Dispute Over Shrine Painting Repairs Sparks Call for Historical Status in Taiwan

A debate is unfolding in Zhushan, Nantou County, over the planned repair of door god paintings at the 238-year-old Chongbentang ancestral shrine, a significant Lin family site.

Cultural activists are protesting the planned repairs, asserting that the door god paintings are valuable works by the family of the famous Lukang traditional painter Ke Huanchang. They criticize the Nantou County Cultural Affairs Bureau for allegedly failing to intervene appropriately and for allowing repairs without expert consultation. Concerns have been raised that the repairs could damage or diminish the artistic integrity of the original artwork.

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Chongbentang and its door god paintings do not yet have cultural asset status, so according to the law, the shrine's management and maintenance are still under the jurisdiction of the shrine's owners. The bureau respects the owner's right to manage according to the law.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that Chongbentang is not yet a designated cultural asset. However, they have requested the shrine's management committee to temporarily halt the repairs. The bureau plans to invite cultural heritage committee members to inspect the site soon to evaluate its eligibility for historical building status under the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act.

This assessment will consider cultural preservation, the rights of the property owners, and public interest. The bureau encourages the preservation of cultural resources with historical, artistic, and cultural value to maintain local cultural memory. The shrine, built in 1788, is a significant ancestral home for the Lin families of Zhushan and Lugu, featuring traditional architecture and decorative elements.

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Zhushan is the earliest developed area in Nantou, but unfortunately, many buildings with cultural heritage value collapsed in the 921 earthquake. The Chongbentang door god paintings were completed in 1968, signed by Ke Tianxi, grandson of Ke Huanchang, but experts and scholars believe Ke Huanchang may have participated or even led the work, and it may be the earliest existing door god painting in Zhushan.