The Lin Family Garden

Built since 1847, the Lin Family Mansion and Garden is one of the most famous historical spot in Taipei area. The Lin family was among the richest family in Taiwan in late Ching Dynasty, who made a huge fortune by trading rice and salt. The mansion and garden's name, Lin "Ben Yuan," was not the name of a single person but the name of the Lin's business, edifying "indigenous to the origin." Total construction expense was a wholap half million taels of silver (each tael equals 1.3 ounce), compared to only 200,000 taels to build the then-Taipei fortress.

Wars desolated the mansion and garden in the early 20th century. So the Lin Family decided to endow most of the complex to Taipei County Government in 1977, along with NT$10 million to help recover the buildings. The renovation was thus started in 1982 and, for four years and NT$156 million and under the supervision of a group of experts, it was restored to how it looked a hundred years ago.

The pictures are all taken by Xpan II and 45/4 lens on Fuji NPH 400 film.

Colorful antefix


Back of the Mansion


The Study ("to absorb ancestral knowledge", as written on the inscribed board)


A closer look


A corner of the Garden and banyan trees


Water lily in a big tub


In the study


Alameda and the pavilion


Wooden portals


Decorations for simulation of an ancient wedding


Water lily #2




Colored carvings on the door planks


Potted plants


The weathering


Baluster




Pagoda of Respect to Lettering, which is to edify the family not to waste paper by lettering prudently...


Cornice


Bus stop decoration outside the Garden, which I think is pretty cute...


Here is the official web site of the Lin Family Mansion and Garden:
http://www.linfamily.tpc.gov.tw/index.asp
Given this is one of the most magnificent historical places and representative South-Fukien style architectures in Taiwan, it is really a pity that it doesn't have an English version.