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The beauty of ancient houses in the countryside of Nghe An province

Huy Thu • October 21, 2024 21:28

Trung Can village, Trung Phuc Cuong commune (Nam Dan) is not only a famous countryside with a tradition of mandarin examinations, studiousness, and a beautifully carved communal house, but this place also preserves many unique ancient houses.

bna_1(5).jpg — Trung Can village, located on the banks of Lam river, is an ancient village with a long history and culture, especially the tradition of mandarin examinations with famous figures such as Doctor Tong Tat Thang, Duke Nguyen Nhan My, Doctor Nguyen Trong Thuong, Nguyen Trong Duong, Nguyen Trong Duong... Currently, in the space of the ancient Trung Can village, there are still many ancient relics such as communal houses, temples, pagodas, family churches... In addition, there is a system of ancient houses that are being preserved and used by the people. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_2(3).jpg — Like the Southern region, the ancient houses of Trung Can village usually have 3-5 compartments, built in the traditional style with low wooden frames, roofed with scale tiles, planks... Currently, most of the ancient houses that are over 100 years old have been repaired and embellished by the people such as re-tiling, raising the floor, painting the wooden frames... Photo: Huy Thu

bna_3..jpg — Only a few ancient houses remain intact, such as Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thuc's house, which was built at the same time as the Yen Xuan railway bridge over the Lam River during the French colonial period. The house has 3 rooms and 2 sides made of ironwood, roofed with scale tiles, and has a wooden door with a characteristic ridge line. Photo: Huy Thu.

bna_4(2).jpg — During the renovation and restoration process, the old houses in Trung Can are often kept with the original wooden frame structure. Those who can afford it often raise the floor, re-tile, repaint the wooden parts... making the old houses more spacious and beautiful. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_5(2).jpg — Inside the old houses, the original walls were often partitioned with wooden panels to create an airy space for the house. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_6(2).jpg — The difference in the ancient house architecture in Trung Can is that the ancestral altar can be designed in the upper part of the outer house. This not only makes the place of worship more solemn but also makes the family living space more spacious, saving space, especially the outer house. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_7(2).jpg — The front of ancient houses is often designed with a wooden door with a main door, a side door, or a door that opens and closes on the ground. To suit the daily life, some houses have made completely new doors. In the photo: The door that opens and closes on the ground of a 5-room ancient house in Trung Can. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_8(1).jpg — The ancient houses being preserved in Trung Can village are mainly made of ironwood. The ceiling (cupboard) is designed to suit each room. In the middle room, the ceiling is often made to the tile roof to create an open space for the living room. The inner room, or even the outer room, has a low ceiling with a door, both to prevent dust and to store things. For families living outside the Lam River dike, the ceiling is also a place to live during floods. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_9(1).jpg — The ancient houses in Trung Can village that have been used as homes by people for many generations. Mr. Mai Trong Thu (82 years old) said: The house his family is living in was built by his grandfather in 1917, and up to now, 5 generations have lived there. The house has 3 rooms with 2 sides, ironwood frame, burnt rafters, clove and jasmine wood ceiling. At first, the house had a long door, then a long door was installed and the floor was raised more than 1.6m. "In the past, many people came to ask to buy the house, but my family did not sell it. We consider the house a legacy left by our ancestors that needs to be preserved and protected for future generations" - Mr. Thu shared. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_10(1).jpg — Mrs. Thai Thi Soa (78 years old), wife of Mr. Mai Trong Thu, said: Along with preserving the ancient house, her family also keeps many artifacts from ancient times such as rosewood altar, ancient parallel sentences... seeing it as a responsibility to ancestors. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_11(1).jpg — In front of the old house yard in Trung Can village, many households still preserve hundreds of years old water tanks, which were once used to store water for their families. Mr. Mai Trong Hung - Head of Trung Can village, Trung Phuc Cuong commune said: Currently, in the village, there are about 15 four-pillar houses that are over 100 years old. These old houses are being preserved and maintained by local people, contributing to the unique beauty of the scholar-groomed countryside. Photo: Huy Thu

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