Wu Zhuo-liu's Former Residence


Wu Zhuo-liu's Former Residence
(All photos courtesy of Hsinchu County Government)


Chinese name
: 吳濁流故居
Located in: Xinpu Township, Hsinchu County

The former residence of Wu Zhuo-liu (吳濁流), located in Xinpu Township, Hsinchu County, was where the Hakka writer Wu Zhuo-liu (1900-1976) lived with his family when he was young. Wu is one of Taiwan’s most important writers and is also known as an "iron-blooded poet." His works often truly show the social consciousness, social structure, and atmosphere of the times, just like pages of precious historical materials that record the process of Taiwan’s changes through history. The magazine "Taiwan Literature and Art (台灣文藝)," which he founded, has played a key role in the development of Taiwanese literature. In his famous novels "Orphan of Asia (亞細亞的孤兒)", "The Fig Tree (無花果)", "Taiwanese Forsythia (台灣連翹)" and other works, he established his immortal literary status. His lifelong contributions to Taiwanese literature are enormous and he has had a profound impact on younger generations.

The residence is a traditional Hakka courtyard building that has been preserved after cultural and historical heritage preservation advocates initiated a campaign to save it, because it’s Wu Zhuo-liu’s former residence. Due to their efforts, it was registered as a historical building in Hsinchu County in 2009 and has received subsidies from the Hakka Affairs Council for a restoration project. The design and restoration was finally completed in 2011 and the house was officially opened to the public that year. This building of important historical significance to the Wu Zhuoliu family is well preserved. Its decoration elements include stone carvings, wood carvings, paintings, clay sculptures, as well as cut and pasted pottery designs, all of which are precious artistic assets.
 
Wu Zhuo-liu's Former Residence

At present, the house displays Wu Zhuo-liu’s original manuscripts, as well as artefacts and explanations related to the history of the Wu family. It also displays the cultural relics of Wu Zai-xi (吳載熙), the aviator hero of the Wu family. Wu Zai-xi is the nephew of Wu Zhuo-liu and an officer of the Air Force’s 35th Reconnaissance Squadron (commonly known as the Black Cat Squadron). He went to the United States for training and was awarded a medal for his outstanding performance. However, he suffered an accident in a 1966 flight training mission and was killed.

This literati’s former residence is not only the ancestral home of the Wu family, it also provides space for the local community to exhibit diverse and precious cultural relics and historical materials, making it not only a good place for people to relax, but also to get in touch with the world of Hakka literature and learn more about the history of local famous families.

The interior of Wu Zhuo-liu's Former Residence