Located in Long Huu Dong commune, Can Duoc, Long An province (now Long Huu commune, Tay Ninh province), the hundred-pillar house (also known as the Councilor's house, the Elder's house) was built by Mr. Tran Van Hoa (at that time, the village head of Long Huu village, Loc Thanh Ha commune, Cho Lon province) in the years 1901 - 1903. This house was built by 15 artisans from Hue, of which it took 2 years to build and 3 years to carve.
Therefore, in the middle of the Southwest, the house has an architecture strongly influenced by the ancient Hue house, expressed through the structure of three rooms, two wings, yin-yang tiled roof, high foundation, and wide porch. The unique point of the house is the blend of Central architecture and the open spirit of the Southern people, creating a space that is both solemn and intimate.
The name "House of a Hundred Pillars" is somewhat modest compared to reality, because the building has up to 120 large and small wooden pillars. Each pillar not only has the function of bearing weight but is also part of a special artistic space.
The dense column system, connected by traditional mortise and tenon techniques, creates a rare solidity. Under the sunlight shining through the wooden door frame, each shimmering, smooth wood grain seems to tell the story of the quiet years gone by.
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| Hundred-pillar house relic. |
Visiting the house, visitors are attracted by the rich patterns: Unique and sophisticated decorative art, designed, processed and implemented by talented artisans of the capital. The structures of the trusses, rafters, beams, slats, screens, and door trims are embossed, carved, and parasoled with Eastern cultural themes, according to Confucianism and Taoism such as: apricot - orchid - chrysanthemum - bamboo, fish transforming into dragon, four seasons, four seasons... combined with the sculpture style of eight treasures, nine cauldrons typical of Hue royal culture, very delicate and unique. In addition, in the main rooms there are also embossed reliefs of the four sacred animals, four seasons, eight fruits, happiness - prosperity - longevity; combined with Western cultural motifs such as roses, squirrels, grapes... It would be remiss not to mention the images and themes of the products, birds, animals, and fruits of the Southern region such as pheasants, peacocks, cranes, coconuts, pineapples, custard apples, custard apples, star fruit, mangosteens... elaborately and delicately carved by Hue artisans in most important positions in the ancient house.
Not only a beautiful structure, the Hundred Pillar House is also a vivid memory of the land of Can Duoc - Ha Long An during the resistance war against the French. This place used to be a secret gathering place for patriotic soldiers. During the anti-American period, the fight of the army and people of Ha was extremely heroic, arduous, fierce but no less romantic and sublime, like the lyrics of the song "Anh o dau song, em cuoi song": "Anh o dau song, em cuoi song/ Drank the same water of Vam Co Dong/ Loved each other for three rice seasons/ Haven't seen each other again, the memories are immense/ Oh, the boundless horizon of Ha/ Purple love, purple wishes...".
Today, descendants of the Tran family still preserve the house, live inside it, and welcome visitors. This creates a unique blend of cultural heritage and modern life - rarely seen in many other relics.
Visiting the house of a hundred pillars, placing one’s hand on the wooden pillars that have darkened with time, tourists suddenly feel as if they are touching the past - a past that is not only told in words but also in every line, the smell of wood, light and silence. The beauty of the house is not only in its architecture but also in its spirit - a deep and quiet Vietnamese spirit.
According to researchers, this is a house with the Nguyen Dynasty style, overall bearing a clear mark of Hue style. However, because it was made to order by the owner in the context of the Southern region during the French colonial period, there are many differences in the decorative themes, thereby creating richness and diversity in the configuration and architectural art. It is also a part of the history and culture of the Southern region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Hundred Pillar House has been ranked as a National Historical and Cultural Relic since 1997.
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202508/kham-pha-nha-tram-cot-ben-song-vam-co-25c0354/
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