Plum Garden

A.  History

1.   originally constructed in year 1930
- was a private house belonging to some Japanese richman when Japan still colonized Taiwan,.

2.   In year 1952, this house became Mr. Yu you-ren’s summer getaway house.

3.   Mr. Yu gave this place the name “ Plum Garden”.
- The plaque on the wall of front gate , with an inscription “Plum Garden” by Mr. Yu’s calligraphy.

4.   Designated as a historical building in 2006. Through years of renovation, Plum Garden was open to public in 2010,

- is now a memorial hall for Mr. Yu you-ren and the information center for tourist as well.

5.   There were actually not any plum trees in the garden when Mr. Yu named the place until the Mayor of Taipei planted one on the opening ceremony in 2010.
- point out the plum trees

- The reason why named as Plum Garden: Mr. Yu’s favorite flower;  the national blossom of the R.O.C. as well.

B.  Architecture

1.   Similar to The Hot Spring Museum - two stories with only the upper floor constructed by wood, to prevent from the erosion by humidity in Beitou

2.   - The entrance you step in is the second floor,
- To protect the wood floor, visitors need to take off shoes before entering.
- a limitation of 30 visitors in house at a time

3.   - First floor by steel and concrete, and it used to be an air-raid shelter for the neighborhood in World War II.
- First floor connects to the backyard of garden and is not open to public now..

4.   Inside the house
- illustration about the construction method taken for the walls, which was discovered and followed again by the renovation team. 木條架->赤泥土沙->白灰漿(防北投潮濕氣候).

- The both room being changed into a reading room.  

C.  About Mr. Yu

1.   Mr.Yu was a former President of the Control Yuan of R.O.C..
 - Contorl Yuan is an organization in R.O.C. government which is in charge of the investigation and impeachment to government officers. And
 - the President comes out as nominated by the President of R.O.C. and approved by the Congress.  

2.   But the most important about Mr. Yu
-  A a great calligraphy artist in modern Chinese History, especially in the field of Cursive Script Writing.
-  But all the pieces of Mr.Yu’s works hanging in the house are duplicates.  Some of the originals are kept in the Palace Museum.

3.   Different aspects about Mr. Yu
- was born in China in Chin Dynasty.  He was also one of the key members who initiated the revolution to Chin to build democratic China .
- Not only being a calligraphy artist, a revolutionizer, Mr. Yu was also a remarkable journalist and a poet. 
- Mr. Yu got quite good reputations in every aspects of his life.

l  Mr. Yu, died in age of 86, had a white long beard to his waist so he also has a nickname as “ The gracious-beard gentleman”.

l  The story about his beard.