Hemei Chen Family Mansion

Mòyuán (默園), or “Silent Garden”, was completed in 1929 by Tân Sia̍k-kui (陳錫奎), a wealthy landowner in what is now known as Hemei, Changhua. This imposing mansion, reputedly the largest private residence in central Taiwan at the time at around 5,000 ping (~16,500 m²), was built for his eldest son, the distinguished Taiwanese writer Tân Hu-kok (陳虛谷), a significant figure in the Taiwan New Literature movement in the later Japanese colonial period. Moyuan was both his home and a venue for meetings, literary salons, and other activities related to the Taiwan Cultural Association (台灣文化協會).

Date CapturedFebruary 14th, 2015 at 06:31 UTCCameraNIKON D5200LensAF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G EDApertureƒ / 10Shutter Speed1/400 secFocal Length22.0 mmISO320Exposure Value15.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Date CapturedFebruary 14th, 2015 at 06:31 UTCCameraNIKON D5200LensAF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G EDApertureƒ / 10Shutter Speed1/400 secFocal Length30.0 mmISO320Exposure Value15.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Architecturally, the mansion exemplifies an eclectic neo-Baroque style typical of prestigious residences from the Japanese colonial era. The two-storey Western-style building features a distinctive façade and ornate detailing. A particularly notable feature is the inscription above the main entrance, Leisurely Viewing The Southern Mountains (悠然見南山), a line from the poetry of Tao Yuanming (陶淵明) inscribed by Lukang calligrapher Cai Shoushi (蔡壽石).

Date CapturedFebruary 14th, 2015 at 06:31 UTCCameraNIKON D5200LensAF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G EDApertureƒ / 7.1Shutter Speed1/800 secFocal Length105.0 mmISO320Exposure Value15.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

The history of the mansion takes a darker turn in 2006, when it was repurposed by Tân Hu-kok’s granddaughter into the headquarters of a shadowy cult known as Sun Moon Ming Gong (日月明功). The organization attracted followers with promises of spiritual healing and enlightenment. However, in 2013, tragedy struck when the teenage son of a follower perished due to physical abuse and malnutrition. This incident, known as the Sun Moon Ming Gong Child Abuse Case (日月明功虐死案), led to the arrest and eventual imprisonment of the cult leaders, leaving the historic property abandoned and its future shrouded in uncertainty.

Date CapturedFebruary 14th, 2015 at 06:32 UTCCameraNIKON D5200LensAF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G EDApertureƒ / 5.6Shutter Speed1/400 secFocal Length105.0 mmISO320Exposure Value13.6 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Despite its obvious historical and architectural significance, the mansion has yet to receive official heritage status. Local heritage preservation advocates and government officials have expressed interest in purchasing the mansion but with more than 30 descendants to consult it has been impossible to reach any consensus. Nowadays the mansion remains in a state of neglect, its important cultural legacy overshadowed by its more recent tragic history.

Date CapturedFebruary 14th, 2015 at 06:34 UTCCameraNIKON D5200LensAF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G EDApertureƒ / 10Shutter Speed1/400 secFocal Length18.0 mmISO320Exposure Value15.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

While this building is generally known as the Chen Family Mansion (和美陳家洋樓) or Moyuan, as noted above, it is sometimes also referred to as the Former Residence of Tân Hu-kok (陳虛谷故居).