Family "museums" in Quynh Luu

(Baonghean) - Along with other historical sites and scenic spots, many families in Quynh Luu district are currently preserving valuable artifacts. This contributes to the preservation of ancestral cultural values, helps educate the younger generation about the importance of cherishing the past, and is also a crucial factor in developing community tourism and rural tourism.

Mr. Ho Xuan Luong introduces his family's antiques.

We visited the family of Mr. Ho Xuan Luong in Hamlet 2, Quynh Yen Commune (Quynh Luu District) on a late autumn day. In their moss-covered, single-story house, many antique items were carefully and neatly displayed. The homeowner said that these were antiques passed down from his father and some he had collected himself from other places. As the son of an antique collector, Mr. Luong had been exposed to many antiques collected by his father since childhood, and he unknowingly inherited his father's passion. In 1987, after completing his military service in Laos and returning to his hometown, he dedicated his time to his passion for collecting antiques. Outside of work, whenever he had free time, he would travel throughout the villages and communes collecting antiques. He contacted scrap dealers, and whenever he heard of old books or old copper and iron items for sale, he would buy them all. In addition, he also established contact with local communities; if anyone had antique items for sale, they would let him know, and he would go and buy them.

Through this method, he now possesses over 100 antique items of various kinds. These range from everyday objects like bowls, chopsticks, bamboo baskets, and bamboo beds, to war relics such as missile casings, mirrors, and combs used by soldiers in the past. He also has a collection of old books written in Chinese characters, both handwritten and printed. The collection includes books on ethics, Confucian morality, fortune-telling, and geography. Notably, he also has a land register from the French colonial era (the land registry of Quynh Luu district at that time), containing both Vietnamese and Chinese characters, and with French-language censorship by the French Commissioner. Through this land register, people can find the ancient village names of the communes in Quynh Luu district. Currently, he keeps this collection in a glass cabinet to protect it from termites. Not only are antique objects displayed inside the house, but other large items such as water jars, stone mortars, and even statues of various historical figures are also displayed outside in the yard in chronological order. This is because, in his subconscious, all the objects he has collected are very valuable, especially in terms of their spiritual value. Each object helps the younger generation understand more about the hardships of their ancestors, so that they can continue to strive, live, and contribute to their families and society.

We were introduced by Mr. Luong to a family with a passion for collecting antiques: the family of Mr. Nguyen Thai Bong (77 years old) in Hamlet 10. As soon as we arrived at Mr. Bong's gate, we were surprised and delighted to see a wooden house with exquisite carvings and sculptures.

Pouring a cup of tea for his guest, Mr. Bong explained that this was an ancient house left to him by his father. Built in 1944, the house was constructed from precious woods such as ironwood and teak. It could be considered the oldest house in the commune. Notably, all the objects displayed in the house are antiques dating back several hundred years. Mr. Bong has meticulously and extensively preserved these items. He mentioned that he currently has nearly 100 antiques in his house, including two porcelain jars (dating back to the Ming Dynasty – used to hold water and placed in temples), which he currently keeps in front of the family's main altar. The large calligraphic inscription "Mộc Thiên Ân" (Heaven's Grace) hangs high above; two wooden couplets, painted in red and gold (made 60 years ago), are hung on the two main wooden pillars of the house. Notably, the painting "Nam Thanh Tinh Hoa," depicting the beautiful scenery of Vietnam's rivers and mountains, inscribed with President Ho Chi Minh's handwriting, is hung opposite the altar. Other valuable antiques include pendulum clocks from Germany and the Soviet Union, a Vietnamese bamboo sculpture of a dragon called "Trúc Hoa Long," and mirrors from the Nguyen Dynasty... He has diligently collected these rare and precious objects for over 30 years.

Nearly a year ago, the commune held the groundbreaking ceremony for Lam Son Pagoda, and all the monks, nuns, and Buddhists from everywhere gathered there to attend. During this occasion, many people came to Mr. Bong's family to admire these antique artifacts. "Good news travels fast," and occasionally visitors from other places come to his house and ask to see these antiques. "As long as I live, I will try to collect more antiques. Firstly, to preserve the traditional artifacts of our ancestors, and secondly, to educate future generations to remember their roots and the objects that were once associated with our forefathers," Mr. Bong shared.

Currently, in Quynh Yen commune, there are about 10 households preserving these ancient artifacts. Mr. Ho Duc Luyen, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Yen commune, said: "The fact that these households are preserving and conserving the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of their ancestors shows their affection for the roots of the nation. The People's Committee also encourages people to preserve the village's ancient artifacts and objects left by our ancestors as a family museum – a place to preserve, promote, and educate about patriotic traditions." Quynh Luu has great potential for developing cultural tourism, and the preservation and conservation of ancient artifacts in families is a condition for developing community tourism and rural tourism. However, the preservation and conservation of ancient artifacts is currently only at the individual level and has not received attention from relevant authorities.

Viet Hung

Quynh Luu Radio and Television Station