Hukou Old Street

　　   Old Hukou centers around Sanyuan Temple and consists of three streets: “Street Front,” “Cross Street,” and “New Street.” Among them, Street Front was the earliest to be established, while New Street was built latest, around 1920. New Street is what we now refer to as Hukou Old Street.

　　   The buildings along Hukou Old Street are all constructed with red bricks. The architectural style of the old street is rather unique: the facades of the archways are in the Roman Baroque style, while the framework follows the Southern Fujian style, with long, narrow shop-houses on both sides.

　　   The interior layout of the old street buildings accommodates a mix of residential and commercial use: the front section serves as the shop, the second section as the living quarters, and the deep courtyard between them functions as the kitchen.

　　   Among the existing old streets in Taiwan, the architectural facades of Hukou Old Street may not be the most ornate or elaborate, but they are the best preserved. The arched porches of the street houses face each other in neat rows, with uniform arcade verandas. The first-floor columns feature single-arch corridors, while the second-floor windows and parapets are adorned with simple yet elegant cement lintels inscribed with business names. Walking through Hukou Old Street is like experiencing a blurred chapter of history.

　　   The religious beliefs of the people of Hukou are reflected in several family temples of different surnames along the old street. To this day, Sanyuan Temple at the far end of the old street has always been a focal point for community cohesion.

　　   Sanyuan Temple was constructed in the 3rd year of the Republic of China (1914, the 3rd year of the Taisho era) and was completed in the 7th year of the Republic of China (1918, the 7th year of the Taisho era). It faces south and is dedicated primarily to the Three Officials (Sanguan Dadi), commonly known as the Gods of the Three Realms (Heavenly Official – Yao; Earthly Official – Shun; Water Official – Yu). It has a history of 80 years and holds considerable historical value. The temple also enshrines Guanyin Bodhisattva, Mazu, Goddess of Childbirth (Zhusheng Niangniang), and the God of Wealth (Fude Zhengshen, commonly known as Tudi Gong or Bogong).