The 200-year-old church in Hoi An preserves many precious treasures

(Dan Tri) - The 223-year-old house built by a Nguyen Dynasty official in Hoi An, although located in the old town area, was designed in the style of a garden house and still preserves many valuable treasures.

According to information from the Quang Nam Tourism Association, the Tran family temple, a 223-year-old architectural work, was built by mandarin Tran Tu Nhac. This work began in late 1802, before he was sent by King Gia Long as an envoy to China, to worship ancestors and leave it to his descendants.

After more than two centuries, the church still retains its unique architecture, harmoniously combining three cultures: Vietnam, China and Japan. This is a testament to the brilliant development period of Hoi An in history.

With an area of ​​1,500m2, the Tran family temple lies quietly in the middle of bustling Hoi An (Photo: Nam Ha).

Japanese architecture is expressed through the "fake beam" style with 5 vertical columns and 3 horizontal beams, symbolizing the five elements and the three factors of Heaven - Earth - Human.

The curved dome on the outside has a strong Chinese architectural style, symbolizing longevity and luck.

Inside the shrine, Vietnamese architecture is represented by three arrow-shaped pillars and a bow pointing to the sky, symbolizing the prosperity of descendants.

The house is a harmony between three architectural styles: Vietnamese - Japanese - Chinese (Photo: Ngo Linh).

The decoration in the church is very lively with delicate artistic patterns. Every detail such as rafters, tables and chairs, horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences are all elaborate carvings. On the altar are many wooden boxes containing biographies and personal relics of the deceased.

In particular, the church also preserves hundreds of precious antiques, including a sword and a genealogy book of mandarin Tran Tu Nhac from 1812.

Behind the altar is a space displaying the family's rare antiques (Photo: Ngo Linh).

According to Ms. Tran Thao Phuong, the 12th generation descendant of mandarin Tran Tu Nhac, on holidays, Tet, and ancestor death anniversaries, the clan often gathers to express gratitude to ancestors and strengthen family relationships.

Currently, the Tran family temple has been included in the list of historical relics in need of protection by the People's Committee of Quang Nam province and is one of seven ancient houses recognized by Hoi An city.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/nha-tho-co-hon-200-tuoi-o-hoi-an-luu-giu-nhieu-bau-vat-quy-20250328164142621.htm