseverance, he laid the foundation for the Meihe Lin family.
Born 1815, eldest son of Lin Bangxing. Recruited as steward of the Lin Benyuan Dakekan estate after an act of chivalry, he accumulated wealth to build Meihe Shanzhuang. Received a fifth-rank title in 1875, making him the most important founding figure of the family.
Born 1870, eldest grandson of Lin Dengyun. Served as baozheng in 1897, school affairs committee member at Dakekan Public School in 1909, and received the gentleman's medal in 1915. Wrote 'Old Administration Petition Forms' to protect family properties — an important historical document spanning the Qing-Japanese transition.
Born 1881, son of Dengyun's third household. Served as translator at the Dakekan sub-bureau and managed Lin Benyuan family affairs. Discovered the Touliao Yuantan coal mine in 1906 and was elected to the Daxi Street Council in 1920 — pioneer of the family's mining enterprises.
Born 1895, son of Dengyun's fifth household. Founded the Daxi Financial Company and served as managing director of the Sanceng Credit Cooperative. His study 'Jingyuan Hall' featured a fountain — a symbol of wealth in that era. Named 'Meritorious Citizen' in 1930.
Born 1938 at Meihe Shanzhuang. Served as Taoyuan County Councilor (6th & 7th terms), Daxi Farmers' Association Director, and Taoyuan Industrial Association Director. Elected Daxi Township Mayor in 1990 (11th term) and re-elected (12th term) — the most influential postwar figure of the family.
Meihe Shanzhuang enjoys exceptional geomantic positioning. A feng shui master was commissioned to orient and design the layout, with the complete system documented in the manuscript 'Jifu Yanqing Ji.'
The dragon vein descends from the Great Ancestor Mountain (Baishi Mountain) through the Lesser Ancestor (Caoling Mountain) to the Parent Mountain (Touliao Mountain), culminating at Meihe Shanzhuang. The villa sits upon the auspicious 'Immortal Casting Net' acupoint.
The Black Tortoise (rear Touliao Mountain) provides gentle backing; the Azure Dragon extends leftward; the White Tiger sits calmly on the right — matching the ideal formation of 'Tortoise bowing, Dragon winding, Tiger docile.' Bamboo groves in front serve as the Red Phoenix screen.
The Dahan River encircles from southeast to north, forming a natural 'Jade Belt Water' pattern. A crescent pond once stood before the villa, while surrounding irrigation channels create an artificial jade belt for gathering qi and preserving wealth.
Dedicated to Kaizhang Shengwang, located in central Daxi. Lin Dengyun was twice chosen as furnace master and donated farmland of over 9 fen as temple property, contributing to the temple's renovation. The Lin surname's public name 'Jin Fu Chang' ranks third.
Dedicated to Mazu, located in the Sanceng area. In 1915, Lin Liude, as baozheng, petitioned Lin Benyuan family head Lin Xiongzheng to donate the Sanceng estate's main hall, side rooms, and pavilion as a Mazu temple — establishing the foundation of Fuan Temple.
In 1873, Lin Dengyun and others donated fields and tea gardens in Yuanshulin to rebuild Zhaiming Hall. In 1920, the temple placed Lin Dengyun's memorial tablet at the highest and most central position, honoring his founding contribution.
During the 1934 renovation of the octagonal double-eaved worship pavilion, Lin Yuantong from the fifth household was among the donors — demonstrating the Lin family's social network as local gentry.
Meihe Shanzhuang is not just a building but a microcosm of Daxi's local history. The Lin family entered the Dakekan area during the Qing Dynasty, maintaining close ties with the Lin Benyuan family. From tea and camphor to coal mining, they witnessed Daxi's transformation from a thriving river port to a local township over a century.
The Lin family's tradition of philanthropy — from Lin Dengyun's donations to Zhaiming Temple and participation in Furen Temple, to multiple family members serving as baozhengs and street council members during Japanese rule — is inseparable from local religious, educational, and industrial development, making it invaluable material for studying Taiwanese local gentry families.
A Qing Dynasty two-hall rammed-earth courtyard compound, designed by a mainland geomancer, with swallowtail ridges symbolizing the fifth-rank title, and partially preserved original cobblestone paving
Over 150 years since its founding in 1869, witnessing Daxi's complete journey from Qing river port, Japanese-era coal mining hub, to postwar development
Preserving the complete feng shui manuscript 'Jifu Yanqing Ji,' Lin Dengyun's fifth-rank imperial decree, and the Fuan Temple founding petition — rare primary historical sources
Built in 1869 during the Qing Dynasty and laid out by a geomancer from mainland China, Meihe Shanzhuang is one of Taiwan's most intact examples of Qing-era Southern Fujian (Minnan) courtyard architecture — combining traditional craftsmanship, official symbolism, and local wisdom.
The villa follows the classic Minnan two-hall layout: a front hall (gate tower and side wings) and rear hall (main hall and chambers) enclose a central courtyard, creating distinct zones of public and private, formal and intimate. The front hall bears the 'Rongfeng Di' plaque, and the rear ancestral hall is named 'Jiqing Hall' — both honors marking Lin Dengyun's fifth-rank imperial title received in 1875. This two-hall form was the typical residence of officials and gentry from the Zhangzhou-Quanzhou region of Fujian.
The walls are built from tuke — sun-dried blocks of clay reinforced with rice straw — finished with white lime plaster. This Qing-era technique was used by both commoners and gentry across Taiwan. Tuke walls retain warmth in winter and stay cool in summer, with excellent sound insulation, and the combination of red brick floors and timber framing exemplifies Minnan architecture's local-materials wisdom. After more than 150 years of weathering, the villa's tuke walls remain largely intact — a precious surviving example of Qing-era Taiwanese building technique.
Swallowtail ridges (yanwei) were a roof form reserved for officials during the Qing era: the ridge tips curve upward like a swallow's tail to mark the owner's official rank. Only after Lin Dengyun received his fifth-rank title in 1875 could the gate tower's roof be built with swallowtail ridges, distinguishing the villa from ordinary houses. The side chambers feature horseback gables (mabei) that follow the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) — graceful curves that are among Minnan architecture's most recognizable decorative motifs.
At age 61, Lin Dengyun is awarded the title of Fifth-Rank Official (五品大夫) by the Qing court.
Daxi scholar Zheng Yongnan renames the residence 'Meihe Villa' after the Song Dynasty hermit Lin Hejing's 'plum blossoms as wife, cranes as children' (梅妻鶴子).
Meihe Villa is officially registered as a historic building by the Taoyuan County Government.
The first phase of restoration, focusing on the main hall, is completed.
The second and third phases of restoration, focusing on the left and right protective wings, are completed with support from the Ministry of Culture.
Sitting si facing hai with bing-ren offset of three parts. The internal drainage direction changes according to the Three Yuan cycle to sustain continuous prosperity, as documented in 'Jifu Yanqing Ji.'
Portions of the original Qing-era cobblestone paving still survive in the inner courtyard. The stones came from the bed of the Dahan River in front of the villa — a common courtyard finish in Qing Taiwan that symbolizes the Lin family's bond with this land. The column bases, doorstops, and lintels, by contrast, were carved from Qingdou stone (Guanyin stone) shipped from Zhangzhou, Fujian — embodying the deep ties in materials and craft between Qing-era Taiwan and the Fujian homeland.
When founding the villa, Lin Dengyun specifically commissioned a 'Tangshan geomancer' from Fujian to survey the site, fixing the orientation as si–hai with bing–ren offset of three parts and arranging the internal water paths according to the Three Yuan method. This complete feng shui scheme was recorded in the Lin family's heirloom manuscript 'Jifu Yanqing Ji' — an invaluable primary source for studying Qing-era Taiwanese feng shui practice, and a testament to the villa's twin value as both architectural artwork and geomantic heritage.
Meihe Shanzhuang stands alongside contemporaneous structures such as Zhaiming Temple (rebuilt in 1873), Furen Temple (founded during the Qianlong era), and Daxi Old Street to form the Qing-era Southern Fujian architectural ensemble of the Dakekan region. Together they document over two centuries of cultural inheritance, religious life, and architectural aesthetics among the Lin family and the local gentry — making them an exceptionally precious cultural heritage of Han Chinese settlement in northern-central Taiwan.
