My recent exploration of the Shanhou Folk Culture Village to create a video documentary on the architectural details of its Minnan houses was truly magical! I chose this village over other places in Kinmen because its founders Mr. Wand and his son had traveled to Japan in Northeast Asia, rather than to Southeast Asia where most Kinmen merchants typically did. The village preserves 18 Minnan-style buildings, each filled to the brim with architectural secrets waiting to be uncovered.
What makes Shanhou Folk Culture Village so unique is howevery detail of its Minnan architecture carries both beauty and meaning. The buildings follow a chessboard-style layout, with symmetrical courtyards and elegant swallowtail roofs that curve gracefully against the sky, symbolizing prosperity and upward success. White mortar bricks are arranged both diagonally and horizontally-together forming the phrase thriving descendants-while the red bricks, some accidentally burnt with black streaks resembling swallowtails, havebecame a distinctive feature.
Defensive and spiritual wisdom are embedded in the designs: thick stone walls and low rooftops resist typhoons, while narrow side doors once helped protect families from pirate raids. In some cases, plates were embedded loosely in the walls so they would rattle if climbed upon, acting as an early warning system. Even the smallest details-like ledges under the eaves for birds, window pillars always set in odd numbers to represent yang energy, or ancestor and deity shrines placed at different heights to show hierarchy-speak volumes about the values of harmony, protection, and reverence.
Every carving, every color, and every structural choice here reflects idioms, blessings, and symbolism, making the village not just a home for its past residents, but a living encyclopedia of Minnan culture.

我最近前往山后民俗文化村進行探索，並製作一部關於閩南建築細節的紀錄片，這趟旅程實在是充滿魔力！我之所以選擇這座村落，而不是金門的其他地方，是因為它的創建者─兩位王姓商人，當年不是像大多數金門商人一樣前往東南亞，而是前往東北亞的日本。村落內保存著十八棟閩南式建築，每一棟都蘊藏著等待被揭開的建築秘密。
山后民俗文化村的獨特之處，在於其閩南建築的每個細節兼具美感與寓意。整個建築群呈棋盤式布局，院落對稱，優雅的燕尾屋脊向天空優美翹起，象徵著繁榮與步步高升。白灰勾縫的紅磚牆，既有斜砌也有橫砌，寓意「人丁興旺」；部分紅磚因過火而帶有黑色條紋，形似燕尾，意外卻成為了鮮明的特色。
建築中還融入了防禦與精神智慧：厚實的石牆與低矮的屋頂能抵禦颱風；狹窄的側門曾幫助家族抵擋海盜入侵；有些牆內甚至鬆嵌陶碟，若有人攀爬便會晃動作響，成為早期的警示系統。即使是最細微的設計，如屋簷下為鳥兒停棲的小平台、象徵陽氣的奇數窗柱，或是高低有別的神祠與祖先牌位，都展現了人們對和諧、守護與敬畏的重視。
這裡的每一處雕刻、每一抹色彩、每一項結構選擇，都蘊含成語、祝福與象徵，使這座村落不僅是昔日居民的家園，更是一部活的閩南文化百科全書。