連(lian)橫(heng)紀(ji)念館位(wei)于杭(hang)(hang)州(zhou)(zhou)西(xi)(xi)湖風景區(qu)的(de)(de)瑪(ma)瑙寺,占地面積9139平(ping)方(fang)米(mi),建筑面積2600平(ping)方(fang)米(mi)。2008年12月,連(lian)橫(heng)紀(ji)念館由臺灣(wan)財團法人(ren)“國(guo)政研究(jiu)基金會”與杭(hang)(hang)州(zhou)(zhou)西(xi)(xi)湖風景名勝(sheng)區(qu)管委會共同籌備建設完成(cheng)。連(lian)橫(heng)紀(ji)念館是兩(liang)岸文(wen)化(hua)交流的(de)(de)重(zhong)要平(ping)臺,在弘揚中華文(wen)化(hua),加強精神紐帶方(fang)面,正(zheng)發揮越來越重(zhong)要的(de)(de)作用(yong)。
瑪瑙寺原(yuan)來的廂房(fang)作為展示空間,共分(fen)為7個展廳(ting)(ting),分(fen)別是臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan)自然(ran)(ran)環境廳(ting)(ting)、歷(li)史文化廳(ting)(ting)、臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan)原(yuan)住民廳(ting)(ting)、連雅(ya)堂紀念廳(ting)(ting)、臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan)人物志廳(ting)(ting)、傳(chuan)統工藝(yi)廳(ting)(ting)、現代工藝(yi)廳(ting)(ting)。二期在一(yi)期展廳(ting)(ting)的基(ji)礎上,增加臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan)近代雕(diao)塑百年(nian)展展區、雅(ya)言圖書館(guan)、清泉(quan)居(ju)飲茶室(shi)和(he)(he)連橫紀念館(guan)門樓。展區集結了(le)臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan)過去百年(nian)雕(diao)塑界的47件(jian)代表作品。而(er)雅(ya)言圖書館(guan)則收藏和(he)(he)集納了(le)有關(guan)臺(tai)(tai)灣(wan)自然(ran)(ran)、歷(li)史和(he)(he)人文等方面的1112冊文獻。
瑪瑙(nao)寺(si)為著名(ming)(ming)古代佛寺(si),1926年(nian)(nian)-1927年(nian)(nian),連(lian)戰(zhan)的(de)祖父、《臺(tai)灣通史(shi)》作者、愛國(guo)史(shi)學家連(lian)橫,曾居(ju)住(zhu)于該寺(si)研究整理文史(shi)資料(liao);連(lian)戰(zhan)的(de)父親連(lian)震(zhen)東也曾來(lai)杭探親居(ju)住(zhu),與瑪瑙(nao)寺(si)結下(xia)淵(yuan)源(yuan)。2006年(nian)(nian),連(lian)戰(zhan)首次來(lai)杭參(can)訪,對瑪瑙(nao)寺(si)的(de)建筑及環境(jing)保護給(gei)予高度評價,并提(ti)出(chu)將(jiang)瑪瑙(nao)寺(si)建成海峽兩岸(an)文化(hua)交流平臺(tai)的(de)設(she)(she)想。在兩岸(an)共(gong)同努力(li)下(xia),2008年(nian)(nian)12月,連(lian)橫紀念館由臺(tai)灣財(cai)團法(fa)人“國(guo)政研究基金會”與杭州西(xi)湖(hu)風景名(ming)(ming)勝區管委會共(gong)同籌備建設(she)(she)完(wan)成。
連(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)生于(yu)光緒4年(nian)(nian)正月16日(1878年(nian)(nian)2月17日),字武公,號雅堂,又號劍花。1899年(nian)(nian)為(wei)(wei)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)南臺(tai)(tai)(tai)澎日報(bao)(bao)記(ji)者,為(wei)(wei)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)(wan)總督(du)兒(er)玉(yu)源太郎作(zuo)歌頌詩《歡迎兒(er)玉(yu)督(du)憲南巡頌德詩》。1902年(nian)(nian),赴福(fu)(fu)建參加科舉,先去廈(sha)(sha)門,以銀錢(qian)捐得監生功名,取得應(ying)(ying)考資格(ge),再到福(fu)(fu)州(zhou)應(ying)(ying)鄉(xiang)試,但不(bu)第(di)。1905年(nian)(nian),再一(yi)次離開臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)(wan),在福(fu)(fu)建廈(sha)(sha)門創(chuang)辦《福(fu)(fu)建日日新聞》。關閉《福(fu)(fu)建日日新聞》后,連(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)又于(yu)同(tong)年(nian)(nian)回到臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)(wan),仍然在由(you)(you)《臺(tai)(tai)(tai)澎日報(bao)(bao)》改版而成的《臺(tai)(tai)(tai)南新報(bao)(bao)》任職。連(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)28歲(sui)時(1906年(nian)(nian)),由(you)(you)于(yu)連(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)酷愛(ai)吟詩,與友人趙(zhao)云(yun)石(shi)、謝(xie)籟軒等十(shi)余(yu)人在臺(tai)(tai)(tai)南創(chuang)南社(she)。連(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)30歲(sui)時(1908年(nian)(nian)),連(lian)(lian)(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)舉家遷到臺(tai)(tai)(tai)中,工(gong)作(zuo)也(ye)換到在臺(tai)(tai)(tai)中發行的《臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)(wan)新聞》漢文部。這一(yi)年(nian)(nian),開始(shi)了他《臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)(wan)通史(shi)》的寫作(zuo)工(gong)程。
連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)31歲(sui)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(1909年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),與(yu)友人(ren)(ren)林癡仙、賴紹堯、林幼春等人(ren)(ren)創(chuang)櫟社(she),以道德文章(zhang)相切磋。連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)34歲(sui)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(1912年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),假道日(ri)本再度(du)赴(fu)中國(guo)旅游,先(xian)抵達(da)上海,然后(hou)再游南京(jing)、杭州等地。連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)35歲(sui)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(1913年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)到達(da)北(bei)京(jing),參(can)(can)加華僑選舉國(guo)會議員,不中。同(tong)(tong)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)秋天,又轉往(wang)奉天、吉林,入新(xin)吉林報社(she)工作。連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)36歲(sui)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(1914年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)春),連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)再度(du)回(hui)到京(jing),“時(shi)(shi)(shi)趙(zhao)次珊先(xian)生長清史(shi)館(guan)(guan),延先(xian)生入館(guan)(guan)共事,因得盡閱館(guan)(guan)中所藏有關(guan)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)建省檔案,而(er)經其收入臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)通(tong)(tong)史(shi)”,同(tong)(tong)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)冬(dong)天,連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)回(hui)到臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)南,繼續在(zai)(zai)《臺(tai)(tai)(tai)南新(xin)報》任職(zhi)。1914年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)冬(dong)至1919年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),寓居臺(tai)(tai)(tai)南以完成《臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)通(tong)(tong)史(shi)》。1919年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)移居臺(tai)(tai)(tai)北(bei),受雇于(yu)(yu)華南銀行(xing)的(de)(de)(de)發(fa)(fa)起人(ren)(ren)林熊征(zheng),幫忙處理(li)與(yu)南洋華僑股東往(wang)返(fan)的(de)(de)(de)文牘。1923年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)與(yu)夫人(ren)(ren)一(yi)(yi)起同(tong)(tong)游日(ri)本。連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)46歲(sui)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(1924年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)2月(yue)(yue)),在(zai)(zai)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)北(bei)創(chuang)立發(fa)(fa)行(xing)的(de)(de)(de)漢語(yu)古典(dian)雜志(zhi)“臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)詩薈”,一(yi)(yi)直到1925年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)10月(yue)(yue)赴(fu)浙江西(xi)湖養病停刊止,共發(fa)(fa)行(xing)22期。同(tong)(tong)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),日(ri)本“常磐生命保(bao)險(xian)株式(shi)會社(she)”給(gei)予特許(xu)經營權臺(tai)(tai)(tai)北(bei)代理(li)店(dian),專(zhuan)營兒童保(bao)險(xian),并曾于(yu)(yu)自(zi)己創(chuang)辦的(de)(de)(de)“臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)詩薈”雜志(zhi)上刊登廣告。1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)又舉家(jia)(jia)移居杭州一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),理(li)由(you)是養病。1927年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)回(hui)到臺(tai)(tai)(tai)北(bei)。與(yu)友人(ren)(ren)黃潘萬合開了一(yi)(yi)家(jia)(jia)書(shu)店(dian),店(dian)名叫做雅堂書(shu)局。該(gai)書(shu)店(dian)標榜不賣日(ri)文書(shu)籍文具,但卻(que)又代理(li)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)總督府采購有關(guan)南方資(zi)料(liao)的(de)(de)(de)漢文書(shu)籍業務,而(er)成為(wei)御用書(shu)店(dian)。該(gai)書(shu)店(dian)在(zai)(zai)兩年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)就(jiu)因經營不善而(er)關(guan)閉。1930年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)3月(yue)(yue)2日(ri),連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)在(zai)(zai)日(ri)本人(ren)(ren)御用報紙《臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)日(ri)日(ri)新(xin)報》上發(fa)(fa)表(biao)〈新(xin)阿(a)片政策謳(ou)歌論(lun)〉(民(min)間俗稱《阿(a)片有益(yi)(yi)論(lun)》或《鴉(ya)(ya)片有益(yi)(yi)論(lun)》)辯稱鴉(ya)(ya)片有益(yi)(yi)的(de)(de)(de)意見書(shu)。他于(yu)(yu)1931年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)返(fan)回(hui)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)南,借寓別人(ren)(ren)家(jia)(jia)中,“不復與(yu)北(bei)人(ren)(ren)士(shi)相聞問”。由(you)于(yu)(yu)在(zai)(zai)臺(tai)(tai)(tai)灣(wan)已經無(wu)法(fa)立足,連(lian)(lian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)籌謀讓獨子連(lian)(lian)震東去中國(guo)尋求(qiu)出(chu)路。該(gai)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)(yue),連(lian)(lian)震東即帶著連(lian)(lian)雅堂的(de)(de)(de)八(ba)行(xing)書(shu),前往(wang)中國(guo)投靠民(min)國(guo)初的(de)(de)(de)參(can)(can)議院議長張(zhang)繼。
1933年,連(lian)雅(ya)堂(tang)覺(jue)得(de)臺灣“不(bu)可一日(ri)居”,獨子又(you)已在中(zhong)國落腳,才移居上海(hai)(陳柔縉 1999年)。1936年,連(lian)橫(heng)因肝(gan)癌病(bing)逝于上海(hai),后遷葬返臺,墓(mu)園位于今(jin)新北市泰山區。