連橫(heng)紀念(nian)館位于杭(hang)州西湖(hu)風景區的(de)瑪瑙寺(si),占地面積9139平(ping)方(fang)米,建(jian)筑(zhu)面積2600平(ping)方(fang)米。2008年12月,連橫(heng)紀念(nian)館由臺(tai)灣財團法人“國政研究基金會(hui)”與杭(hang)州西湖(hu)風景名勝區管(guan)委會(hui)共同籌備建(jian)設完成。連橫(heng)紀念(nian)館是兩岸文化(hua)交(jiao)流的(de)重要平(ping)臺(tai),在弘揚中華文化(hua),加強精神紐帶方(fang)面,正發揮(hui)越(yue)來(lai)越(yue)重要的(de)作用。
瑪瑙寺原來(lai)的廂房作(zuo)為展(zhan)(zhan)示(shi)空間,共分(fen)(fen)為7個展(zhan)(zhan)廳(ting)(ting)(ting),分(fen)(fen)別是臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)自然環境廳(ting)(ting)(ting)、歷史文化(hua)廳(ting)(ting)(ting)、臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)原住(zhu)民廳(ting)(ting)(ting)、連雅(ya)堂紀(ji)念(nian)廳(ting)(ting)(ting)、臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)人物志廳(ting)(ting)(ting)、傳統工藝(yi)廳(ting)(ting)(ting)、現(xian)代(dai)工藝(yi)廳(ting)(ting)(ting)。二期在一期展(zhan)(zhan)廳(ting)(ting)(ting)的基礎上,增加臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)近代(dai)雕塑百年展(zhan)(zhan)展(zhan)(zhan)區(qu)(qu)、雅(ya)言圖書館(guan)、清泉居飲茶室(shi)和(he)連橫(heng)紀(ji)念(nian)館(guan)門樓(lou)。展(zhan)(zhan)區(qu)(qu)集(ji)結了臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)過(guo)去百年雕塑界的47件代(dai)表作(zuo)品。而雅(ya)言圖書館(guan)則(ze)收藏和(he)集(ji)納了有關(guan)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)自然、歷史和(he)人文等方面的1112冊文獻(xian)。
瑪(ma)瑙寺為著(zhu)名(ming)(ming)古(gu)代(dai)佛寺,1926年(nian)-1927年(nian),連戰的(de)祖父(fu)、《臺(tai)(tai)灣通史》作者(zhe)、愛國(guo)史學家連橫(heng),曾居住于(yu)該寺研究整(zheng)理文(wen)史資(zi)料;連戰的(de)父(fu)親(qin)連震東也曾來杭(hang)探親(qin)居住,與瑪(ma)瑙寺結下淵源。2006年(nian),連戰首次來杭(hang)參訪(fang),對瑪(ma)瑙寺的(de)建(jian)筑(zhu)及環(huan)境保護給(gei)予高度(du)評價,并提出將瑪(ma)瑙寺建(jian)成海峽兩岸文(wen)化交流平臺(tai)(tai)的(de)設(she)想(xiang)。在兩岸共同努力下,2008年(nian)12月,連橫(heng)紀念(nian)館由臺(tai)(tai)灣財團(tuan)法人“國(guo)政研究基(ji)金會”與杭(hang)州西湖風景(jing)名(ming)(ming)勝區管委會共同籌備建(jian)設(she)完成。
連(lian)(lian)橫生于(yu)光緒(xu)4年(nian)(nian)(nian)正月(yue)16日(1878年(nian)(nian)(nian)2月(yue)17日),字武公,號雅(ya)堂,又號劍(jian)花(hua)。1899年(nian)(nian)(nian)為(wei)臺(tai)(tai)南(nan)臺(tai)(tai)澎日報記(ji)者(zhe),為(wei)臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan)總(zong)督兒(er)玉源(yuan)太郎作歌頌(song)詩《歡(huan)迎兒(er)玉督憲南(nan)巡頌(song)德詩》。1902年(nian)(nian)(nian),赴(fu)福建(jian)參加(jia)科舉(ju),先(xian)去廈門,以(yi)銀錢捐得監生功名,取得應考資格,再到福州應鄉試,但(dan)不第。1905年(nian)(nian)(nian),再一次離開(kai)臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan),在(zai)福建(jian)廈門創(chuang)辦《福建(jian)日日新(xin)聞》。關閉(bi)《福建(jian)日日新(xin)聞》后,連(lian)(lian)橫又于(yu)同年(nian)(nian)(nian)回到臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan),仍然在(zai)由《臺(tai)(tai)澎日報》改版而成的《臺(tai)(tai)南(nan)新(xin)報》任職。連(lian)(lian)橫28歲時(1906年(nian)(nian)(nian)),由于(yu)連(lian)(lian)橫酷愛吟詩,與(yu)友人趙云石、謝籟軒(xuan)等十余人在(zai)臺(tai)(tai)南(nan)創(chuang)南(nan)社。連(lian)(lian)橫30歲時(1908年(nian)(nian)(nian)),連(lian)(lian)橫舉(ju)家遷到臺(tai)(tai)中,工(gong)(gong)作也換到在(zai)臺(tai)(tai)中發行的《臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan)新(xin)聞》漢文部。這(zhe)一年(nian)(nian)(nian),開(kai)始了他《臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan)通史(shi)》的寫作工(gong)(gong)程。
連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)31歲(sui)(sui)時(shi)(shi)(1909年(nian)(nian)),與友人(ren)(ren)林(lin)癡仙、賴紹(shao)堯(yao)、林(lin)幼春等人(ren)(ren)創櫟(li)社,以道德文(wen)章相切(qie)磋。連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)34歲(sui)(sui)時(shi)(shi)(1912年(nian)(nian)),假道日(ri)(ri)(ri)本再(zai)度赴中國(guo)(guo)旅游,先(xian)(xian)抵達上(shang)海,然后(hou)再(zai)游南(nan)京、杭(hang)(hang)州等地。連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)35歲(sui)(sui)時(shi)(shi)(1913年(nian)(nian)),連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)到(dao)(dao)達北(bei)京,參加華(hua)僑(qiao)選舉國(guo)(guo)會(hui)議(yi)員,不(bu)中。同年(nian)(nian)秋天,又轉往奉(feng)天、吉林(lin),入新吉林(lin)報社工作。連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)36歲(sui)(sui)時(shi)(shi)(1914年(nian)(nian)春),連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)再(zai)度回(hui)(hui)(hui)到(dao)(dao)京,“時(shi)(shi)趙次珊(shan)先(xian)(xian)生長清史館,延先(xian)(xian)生入館共事,因(yin)得(de)盡閱(yue)館中所藏有(you)(you)關臺(tai)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)(wan)建(jian)省(sheng)檔案,而經(jing)其收入臺(tai)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)(wan)通史”,同年(nian)(nian)冬天,連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)回(hui)(hui)(hui)到(dao)(dao)臺(tai)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)(wan)臺(tai)南(nan),繼續(xu)在《臺(tai)南(nan)新報》任職(zhi)。1914年(nian)(nian)冬至1919年(nian)(nian),寓居臺(tai)南(nan)以完成《臺(tai)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)(wan)通史》。1919年(nian)(nian)移(yi)居臺(tai)北(bei),受雇于(yu)華(hua)南(nan)銀行(xing)的(de)(de)(de)發起人(ren)(ren)林(lin)熊(xiong)征,幫忙處理與南(nan)洋華(hua)僑(qiao)股東(dong)往返的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)牘。1923年(nian)(nian),連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)與夫人(ren)(ren)一(yi)(yi)起同游日(ri)(ri)(ri)本。連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)46歲(sui)(sui)時(shi)(shi)(1924年(nian)(nian)2月),在臺(tai)北(bei)創立發行(xing)的(de)(de)(de)漢(han)語(yu)古典雜志“臺(tai)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)(wan)詩(shi)薈”,一(yi)(yi)直到(dao)(dao)1925年(nian)(nian)10月赴浙江西湖養病(bing)(bing)停刊止,共發行(xing)22期(qi)。同年(nian)(nian),日(ri)(ri)(ri)本“常(chang)磐生命(ming)保(bao)(bao)險(xian)(xian)株式(shi)會(hui)社”給予特許經(jing)營權(quan)臺(tai)北(bei)代理店(dian),專營兒童保(bao)(bao)險(xian)(xian),并(bing)曾于(yu)自己創辦的(de)(de)(de)“臺(tai)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)(wan)詩(shi)薈”雜志上(shang)刊登廣告(gao)。1926年(nian)(nian),連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)又舉家移(yi)居杭(hang)(hang)州一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian),理由(you)(you)是養病(bing)(bing)。1927年(nian)(nian)回(hui)(hui)(hui)到(dao)(dao)臺(tai)北(bei)。與友人(ren)(ren)黃潘萬合(he)開了一(yi)(yi)家書(shu)(shu)(shu)店(dian),店(dian)名叫做雅堂書(shu)(shu)(shu)局。該(gai)書(shu)(shu)(shu)店(dian)標榜不(bu)賣日(ri)(ri)(ri)文(wen)書(shu)(shu)(shu)籍(ji)文(wen)具(ju),但(dan)卻(que)又代理臺(tai)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)(wan)總(zong)督府(fu)采購(gou)有(you)(you)關南(nan)方資料(liao)的(de)(de)(de)漢(han)文(wen)書(shu)(shu)(shu)籍(ji)業務,而成為御用(yong)書(shu)(shu)(shu)店(dian)。該(gai)書(shu)(shu)(shu)店(dian)在兩(liang)年(nian)(nian)后(hou)就因(yin)經(jing)營不(bu)善而關閉。1930年(nian)(nian)3月2日(ri)(ri)(ri),連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)在日(ri)(ri)(ri)本人(ren)(ren)御用(yong)報紙《臺(tai)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)(wan)日(ri)(ri)(ri)日(ri)(ri)(ri)新報》上(shang)發表〈新阿片(pian)政策謳(ou)歌論(lun)〉(民間俗稱《阿片(pian)有(you)(you)益(yi)(yi)論(lun)》或(huo)《鴉片(pian)有(you)(you)益(yi)(yi)論(lun)》)辯稱鴉片(pian)有(you)(you)益(yi)(yi)的(de)(de)(de)意(yi)見書(shu)(shu)(shu)。他于(yu)1931年(nian)(nian)返回(hui)(hui)(hui)臺(tai)南(nan),借(jie)寓別人(ren)(ren)家中,“不(bu)復與北(bei)人(ren)(ren)士相聞問”。由(you)(you)于(yu)在臺(tai)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)(wan)已經(jing)無法立足,連(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)籌謀讓(rang)獨(du)子(zi)連(lian)(lian)(lian)震(zhen)東(dong)去中國(guo)(guo)尋(xun)求出路。該(gai)年(nian)(nian)4月,連(lian)(lian)(lian)震(zhen)東(dong)即帶著連(lian)(lian)(lian)雅堂的(de)(de)(de)八行(xing)書(shu)(shu)(shu),前往中國(guo)(guo)投(tou)靠民國(guo)(guo)初的(de)(de)(de)參議(yi)院議(yi)長張繼。
1933年,連(lian)雅(ya)堂覺得(de)臺(tai)(tai)灣“不可一日居(ju)”,獨子又(you)已在(zai)中國落腳,才移居(ju)上(shang)海(hai)(陳柔縉 1999年)。1936年,連(lian)橫因(yin)肝癌(ai)病逝于上(shang)海(hai),后(hou)遷葬(zang)返臺(tai)(tai),墓(mu)園(yuan)位于今(jin)新北市(shi)泰(tai)山(shan)區。