A house of more than 130 years of age in Thu Dau Mot

Having unique architecture, the house of Nguyen Tri Quan at Quarter 1 of Tan An ward in Thu Dau Mot city has been accredited as provincial site since 2004. The house currently holds various cultural and historical values.

The calm and antique features of the house of Nguyen Tri Quan

We visited the old house of Nguyen Tri Quan as the slight rain was over us. The brick roof and walls of the house has been colored by the moss. The weather at the time made the house look calm through time.

According to the site profile of provincial Museum, the house of Nguyen Tri Quan was constructed in 1890 on over 3,240 square meters. The house was especially structured by Chinese letter of kou (mouth), which is common for temple and pagoda construction. The first owner of the house was Nguyen Van Hoi, the great grandfather of Nguyen Tri Quan, who used to hold the official title of Senior Clerk of An Giang province and Judgment Supervisor of Vinh Long province.

Within the house, some documents and images related to history and culture are still preserved. First of all, the designation of Tu Duc King offered to Nguyen Van Hoi in 1866 after his death. Besides, within the house of Nguyen Tri Quan was the portrait of Thanh Thai King on solemn altar at the middle hall and at the front of ancestor worshipping altar. At the two sides are 2 loops folded and covered in nylon sheets by the house owner. It is very special that the house of Nguyen Tri Quan is also the place of preserving sacred scroll and dragon seal used to welcome the sacred scroll of Tan An Temple, which is another famous remain in Binh Duong province, on major festivals at the temple. In stories of local seniors, ancestors of Nguyen Tri Quan were those of great contribution to Tan An Temple and were named as predecessors of the temple.

Beside the mentioned special features, the house of Nguyen Tri Quan is one of the old remains to have unique and rare architecture in Binh Duong. Firstly, the house was constructed by Chinese letter of kou (mouth), which was rarely used by the public to build houses. The ying-yang roof and sophisticated carved beams are very special. On some main pillars are also parallel banners of Chinese letters. At the front roof, the tops of the pillars are decorated by embossed patterns connected by rows of banisters. At the front yard, the house owner added decorative plants on the banisters and on the soil to make the house more eye-catching.

The house of Nguyen Tri Quan previously had 4 sections of worshiping, guesthouse, and 2 horizontal chambers. However, through time only the main hall is preserved. Thanks to the preserved values, on June 2, 2004, the house of Nguyen Tri Quan was accredited by provincial People’s Committee as a remain of history, architecture, and art of the province and city.

Annually, the department of culture organizes activities to prevent the house from being degraded by periodical termite processing. Of 130 years old, the house of Nguyen Tri Quan has proved the great level of handicraft and creativity of the old-time wood craft-men in Binh Duong.

Reported by Hong Thuan – Translated by Vi Bao