200 year-old ancient houses on Ly Son island
Thursday, 25/04/2013 17:02 (GMT+7)
Over 20 wood houses that are 150-200 years old are being fully preserved in design and architecture on Ly Son island. These are small museums that are “living evidence” of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands.
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| This ancient house of a Nguyen family in Tay village, An Vinh commune, Ly Son Island district, is 200 years old. According to the elders, some 200 years ago, many prosperous families in this area bought wood on the mainland and hired boats to transport it to the island to build three-compartment houses with roofs of tile or leaves. |
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| The main compartment has many wooden doors and pillars connecting closely with each other. The house owner invited carpenters from the central province of Quang Nam and carvers from the central province of Thua Thien-Hue to Ly Son Island to build the houses within 5-6 months. |
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| The majority of ancient houses on Ly Son Island are worshipping houses of families. Three worshipping compartment houses were decorated with horizontal lacquered boards. Each year, at the worshipping houses, ceremonies take place to memorialise the contribution of the ancestors who set sail into the East Sea, marking the sovereignty over Spratly and Paracel Islands. |
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| Le Ly family in Dong village, An Hai commune is living in a 42 pillar ancient house that is 150 years old. According to Mr. Ly, the temperature in ancient houses is always temperate that is cool in sunny seasons and warm in winters. |
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| Carving “horses turning into dragons” on wood doors in an ancient house of Duong Phap in Tay village. According to Dr. Doan Khoi, deputy director of the Quang Ngai General Museum, the ancient house system on Ly Son Island was dated 150-200 years ago. Since it was not affected by wars and thanks to people’s preservation efforts, the ancient architecture is fully original. |
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| The ancient house of Pham Thoai Tuyen, the fifth descendant of Paracel team overseer Pham Huu Nhat in Dong village, An Vinh commune, holds many precious objects confirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel islands. “The most precious things in the ancient house are a great number of documents and objects relating to Paracel Flotilla,” said Dr. Khoi. “The ancient house system on Ly Son island is cultural heritage of special value, a vivid museum of the undeniable sovereignty of Vietnam over the Spratly and Paracel islands. |
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| 150-200 year-old ancient picture in Mr. Duong Phap’s house. According to Mr. Khoi, it is necessary to have a general planning recognising the value of the houses to preserve, study and serve visitors. |
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| Craftsman Vo Hien Dat beside Paracel soldier tablets at An Vinh communal house. Apart from the ancient house system, ancient communal houses on Ly Son island commemorating Paracel soldiers show tribute to their contributions and create an ancient space on the hometown of Paracel Flotilla. The Quang Ngai provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is calling on domestic travel agents to work with families on Ly Son island to receive tourists to view the ancient house system based on community tourism right in the “Quang Ngai sea and island cultural week”. |