Xintian Doctor's House

The Man family is one of the five major ethnic groups in the New Territories of Hong Kong and plays a vital role in the development of the New Territories. The historical building that represents the Man family is none other than the Sun Tin Tai Fu Tai. Dafudi was built in the fourth year of Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1865) and was the residence of Wen Songluan. According to the Wen family genealogy, the Wen family's ancestors originated from Sichuan and migrated to Jiangxi and Guangdong during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). They were descendants of Wen Tianxiang, a national hero of the Southern Song Dynasty, and began to settle in San Tin, Yuen Long in the 15th century. Wen Songluan was the 21st ancestor of the Wen family and was granted the title of doctor. The Taifu Mansion is a model of traditional South China gentry mansion architecture and one of the most magnificent historical buildings in Hong Kong. Tai Fu Tai can serve as evidence of the convergence of Chinese and Western cultures in Hong Kong's early days. Its construction, structure, appearance and decoration are all based on traditional Chinese techniques, and its materials include Guangdong blue bricks, grey tiles and ceramics. The roof ridge, with its intricate ceramic sculptures featuring opera characters from "The Generals of the Yang Family", was created by the famous Shiwan artist Wen Rubi. The layout of the Dafudi is two-entry, three-room and two-corridor style. The main building is arranged in a nine-square format. On the central axis are the foyer, patio and main hall, and on both sides are six side rooms and the main house. The attic on the upper floor can be used as a study or guest room. However, the layout is not completely centered on the "axis" and is asymmetrical on the left and right. The most special features are the flower hall and inner courtyard on the left wing, and the kitchen and toilet on the right wing. The two plaques located under the eaves of the hall of Dafudi are engraved with Chinese and Manchu characters respectively. They are woodcuts of the imperial edict bestowed by Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty in 1875 to praise Wen Songluan's parents and grandparents. These two plaques are the only known examples in Hong Kong. They are rare and precious antiques in Hong Kong and are of great historical value. The interior decoration details of the house contain Western style. There is a Rococo relief carved on the doorhead, the windows and doors have colored glass, and they are built into geometric patterns of different shapes. The railings of the corridor on the second floor have a cross-shaped decorative pattern, which is a mixture of different Chinese and Western styles. Tai Fu Tai was listed as a statutory monument by the government and opened to the public after restoration, allowing citizens to better understand Tai Fu Tai’s history and architectural style.