The breath of time in the old features

The ancient house of Mr. Nguyen Khac Nghien's family is almost intact to this day.

Touching the past

The ancient house of Mr. Nguyen Khac Nghien's family, 78 years old, in Doan Ket 3 hamlet, is a living testament to the love and respect for the past. Mr. Nghien's family's house was built in 1939 in the style of three overlapping beams - a typical traditional wooden architectural structure, completely handcrafted from ironwood, stone and xoan wood. This is one of the oldest houses in Phuong Do village that still exists today.

When stepping through the arched gate in the ancient Northern architecture, we felt like we were lost in a private space, with a large yard shaded by trees. In the garden are fruit trees and green ornamental plants, exuding the gentle scent of flowers and leaves, both beautifying the space and reminding us of our ancestors' lifestyle close to nature.

In the yard, the old bricks showed signs of time. Each step seemed to touch memories, leading to the main house located solemnly inside.

Inside the house, every detail from the main door, wooden walls, columns, and beams are meticulously carved by hand. The floral, cloud, water, and dragon and phoenix motifs, although faded over time, still evoke the sophisticated beauty and remind us of the ingenuity and meticulousness of the skilled carpenters of Phuong Do village.

In the middle of the house, the solemn altar and the gilded horizontal lacquered board radiate warm light. The faint scent of incense wafts through the house, reminding people of filial piety and the Vietnamese virtue of remembering the source of water.

Mr. Nghien said: This house was built by my grandfather, I am the third generation. Until now, the details in the house are still kept intact by the family.

Looking around the house, our first impression was of tranquility and intimacy. The floor tiles had sunk over time. On the shelves, antique dishes were carefully arranged, along with books in Chinese and Nom script. Each item reminded us of the lives of previous generations.

The bright red tiled roof, the dark brown ironwood slats, and the intricately carved pillars and beams still clearly show their ancient and solemn features. The light coming through the windows, illuminating each wood grain, highlights the ancient beauty of the house.

Preserve for posterity

In Mr. Nguyen Khac Nghien's house there are many antique objects that are hundreds of years old.

Mr. Nghien shared: The whole house and the furniture inside were collected and preserved through many generations. Therefore, in 2010, someone offered nearly 3 billion VND, and then many people offered high prices, but I did not sell. I wanted to keep the family house and always told my children and grandchildren to try to preserve it until it could no longer be repaired.

In the house that has existed for nearly 9 decades, Mr. Nghien's family still maintains the same lifestyle as their ancestors. From ancestor worship, furniture arrangement to family meal habits, everything is passed down and meticulously preserved. Every day, his wife, Mrs. Tran Thi Kim, still cooks meals with the old flavors, gathering around the dinner table with her children and grandchildren, chatting and sharing.

Mr. Nghien's son, Mr. Nguyen Khac Hien, said: Even though we are busy, we still like to come back to this house. It is not only a place to live but also a place to find our roots, to feel attached to tradition.

The old house of Mr. Nghien’s family is a vivid slice of the culture of the Northern countryside. It not only preserves the architecture and furniture, but also reflects the way of life, the way of thinking and the feelings of people towards the past. Amidst the modern pace of life, where new houses are built close together, the three-room house with overlapping beams still stands firm, as a testament to time. The old stories still echo in every piece of wood, every brick, every simple lifestyle.

Not only preserving the old house, Mr. Nghien also contributed to the Provincial Museum many tools of Vietnamese rice cultivation. This is his way of preserving memories and connecting the past with the present, so that the young generation can better understand the working life and activities of their ancestors.

Preserving a house that is nearly a hundred years old is not only about preserving the material things, but also about preserving the soul, lifestyle and memories. Through the perseverance of Mr. Nghiem's family, we can see the value of tradition, the bond between this generation and the previous generation and the enduring vitality of national culture. And thanks to people like Mr. Nguyen Khac Nghiem, traditional values will still exist, lasting, extending from the past to the future.

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