The Chonglan Xiao Clan Temple is a Hokkien-style ancestral house in Chonglan Village, Pingtung City, also known as the Xiao Family Old House, built in 1880. Official Pingtung City records classify it as a representative Hokkien-style building rather than a Hakka huofang; Chonglan borders Changzhi Township and lies within the same early-settlement zone of the Pingtung Plain. The founding Xiao ancestor emigrated from Guangdong during the Qing Qianlong era and became a prominent local merchant family. The house is known for its red-brick and red-tile construction, swallowtail roof ridges, and intricate jiannie mosaic and woodcarving, and is now a Pingtung County-designated historic site.
The Chonglan Xiao Clan Temple (Xiao Family Old House) was built in 1880, located at Chonglan Village, Pingtung City; official Pingtung City government records classify it as a representative Hokkien-style building, not a Hakka huofang. The founding Xiao ancestor emigrated from Guangdong during the Qing Qianlong era and became a prominent local merchant family.
Highlights of the Chonglan Xiao Clan Temple
'Huofang' is the Hakka term for the composite structure of a clan's public hall and residential cluster. Unlike the Hokkien sanheyuan concept, the huofang emphasizes a same-surname clan living together communally and sharing kitchen facilities. The Xiao Clan Temple fully preserves the spatial relationship among the main hall, flanking wings (hengwu), and threshing ground (heting), making it a valuable example for Hakka architectural research.
The building materials are mainly 'dou-zi brick' walls, with hard-gable (yingshan) roof forms. The decoration is plainer than the Yang clan ancestral hall, closer to the utilitarian aesthetics of Hakka rural architecture. Changzhi Township is near Pingtung City; Chonglan Village retains a relatively intact rural settlement texture and is one of the better-preserved locations for Hakka architecture in Pingtung.
How to Make the Most of It
Practical Information
Getting There & Timing
- By car, turn off Provincial Highway 1 onto Changzhi Township roads. Chonglan Village is about 10 minutes from Pingtung City.
- The ancestral hall is semi-open; it can be visited freely during the day. During ritual ceremonies, please do not disturb the clan's proceedings.
Nearby Connections
- The Linluo Hakka Culture Festival venue is about 10 minutes away; combine visits to Hakka cultural sites in the same Liudui Qiandui (front detachment) area.
- Pingtung City's Zhongshan Park is about 15 minutes from Changzhi; plan a half-day route combining historic sites and the park.
Sources: Pingtung County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau historic site records; facts provided by context. Photos pending Dio's on-site photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Chonglan Xiao Clan Temple built?
It was built in 1880 (the 6th year of the Guangxu era), making it more than 140 years old.
Is it Hakka or Hokkien architecture?
According to official Pingtung City records, it is classified as a representative Hokkien-style building, not a Hakka huofang.
Which administrative district is it located in?
It is located in Chonglan Village, Pingtung City, adjacent to Changzhi Township, within the same early-settlement zone of the Pingtung Plain.
What is the history of the founding Xiao family?
The founding Xiao ancestor emigrated from Guangdong during the Qing Qianlong era, became a wealthy merchant, and built this residence as a prominent local family.
Sources
- 縣定古蹟的閩南建築─崇蘭蕭家古厝 — 屏東市公所官方頁面，建造年代/地址/建築分類為閩南式
- 崇蘭蕭家古厝 — 客家雲，開基祖經商致富史