These gates, however, were not used to protect Lukang's residents from outside threats but rather, to protect them from each other.
每到黃昏，各自關閉隘門，以防宵小入侵或他姓尋仇滋事。如果兩族引起糾紛，見情勢不妙的一方則全力奔回自家，關上隘門，另一方儘管人多勢眾，也只有撤兵。這就是所謂的「惡不過隘門」。