The Grand Hall is located at the center of the mansion, usually between the second and third sections, serving as the core public activity space of the residence. It was expanded by Lin Chao-tung during the Tongzhi to Guangxu periods of the Qing Dynasty, following the overall style of the official residence, and functioned as a place for family banquets, celebrations, and important gatherings.
The Grand Hall is the mansion’s main reception hall, hosting guest entertainment, family celebrations, and major events. Its spacious and bright interior also makes it suitable for displaying paintings, furniture, and craft collections.
The roof uses traditional Chinese San-chuan or hard-slope framing, decorated with exquisite wood carvings and painted motifs. Beams, columns, window lattices, and door headers are finely carved, showcasing the craftsmanship of Qing Dynasty official residences. The floors are paved with stone slabs or wooden planks, combining practicality and aesthetics.
The hall is spacious and designed along the central axis, with side wings or lateral halls extending to create a continuous visual connection with the front and rear courtyards. Paintings, carvings, and stone decorations on the ceiling and beams enhance the hall’s solemnity and artistic atmosphere.
The Grand Hall symbolizes the Lin family’s social status, family honor, and hospitality etiquette, reflecting the mansion’s role as a center of family culture and public reception.