Wufeng Lin Family Mansion and Garden (Chinese: 霧峰林家宅園; pinyin: Wùfēng Lín Jiāzhái Yuán) is the former residence and grounds of the Wufeng Lin Family in Wufeng District, Taichung, Taiwan. Owing to the size of the Lin family clan, the vast site can be divided into two sections, the Upper (頂厝) and Lower (下厝) Mansions. The Lai Garden (萊園; Laiyuan) constructed by Lin Wenqin is commonly known as The Lin Family Garden (林家花園).
Lin family mansion
The Tower of Prospective Fragrance (景薰樓) in the Upper Mansion of Lin Family Residence (頂厝)
Upper Mansion (頂厝)
The Hibiscus-Mirror Studio (蓉鏡齋): A sanheyuan (三合院) constructed of red kiln-baked bricks, it was rebuilt as the Hibiscus-Mirror Studio for use as a private school around 1887; the semicircular panchi (泮池) in the front courtyard was dug to resemble those in Confucian Temples.
Tower of Prospective Fragrance Building Group (景薰樓組群): Work began sometime before 1864. The inner and outer wings of the first courtyard were completed in 1867, as well as the facade and the gatehouse to the Tower of Prospective Fragrance. The second courtyard was completed c.1883. The rear tower was completed in 1899.
New House (新厝): In 1916, this addition was built along the southern facade of the third courtyard of the Tower of Prospective Fragrance Building Group.
Nourishment Orchard (頤圃): Originally an earthen construction, it also served as a guest house and granary. In 1906, it was refitted as a pleasure ground.
Lower Mansion (下厝)
Caocuo (草厝): The earliest building in Lin Family Residence, originally a thatchedsanheyuan built in 1837.
Gongbaodi (宮保第): The central courtyard built by Lin Wencha (林文察) during his enlarging of mansion in 1858, along with the facade, the left and right, inner and outer wings of the third courtyard following shortly afterward. His son, between 1870 and 1883, completed the mansion's addition with vestibules to the first and second courtyards. After Lin Wencha was killed in battle at Zhangzhou (漳州), the Qing court issued an edict, conferring upon him posthumously the title "Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince" (太子少保).
Great Flower Hall (大花廳): This ceremonial hall, accompanied by an exquisite theatrical stage and outdoor seating, was used to host public banquets. Construction begun in 1890, completed c.1894.
Erfangcuo (二房厝): Built between 1864 and 1870 as the residence for the second branch of the family.
Laiyuan
Commonly known as the Lin Family Garden, The Lai Garden, along with the Wu Garden in Tainan, the Beiguo Garden in Hsinchu (新竹北郭園), and the Lin Family Mansion and Garden in Banqiao, are collectively known as The Four Great Gardens of Taiwan (台灣四大名園). In 1863, Lin Wenqin, having passed the County Examination, constructed Laiyuan on the foothills of Wufeng, and offered performances for the diversion of his mother, Madame Luo (羅太夫人). The name of the gardens derives from the story of the filial Old Master Lai (老萊子), who even after reaching 70 years of age, would still dress in gaudy clothing and entertain his elderly parents (彩衣娛親). Liang Qichao, during his 1911 stay in Taiwan, composed 20 poems extolling the scenery at Laiyuan, which would late become known as "Twenty Quatrains on Historic Laiyuan" (萊園名勝十二絕句). Laiyuan now serves as the campus of Taichung Ming Tai High School (臺中市私立明台高級中學).
