Tai Fu Tai Mansion
大夫第
1865, Vernacular 民間建築及屋邨
Wing Ping Tsuen, San Tin
新界元朗新田永平村
Located in Wing Ping Tsuen of San Tin, Tai Fu Tai Mansion was built by Man Chung Luen in the 4th year of the Tongzhi reign of Qing Dynasty (1865), Man was born into the 21st generation of the clan. The mansion is an example of a traditional Chinese dwelling of the scholar-gentry class in Hua Nan region. Featuring a courtyard house layout, the mansion was constructed in premium grey bricks and granite-blocks. The building was decorated with various sculptures, murals, plaster mouldings and ceramic figurines. The ridges of the entrance hall and the main hall, as well as the two eave boards in the front were decorated with exquisite ceramic figurines manufactured at the famous Wenrubi kiln at Shiwan in Foshan, Guangdong province. The structures show clear hierachy. Along the central axis lay the entrance hall and the main hall, with a study room, a side hall, a domestic helpers’ chamber and a kitchen built on the two sides. The most valuable features of the architecture are the only-remaining bilingual (Chinese and Manchurian) honorific board bestowed on the owner’s parents by Guangxu Emperor of Qing Dynasty, as well as the only well preserved private lavatory in the New Territories and the “Girl’s Room” for unmarried daughters.
位於新田永平村的大夫第由廿一世祖文頌鑾於清同治四年﹙1865﹚建成。府第為華南士紳階級府第建築。建築為合院式設計，並以優質青磚及花崗石條築砌。建築裝飾有大量雕刻、壁畫、泥塑及陶塑作點綴，其中於門廳及正廳主脊上及正面兩側檐楣的人物陶塑均廣東佛山石灣名窰文如壁燒製。建築物主次分明，明間中軸線上為門廳及中廳，左右次間分別建有書室、花廳及工人房與廚房。建築物文物價值最高之處在於它擁有多個「唯一」紀錄，包括唯一擁有清光緒帝御賜表揚屋主雙親漢滿兩文牌匾、現存唯一新界保存最好私家茅廁及為未嫁女兒而設的「閏房」均是大宅的亮點。
文及攝影:：吳日輝 (香港建築文物保護學會會員)
http://www.etnet.com.hk/www/tc/diva/art_hkac_detail.php?id=29054&page=3
