Wen Wu Temple

Q1 : What's your relationship with Scholar Chou?

A1 : Scholar Chou is my great-grandfather. However, he did not pass the imperial examination. He used money to buy his official position.

Q2 : What is using money to buy an official position?

A2: My great-grandfather was a business man making a lot of money. I’ve asked a senior relative, who told me, “My great-grandfather owned two places, Chuan area and Bu area, which is similar to owing two companies.”After he became rich, he was well-known in the neighborhood. The County Magistrate reported it to the court, which then granted an official position to my great-grandfather. However, he did not engage in official work. In short, he used money to buy an official position. However, my aunt said, “My grandfather was even a candidate for County Magistrate.”

Q3 : What privileges did Yung Jinshi have?

A3 : Yung Jinshi was a bought official position, and he actually could not engage in official work. However, his status was higher than that of general public. He was more respected, and he did not have to kneel down at County Magistrate, who also would offer him a seat. Afterwards, my great-grandfather did not win any military merits, either. Therefore, the only record we have now is the portrait in which he wore an official uniform.

Q4 : When was the portrait of Scholar Chou wearing the official uniform painted?

A4 : About a century ago. After my great-grandfather passed away, in 1920, my family particularly invited a painter from China to come to Lukang to paint his portrait. After such a long period and exposure to sunshine, the colors still look brilliant because the pigments were made of grounded mine power and water. This portrait is similar to the traditional Chinese paintings displayed in National Palace Museum. The colors are still bright and did not fade after more than a century.

Afterthoughts: Only a very small amount of information about Scholar Chou is kept. The information was cult to unravel the true history in an older era. If we do not do it now, it will be even more difficult in the future.