Xinyu Fanjiang Ancestral Hall

Xinyu Fanjiang Ancestral Hall

The Fanjiang historical site is a complex consisting of one quadrangle courtyard and four triclinium-style courtyards. Among them, the “Fanjiang Ancestral Hall” at No. 9 is the spiritual core of the entire family. It is located on land in the Zhongzheng section of Xinyu Township, Taoyuan County, Taiwan, covering an area of 0.8 hectares, with the main building spanning approximately 500 pyeong. The surroundings are planted with many trees and surrounded by bamboo groves, creating a tranquil, serene, simple, and elegant overall environment.

During the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era, the Fanjiang family came to Taiwan to cultivate the land. After more than a hundred years of effort, not only did they transform the wilderness into fertile farmland, but they also attracted other pioneers to settle here. In recognition of their success, the Fanjiang clan built the ancestral hall in the fourth year of the Xianfeng reign (1854), followed by the gradual construction of many new houses. Locals celebrated this as a major event, referring to it in Hakka as “起新屋” (qǐ xīn wū), meaning “building new houses.” Hence, “Xinyu” (New Houses) became the name of the locality, which has been used to this day.

The Xinyu Fanjiang Ancestral Hall is a third-grade historic site designated by Taoyuan County and is also the most treasured historic residence in Xinyu Township. The plaque above the hall’s entrance bears the inscription “Tao Wei Liu Fang,” signifying that the Fanjiang family is descended from Fan Li of the Yue Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, as well as from Jiang Ziya by the Wei River in the Zhou Dynasty. On the walls on both sides of the entrance hall are large characters reading “Loyalty and Filial Piety” and “Chastity and Integrity,” while a long-standing incense burner stands in the center. Everywhere exudes an ancient and classic charm.

Fan-jian Clan Ancestral Shrine, Shin-wu

Must-visit reason: The most treasured historic residence in Xinyu Township, Taoyuan